To date, scientists know about 400 species of various helminths. They are capable of parasitizing almost all the organs and systems of a person, causing a large number of diseases.
Worms are afraid of cleanliness, therefore the main prevention is to observe basic hygiene rules.
According to statistics, parasites inhabit the body of one in four people on our planet, and almost everyone meets some species at least once in their life. Preventing worms remains one of the most pressing problems in modern medicine. What means can be used to prevent the entry of parasites into the human body?
General information
Depending on the means by which the prevention of helminthic diseases is carried out, it can be of the following types:
- non-pharmacological;
- medicinal or traditional;
- home remedies.
It is difficult to say which of these directions is optimal in the fight against worms. They all complement each other, so the best effect is seen only with an integrated approach.
Non-pharmacological methods
By observing fairly simple rules, you can prevent the ingestion of invasive forms of worms into the body. The latter can enter the human body in the following ways:
- with dirty hands or food;
- eating food that has not undergone proper heat treatment;
- by drinking substandard water or water from unverified sources.
Several times a day, after coming from the street or interacting with pets, it is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water.
Therefore, the nonspecific prevention of worms consists of the following points:
- compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- change of regular clothes;
- timely cleaning in the house;
- proper handling of food before consumption;
- the use of water that meets sanitary and hygienic standards, only from reliable sources.
Children are believed to neglect the rules of personal hygiene. But this phenomenon is not uncommon in adults. Regular hand washing should be essential before eating, after using the bathroom, when returning home from public places. Doorknobs, handrails, banknotes, and all kinds of surfaces that a person touches can become contaminated with parasite eggs.
They enter the body through the mouth. In this way, soil-transmitted helminths are transmitted: intestinal worms, pinworms, whipworms, nekator, hookworms, intestinal eel. Biohelminths, which need an intermediate host for their full development and reproduction, enter the body when they eat food that has undergone poor quality heat treatment.
For an adult who actively consumes sushi, poorly processed salted and smoked fish, fillets with blood, the likelihood of tapeworm infection increases. They are considered the longest and most dangerous helminths that can inhabit the human body.
When traveling to exotic countries, you need to be extremely careful and careful. Use only bottled water for drinking. If this is not possible, the water should be boiled for drinking and cooking. You can use special preparations designed for water purification. Wash vegetables and fruits well. When eating local dishes, you should choose those that have undergone a good heat treatment.
In a house where only adults live, wet cleaning should be done at least once a week, in the children's room - twice. Soft toys should be vacuumed, the rest should be washed in soapy water.
Pets should undergo regular checks by a veterinarian followed by medicine for worms. If the patient follows these recommendations, it is very possible that he does not need treatment with pills.
Medical prevention
As for the prevention of worms with pharmacological drugs, here the scientists were divided into two large groups. The former believe that pill prophylaxis is safe, effective and should be done regularly. This applies to both adults and children. The second group opposes the use of pills for prophylactic purposes. She is of the opinion that by using quite toxic drugs to prevent worms, a person harms her body further. This tactic is like firing a cannon at a flock of sparrows.
Considering that tablets for worms are still pharmacological agents, have certain indications and contraindications for use, and also have a number of side effects, they should be used only with a high probability of worm infestation. It can be suspected in such cases:
- contact with an infected patient: at home, in kindergarten, at school;
- the presence of pets in the wild;
- the presence of clinical signs of the disease with negative laboratory test results.
This last case deserves special attention. Very often, doctors, taking into account the patient's complaints, suspect that he has parasites, and the results of laboratory tests remain negative. In such cases, doctors recommend the so-called prophylactic treatment against worms. The main symptoms are:
- General weakness;
- discomfort;
- irritability;
- Sleep disturbance;
- problems with intellectual activity;
- skin manifestations of unknown origin;
- Iron deficiency anemia.
The presence of a complex of these symptoms is an indication for the appointment of a traditional medicine for the prevention of worms.
Popular ways
Traditional medicine also offers a large number of prophylactic agents against helminths. Compared to traditional pill treatment, home remedies for worms have a number of advantages. First of all, they are relatively safe for the human body. Prevention and treatment with home remedies against worms are rarely accompanied by undesirable phenomena and usually give good results.
The relative cheapness puts them within the reach of the absolute majority of the population of our country, and their relative safety allows them to be used as prophylactic agents against worms.
Tansy has a paralyzing effect on worms. It is especially effective as a prophylactic agent against pinworms and roundworms. These worms do not have adaptations to help them stay in the body. To prepare an infusion of tansy, pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of boiling water, insist for an hour. After that, the infusion should be filtered and drunk in a course, a tablespoon three times a day, before meals.
Wormwood is effective against tapeworms, roundworms, and lamblia. For treatment and prevention, alcohol tincture is used, which is taken 20 drops three times a day half an hour before meals.
Another effective remedy is pomegranate. The peel of a fruit is made with 0. 5 liters of boiling water. The resulting product should be drunk within 1. 5 hours. After 3 hours, you should take laxative tablets.
Birch tar is recommended as a prophylactic agent against lamblia. To do this, you need to drink it in a 14-day course. On the first day, a drop of tar is dissolved in a tablespoon of honey. Then one drop is added every day, bringing the number to eight. These courses cannot be taken more than once every six months.
Two tablespoons of pumpkin seeds should be mixed with cranberry juice. The remedy should be drunk on an empty stomach, and after three hours take a laxative. It is used against intestinal worms and tapeworms.
recommendations
Both pills and home remedies for the treatment of worms should be taken only under the supervision of specialists. The final decision on the suitability of parasite prophylaxis must be made by the treating physician. He will inform you about what means against worms exist, and will help you choose the method that will be optimal in each case.