Helminthiases are a group of parasitic diseases characterized by high levels of infection. Helminth eggs are very resistant, they can survive on various surfaces in the environment for a long time, and at the same time maintain their viability. It is very sad that worm eggs surround us everywhere: in the soil, water, earth, dust, on food and pet hair. However, it is very easy to prevent infection, because of this you only need to follow a few preventive measures: rules of personal hygiene and general hygiene standards. However, worm prevention is the best method to protect yourself from worm invasion.
Means of infection with helminthiases
You can be infected with worms in the following ways:
- while eating contaminated meat and fish;
- while eating unwashed vegetables and herbs, fruits and berries;
- through dirty hands;
- some parasites that live in water are able to penetrate the skin;
- through infected insects, which are intermediate larval hosts;
- through infected feces;
- through parasite -infected pets.
Prevention of worms in adults
Prevention of worms in humans is not only limited to adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, pharmacological preparations are also used for prophylactic purposes. Synthetic antelmintics are only prescribed by specialists, depending on the age, weight and general health of the patient. You cannot cure yourself and take such medicine on your own, because parasites are of many kinds and they live not only in the intestines, but also in other organs. In addition, do not forget that with the wrong dose of the drug or its uncontrolled intake, you can harm the body.
First, if the wrong dose is used, the parasite does not die, but migrates from the gastrointestinal tract to other organs.
Second, anthelmintic drugs are very toxic, they can cause severe poisoning in the body and liver damage.
Third, most anthelmintic drugs only affect adults, and the larvae and eggs are not injured.
Worm prevention is a group of measures that are not limited to just one pill or just the rules of personal hygiene. Only in some cases, just enough to maintain personal hygiene, while in some of these measures only slightly, the action is supplemented by pharmacological agents. Only a doctor determines in which cases the usual preventive measures are sufficient, and where they should be supplemented with pills.
Adhere to the rules of personal hygiene
Still, everyone knows the famous saying that it is easier to prevent disease than to cure it. Before the disease is felt, it is better to adhere to the basic rules of personal hygiene. In addition, preventative measures are relatively simple and very effective. Protective measures against parasitic infections:
- wash hands regularly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before eating;
- changing underwear and blankets;
- heat treatment of high quality meat and fish;
- reluctance to eat raw meat and fish products, as well as sparse or simple steaks;
- wash vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries thoroughly under running water;
- use smoked, salted or dried fish very carefully,
- after contact with pets, hands should be thoroughly washed, and cat litter should be cleaned with protective gloves; also need to treat cat trays and bowls with disinfectant;
- ironing underwear and bed linen after washing;
- do not use water from unknown sources for food and do not swim in unknown bodies of water;
- cut the nails short, as the worm eggs can remain in the nail holes even after washing hands thoroughly;
- regularly perform pet deworming;
- use protective gloves when cleaning the place, and also for working in the garden.
How to protect children from parasites
Young children are potential victims of worms, as babies are unable to do self-hygiene. In addition, at this age they can get to know the world around them, feel it. Therefore, there is a high probability of developing parasitic invasion in the child. In this case, the child's parents take precautionary measures. However, it is impossible to keep an eye on babies, at this age they are quite active, and they can be infected with helminthiases at some point.
For the prevention of worms in children, it is necessary:
- wash your child's hands often, from an early age to familiarize him with the basics of personal hygiene;
- ironing underwear and cribs;
- disinfect his toys, and wash soft toys in hot water;
- do not let pets sleep in the same bed as your child;
- teach your child to wash their hands after every contact with a pet;
- providing food for children to high-quality heat treatment;
- wash vegetables and fruits until clean under running water;
- keep children's rooms clean and tidy;
- treat the place where the child crawls with a disinfectant (if he is under 1 year old).
If a sudden infection occurs, then only a doctor should prescribe a method to treat helminthiasis. You can’t cure yourself, because your child’s health and life are at stake.
Antelmintic drugs are powerful toxic agents. It is necessary to treat the child carefully and under the close supervision of the attending physician. Only a doctor prescribes the type and dose of medication, as each medication has different age indications.
It is possible to give a child medication to fight worms only when he or she has been accurately diagnosed with a parasitic attack. Otherwise, you should not expose the child to the toxic effects of anthelmintic drugs. Parents should coordinate all their actions only with the attending physician.
How to take pills for worms
All remedies for worms are divided into:
- drugs with a narrow spectrum of action;
- broad spectrum drugs.
The first drug affects certain types of helminths, and only destroys them. The second type of drug affects most parasites of various types (roundworms, flatworms and tapeworms). In addition, some drugs affect the respiratory system of helminths, others provoke muscle paralysis in them, others stop the process of glucose absorption, and others inhibit metabolic processes in the body of worms. All these actions contribute to the death of the parasite and its elimination from the body.
Experts believe that the prevention of helminthiasis should be done twice a year. Once in early spring, and the second in late autumn, before the onset of winter. Need to use the drug at the same time when the patient experiences symptoms caused by parasitic invasion. As a rule, these are:
- stomachache;
- dizziness and vomiting;
- itching in the anus;
- general weakness and discomfort;
- insomnia;
- weight reduction.
Anthelmintic therapy is carried out no more than 3-5 days. With one dose of medicine for worms, not all parasites can die, and the rest are able to migrate from the intestine to other organs and even have time to lay eggs. After two weeks, it is necessary to repeat the intake of anthelmintic drugs to destroy the emerging worms.
Anthelmite therapy consists of three stages, which last about two weeks:
- The first week is preparing for the expulsion of parasites from the body. To this end, they keep a light diet, take medications that increase bile outflow and the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
- The second stage consists of direct administration of anthelmintic drugs. The course of treatment is 5 days.
- The third stage is the removal of dead parasites from the body. For this purpose, laxatives and enemas are used. The last stage is very important, because the body of the worm can begin to decompose, causing severe poisoning in humans.
Antelmintic drugs
In the pharmacological market, tablets for worms are presented very well, moreover, in different price categories. For the prevention of worms, the following pharmacological agents are used:
Based on levamisole
This drug helps boost the body's defenses by producing the necessary antibodies in the blood. Also, drugs inhibit the process of glucose oxidation (glycolysis), resulting in the death of parasites. This drug is effective for various parasitic attacks. Side effects are observed in the form of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Based on mebendazole
Most effective in the treatment of ascariasis, enterobiasis and trichocephalosis. These drugs disrupt metabolic processes in the body of the parasite, leading to its death. The funds are very toxic, as they can accumulate in the body. For this reason, you should not use it yourself without a doctor's prescription, as you can cause serious harm to the body. Contraindications in pregnancy and lactation, as well as the presence of chronic pathology.
Albendazole -based
Such 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. The dose and frequency of use are selected individually in each particular case, as it depends on the type of parasite and the degree of infection. The use of this drug for prophylaxis is a fairly reliable protection from various types of parasites.