Helminthiasis are very common. Children are most often sick, as they come into contact with animals and do not always follow the rules of hygiene. Usually people are infected with pinworms - these are the most common parasites. Knowing how to remove worms from a person at home, you can quickly improve the patient's condition.
How worms manifest: a brief description of the symptoms
The symptomatology of helminthiasis is nonspecific. It is often confused with other diseases. Most parasitic elements for a long period do not give a clear picture of the disease, since the main goal of the pest is its very presence in the human body, which is absolutely invisible to itself. In this regard, distinct symptoms of the disease can be noticed only when multiple infections occur or there is a decrease in the activity of the body's immune functions, or there are background pathologies that bring helminthic invasion to the fore.
The following main symptoms of the disease are distinguished:
- Violation of metabolic processes (increased appetite with a steady weight).
- Increased secretion of the salivary glands.
- Dyspeptic symptoms, bloating, indigestion, vomiting, pain in the abdomen.
- Migraine, dizziness, lethargy, weakness.
- Manifestation of hypersensitivity reactions, which were not previously noted, or exacerbation of existing reactions.
- Hypersensitivity, irritability, insomnia, memory and attention disorders, which are caused by the activity of parasitic organisms.
- Deterioration of the condition of hair and nails with a lack of vitamins and minerals.
- Increased inflammation of the nasopharynx and genitals.
Most often, experts note that with helminthiasis, patients experience malfunctions in the digestive system and the further emergence and development of diseases, poisoning with toxins, a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes, an increase in the risk of viral diseases and even possible disorders of the nervous system.
Identifying helminths at home
The most effective diagnostic method is laboratory testing. But not always a person has the opportunity to consult a doctor for this. In this case, you need to rely on your feelings and new symptoms.
If you want to determine the presence of helminthiasis, you can examine the anamnestic data. For example, the patient is fond of eating unwashed vegetables or fruits. They are also often infected after contact with cats or dogs, as they are often a source of pests. Patients often prefer to eat foods that have not undergone sufficient heat treatment before the disease.
The patient can also be told that he has lost a lot of weight in a short period of time. But such a condition in the case of helminthiasis is unmotivated, that is, it does not depend on the nature of the diet and physical activity. A specific symptom of enterobiasis (pinworm infection) is teeth grinding at night. You can also notice itching in the anal canal and the exit of helminth particles from the anus.
Removal of worms from the body
To get rid of worms, a lot of tools are used. The most effective are pharmacological agents. They are designed specifically to destroy such pests, and new drugs have a minimum amount of pathological consequences. A significant disadvantage of this treatment is the toxicity of the drugs. Most of them are contraindicated in the case of childbearing and lactation.
In addition, folk remedies for worms are used, in adults they are more effective. Diet can also help against parasites. But it does not always drive out parasites; in most cases, their vital activity is disrupted.
Particular attention should be paid to the treatment of pregnant women and children. They have the most reduced activity of immunity, which contributes to the more active development of helminths in the body.
Pharmacological agents
Pharmacological treatment is considered to be the most effective. Some products are recommended to be taken only once. The dosage is calculated depending on the age and weight of the patient. This principle is very important, as the success of the therapy depends on it.
An anthelminthic drug that acts on nematodes is considered the safest anthelmintic drug. In special dosages, it is allowed even for pregnant women and small children. Its action extends to trichocephalosis, ascariasis, enterobiasis and some others. When infected with roundworms and pinworms, it is enough to take once. In the case of other pathologies, the course of treatment can last up to two to three days.
As part of another anthelmintic drug, the active ingredient is levamisole hydrochloride. The greatest activity when taking the drug is observed in the case of ascariasis, ankylostomiasis, enterobiasis and some other invasions. The tablets can be taken by children from the age of three. Among the common side effects are disruption of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and headache.
The greatest spectrum of action is observed for benzimidazole derivatives. But they cause a lot of side effects.
Attention! The drugs are especially dangerous for patients with liver disease.
ethnoscience
Currently, there are many effective methods of treating this pathology using synthetic drugs. But medications have a large number of side effects, are ineffective in treatment, and sometimes do not suit a particular person at all (contraindications, intolerance to one or more components of a particular drug). Therefore, in such cases, you can turn to traditional medicine, which has in its arsenal a huge selection of natural remedies to combat this type of disease.
