Helminthiasis are very common. Children are most often sick because they come into contact with animals and do not always adhere to hygiene rules. Usually people are infected with pinworms - these are the most common parasites. Knowing how to remove worms from a person at home will help you quickly improve the patient's condition.
How worms manifest: a brief description of the symptoms
The symptomatology of helminthiasis is unspecific. It is often confused with other diseases. Most of the parasitic elements do not give a clear picture of the disease for a long time, since the main goal of the pest is its presence in the human body, which is absolutely invisible to itself. In this regard, clear symptoms of the disease can only be determined if there is a multiple infection, or the activity of the body's immune functions declines, or there are background pathologies that emphasize helminth invasion.
The following main symptoms of the disease are distinguished:
- Violation of metabolic processes (increased appetite with constant weight).
- Increased secretion of the salivary glands.
- Dyspeptic symptoms, gas, indigestion, vomiting, abdominal pain.
- Migraines, dizziness, lethargy, weakness.
- Manifestation of hypersensitivity reactions that were not noticed before or worsening of existing reactions
- Hypersensitivity, irritability, insomnia, memory and attention disorders caused by the activity of parasitic organisms.
- Worsening 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 disorders of the digestive system and the continued occurrence and development of diseases, intoxication with toxins, a decrease in hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels, an increased risk of viral diseases and even possible disorders of the nervous system.
Recognize worms at home
The most effective diagnostic method is laboratory examination. But a person does not always have the opportunity to see 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 likes to eat unwashed vegetables or fruit. They are also often infected after contact with cats or dogs, as they are often a source of pests. Patients often prefer foods that were not adequately heat treated prior to illness.
The patient can also be told that he has lost a lot of weight in a short period of time. However, such a condition in helminthiasis is unmotivated, that is, it does not depend on the type of diet and physical activity. A specific symptom of enterobiasis (pinworm infection) is the grinding of teeth at night. You may also notice itching in the anal canal and the leakage of helminth particles from the anus.
Removal of worms from the body
Many tools are used to get rid of worms. The most effective are pharmacological agents. They are specially designed to destroy such pests, and new drugs have a minimum of pathological consequences. A major disadvantage of this treatment is the toxicity of the drugs. Most of them are contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
In addition, folk remedies are used for worms, in adults they are more effective. Diet can also help against parasites. But it does not always drive away parasites, in most cases their vital activity is disturbed.
Particular attention should be paid to the treatment of pregnant women and children. They have the most reduced immunity activity, 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 should only be taken once. The dosage is calculated according to the age and weight of the patient. This principle is very important because the success of the therapy depends on it.
An anthelmintic drug that acts on nematodes is considered to be the safest anthelmintic drug. In special doses it is even allowed for pregnant women and small children. Its effects extend to trichocephalosis, ascariasis, enterobiasis and some others. In the event of an infection with roundworms and pinworms, a single intake is sufficient. With other pathologies, the course of treatment can last up to two to three days.
As part of another anthelmintic, the active ingredient is levamisole hydrochloride. The greatest activity when taking the drug is observed with ascariasis, ankylostomiasis, enterobiasis and some other invasions. The tablets can be taken by children from the age of three. Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset and headache.
The greatest spectrum of activity is observed for benzimidazole derivatives. But they cause a lot of side effects.
Attention! The drugs are particularly dangerous for patients with liver disease.
Ethnosciences
Currently there are many effective methods of treating this pathology using synthetic drugs. However, drugs 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 fight this type of disease.
The main advantages of folk remedies are the natural base, which reduces the occurrence 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 a lot of effective substances that disrupt the nerve 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
In this case, if the family has a child, it is important to know how to properly get rid of worms. The child's body is less active in the fight against worms. Some medications can also be harmful to the baby and make the situation worse.
In most cases, the parents will choose ways to get the parasite away as quickly as possible so that the child is better off. For some types of helminthiasis, this tactic is correct. For enterobiasis, i. e. damage to the body by pinworms, you can, for example, take an anthelmintic in an age-specific dose. With such a disease, a single dose is enough. Some other conditions (e. g. trichocephalosis) require longer treatment.
Attention! For the treatment of a child, the use of recipes for alternative therapies is contraindicated.
Treatment of worms during pregnancy
Therapy for helminthiasis during pregnancy is not always recommended. It all depends on the type of pathology and the duration of pregnancy. If treatment is required, this should only be done after consulting a doctor.
If a woman is afraid of taking pharmacological drugs, then you can pick up one of the folk recipes. The advice on eating raw pumpkin seeds is popular. They can be peeled and chopped and eaten four times a day with a couple of spoons. To improve the taste, it is recommended to add a little honey.
A good effect is shown with an unpleasant procedure - enemas. However, carrying out such treatment requires the consultation of specialists so as not to harm the baby. Enemas can be prepared with milk and garlic. To prepare the product, a few cloves are boiled in a glass of milk and allowed to cool to room temperature. The duration of the application of a cleansing enema is 5 days.
Diet in helminthiasis
The diet should contain as many foods as possible that are not entirely pleasant for parasites. For example, chanterelles contain a certain substance - quinomannose. This chemical compound has a destructive effect - the structure of the shell of helminth eggs changes, which provokes their death. In addition, this substance inhibits the vital activity of young and adult worms.
The use of some delicacies also has a positive effect on the process of treating helminthiasis. It is common to include these products:
- Strawberries.
- Melon.
- Apricot.
- Watermelon.
- Fresh carrots.
Some of the recommended products include fermented milk. Kefir and whey normalize liver function, improve the activity of the intestinal tract. The liver must be included in the diet as helminths often cause anemia. Foods that contain many vitamins and minerals should also be on the menu.
Sample menu in the presence of worms
Diet for helminthiasis plays an important role in therapy. A properly selected menu can prevent complications of the disease and smooth the symptoms.
For breakfast, experts recommend using cottage cheese. You can add a fruity mix and don't forget melon or strawberries. You can drink unsweetened tea. For a second breakfast, you can use homemade yogurt or fermented baking milk.
For lunch, you can have a light vegetable soup with lean chicken. It makes sense to complement this with a cabbage and carrot salad. Pineapple is recommended as a dessert. It is recommended 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 intestines affected by worms through fermentation processes. This applies first of all to foods rich in carbohydrates:
- Potatoes.
- Flour products.
- Some grain.
It is also recommended to exclude alcoholic beverages during therapy. Lovers of semi-raw meat must also refuse such dishes, since they often contain eggs from worms. This provokes a renewed infection. Confectionery is also strictly prohibited.
Preventive principles
The methods of preventing infection are simple enough, but few follow them. This explains the widespread prevalence of worm infestation. It is enough not to forget these rules:
- Compliance with hygiene regulations.
- Sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish.
- Rinse 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 top priority of prevention.