Helminthiasis is a group of parasitic diseases characterized by a high degree of infection. Helminth eggs are very durable, able to stay for a long time on various surrounding surfaces, and at the same time maintain their vitality. It is sad that helminth eggs surround us everywhere in the soil, water, soil, dust, food and pet hair. However, it is very easy to prevent infection, you just need to follow some preventive measures: personal hygiene rules and general sanitary standards. After all, preventing worms is the best way to protect yourself from helminth infestation.
Ways of infection with helminthiasis
You can infect worms in the following ways:
- when eating contaminated meat and fish;
- when eating unwashed vegetables and herbs, fruits and berries;
- through dirty hands;
- some aquatic parasites can penetrate the skin;
- through infected insects that are intermediate hosts of larvae;
- through infected feces;
- through pets infected with parasites.
Prevention of worms in adults
Prevention of worms in humans is not limited to the rules of personal hygiene, pharmacological drugs are also used for prophylactic purposes. Synthetic anthelmintics are prescribed only by a specialist, depending on the patient's age, weight and general health. Because parasites are different and live not only in the intestines, but also in other organs, you should not treat yourself and do not take such drugs alone. In addition, keep in mind that you can do a lot of damage to the body with the wrong dose or uncontrolled intake of the drug.
First, if the wrong dose is applied, the parasites do not die, but move from the gastrointestinal tract to other organs.
Second, anthelmintic drugs are very toxic, can cause severe intoxication in the body and damage the liver.
Third, most anthelmintic drugs only affect adults, and larvae and eggs remain harmless.
Prevention of worms is a pill or a series of measures that are not limited to the rules of personal hygiene. In some cases, it is enough to follow only personal hygiene, in others, these measures are few and complemented by pharmacological substances. Only a doctor can determine in which cases the usual preventive measures are sufficient and should be supplemented with pills.
Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene
However, everyone is familiar with fathers who say that a disease is easier to treat than to prevent. It is better to follow the rules of personal hygiene before the disease is felt. In addition, preventive measures are very simple and very effective. Precautions against parasitic infections:
- wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before eating;
- frequent change of underwear and bedding;
- high quality heat treatment of meat and fish;
- refrain from eating raw meat and fish products, as well as small or medium rare pieces;
- thorough washing of vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries under running water;
- Use smoked, salted or dried fish very carefully,
- hands should be washed thoroughly after contact with pets and cat litter should be cleaned with protective gloves; separate cat litter boxes and bowls should be treated with disinfectant;
- ironing underwear and sheets after washing;
- do not use water from unknown sources for food and do not swim in unfamiliar water bodies;
- cut your nails short, because helminth eggs are able to stay in the nail hole even after washing your hands thoroughly;
- deworm pets regularly;
- Use protective gloves when cleaning buildings and working in the garden.
How to protect children from parasites
Because infants are unable to maintain personal hygiene on their own, young children are potential victims of helminths. In addition, at this age they know the world around them, they taste everything. Therefore, a child is more likely to develop a parasitic fever. In this case, the child's parents take protective measures. However, it is not possible to monitor babies, they are very active at this age and can suddenly become infected with helminthiasis.
To prevent worms in children need:
- wash your child's hands often to teach him the basics of personal hygiene from an early age;
- iron baby underwear and bedding;
- disinfect toys and wash soft toys in warm water;
- do not allow pets to sleep in the same bed as your child;
- teach your child to wash their hands after each contact with pets;
- subject the child's food to high-quality heat treatment;
- wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly under running water;
- keep the child's room clean and tidy;
- treat the child's crawling area with a disinfectant (if it is less than 1 year old).
If a sudden infection occurs, only a doctor should prescribe methods for the treatment of helminthiasis. You should not treat yourself because your child's health and life are in danger.
Anthelmintic drugs are strong toxic substances. Dozens of children need to be treated very carefully and under the strict supervision of the attending physician. The type and dose of the drug is determined only by a doctor, because each drug has a different age.
It is possible to give a child medicine against worms only if the parasitic invasion is accurately diagnosed. Otherwise, you should not expose the child to the toxic effects of anthelmintic drugs. Parents should coordinate all actions only with the attending physician.
How to take pills for worms
All drugs for worms are divided into:
- drugs with a narrow spectrum of action;
- broad-spectrum drugs.
The first drugs affect a certain type of helminth and only destroy them. The second type of drug affects different types of parasites (round, flat and tapeworms). In addition, some drugs affect the respiratory system of helminths, some cause muscle paralysis inside, some stop the process of glucose absorption, and some inhibit metabolic processes in the body of the worm. All these actions help to kill and eliminate parasites from the body.
Experts believe that the prevention of helminthiasis should be carried out twice a year. The first in early spring, the second in late autumn, before the onset of the cold season. If the patient experiences symptoms caused by parasitic heat, medication should be used at the same time. As a rule, they are:
- stomach pain;
- nausea and vomiting;
- itching in the anus;
- general weakness and weakness;
- insomnia;
- lose weight.
Anthelmintic therapy is carried out no more than 3-5 days. With a single dose of the drug for worms, not all parasites can die and the rest can migrate from the gut to other organs and even find time to lay eggs. After two weeks, it is necessary to repeat the use of anthelmintic drugs to destroy the newly emerging helminths.
Anthelmitis therapy consists of three stages lasting about two weeks:
- The first week is preparing to get rid of parasites from the body. For this purpose, they maintain a light diet, take drugs that improve bile flow and gastrointestinal tract.
- The second stage involves the administration of direct anthelmintic drugs. The duration of treatment is 5 days.
- The third stage is the removal of dead parasites from the body. Laxatives and enemas are used for this purpose. The last stage is very important, because the bodies of helminths, which cause severe intoxication in humans, can begin to rot.
Anthelmintic drugs
Tablets for worms are very well presented in the pharmaceutical market, as well as in different price categories. The following pharmacological agents are used to prevent worms:
Based on levamisole
Medications help improve the body's defenses by producing the necessary antibodies in the blood. In addition, the drug inhibits the process of glucose oxidation (glycolysis), thereby causing the death of parasites. The drugs are effective for various parasitic invasions. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Based on mebendazole
The most effective in the treatment of ascariasis, enterobiasis and trichocephaly. Medications disrupt the parasite's metabolic processes in the body, causing it to die. Foundations are very toxic because they can accumulate in the body. Therefore, you should not use them alone without a doctor's prescription, as you can cause serious harm to the body. Contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, as well as the presence of chronic pathologies.
Albendazole based
The drugs effectively destroy both helminths and protozoa, so they are suitable for use in mixed parasitic infections. It should be used with caution in people with liver disease. Dosage and frequency of use are selected individually in each case, as it depends on the type of parasite and the degree of infection. The prophylactic use of these drugs is a fairly reliable protection against various types of parasites.