The main advantages of folk remedies are the natural base, which reduces the presence of side effects to zero, as well as the presence of bioactive compounds that reduce the severity of inflammatory and allergic processes.
The most commonly used products are wormwood. This plant has many effective substances that disrupt the nervous activity of helminths and contribute to their excretion from the body. You can prepare infusions and powders. It is optimal to take medicines with wormwood in the morning before breakfast.
Home treatment of helminths in children
If the family has a child, it is important to know how to properly get rid of worms in this case. The child's body is less active in the fight against worms. Also, the use of some medications can harm the baby and aggravate the situation.
Most often, parents choose ways to expel the parasite as soon as possible so that the child gets better. With some types of helminthiasis, this tactic is correct. For example, with enterobiasis, that is, damage to the body with pinworms, you can take an anthelmintic drug in an age-specific dosage. In the case of such a disease, a single dose is sufficient. For some other diseases (for example, trichocephalosis), longer treatment is required.
Attention! For the treatment of a child, the use of recipes for alternative therapy is contraindicated.
Treatment of worms during pregnancy
Therapy of helminthiasis during the period of bearing a baby is not always recommended. It all depends on the type of pathology and the duration of pregnancy. If treatment is necessary, it should only be resorted to after consulting a doctor.
If a woman is afraid to use pharmacological drugs, you can pick up one of the folk recipes. The advice on eating raw pumpkin seeds is popular. They can be peeled and crushed and consumed a few spoons four times a day. To improve the taste, it is advised to add a little honey.
A good effect is manifested in the case of an unpleasant procedure - enemas. But the implementation of such treatment requires consultation with specialists so as not to harm the baby. Enemas can be prepared with milk and garlic. To prepare the product, a few cloves of a vegetable are boiled in a glass of milk and cooled to room temperature. The duration of the use of a cleansing enema is 5 days.
Diet for helminthiasis
The diet should include as many foods as possible that are not entirely pleasant for parasites. For example, chanterelle mushrooms contain a specific substance - chinomannose. This chemical compound has destructive activity - the structure of the shell of helminthic eggs changes, which provokes their death. Also, this substance inhibits the vital activity of young and adult individuals of worms.
The use of some delicacies also has a positive effect on the process of treating helminthiasis. It is customary to refer to such products:
- Strawberries.
- Melon.
- Apricot.
- Watermelon.
- Fresh carrots.
Among the recommended products are fermented milk. Kefir and whey normalize the functioning of the liver, improve the activity of the intestinal tract. The liver must be included in the diet, since helminths often cause anemia. Foods high in vitamins and minerals should also be on the menu.
Sample menu in the presence of worms
Nutrition for helminthiasis plays an important role in therapy. A properly selected menu can prevent complications of the disease and smooth out the symptoms.
For breakfast, experts recommend using cottage cheese. You can add a fruity mix to it and don't forget about melon or strawberries. You can drink unsweetened tea. For a second breakfast, you can use homemade yogurt or fermented baked milk.
For lunch, you can eat a light vegetable soup with the addition of lean chicken meat. It is useful to supplement this with cabbage and carrot salad. Pineapple is recommended for dessert. It is advised to replace dinner with a glass of yogurt or kefir during treatment.
Dangerous foods for worms
The use of some dishes is completely contraindicated in helminthiasis. Most often this is due to the fact that they disrupt the activity of the intestine affected by worms due to fermentation processes. First of all, this applies to foods rich in carbohydrates:
- Potatoes.
- Flour products.
- Some cereals.
Also, during therapy, it is recommended to exclude alcoholic beverages. Lovers of semi-raw meat also need to refuse such dishes, as they often contain eggs of worms. This provokes re-infection. Confectionery is also strictly prohibited.
Preventive principles
The methods for preventing infection are simple enough, but few follow them. This explains the widespread prevalence of infestation by worms. It is enough not to forget about these rules:
- Compliance with the rules of hygiene.
- Sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish.
- Rinsing before eating fruits and vegetables.
- Timely deworming in pets.
- Maintaining cleanliness in the house.
These general preventive measures can save a family from an unpleasant disease - helminthiasis. Compliance with hygiene standards is the main principle of prevention.