Helminthiases are a group of parasitic diseases characterized by a high degree of infection. Helminth eggs are very resistant, they are able to stay on different surfaces in the environment for a long time and at the same time maintain their vitality. It is sad that helminth eggs surround us everywhere: on land, water, soil, dust, in food and pet hair. However, it is quite easy to prevent infection, for this you only need to follow a few preventive measures: rules of personal hygiene and general sanitary standards. Above all, preventing worms is the best way to protect yourself from the invasion of helminths.
Ways of infection with helminthiases
You can become infected with worms in the following ways:
- when you eat contaminated meat and fish;
- when eating unwashed vegetables and plants, fruits and berries;
- through dirty hands;
- some parasites that live in water are able to penetrate the skin;
- through infected insects, which are intermediate hosts of larvae;
- through infected feces;
- through pets infected with parasites.
Worm prevention in adults
Worm prevention in humans is not limited to adhering to the rules of personal hygiene, pharmacological preparations are also used for prophylactic purposes. Synthetic anthelmintics are prescribed only by a specialist, depending on the age, weight and general health of the patient. You should not self-medicate and take such medicines yourself, as parasites are of different types and they live not only in the intestine but also in other organs. In addition, remember that with the wrong dose of the drug or taking it uncontrollably, you can greatly damage the body.
First, if the wrong dose is applied, the parasites do not die but migrate from the gastrointestinal tract to other organs.
Second, anthelmintic drugs are very toxic, they can cause severe intoxication in the body and liver damage.
Third, most anthelmintic drugs only affect adults and their larvae and eggs remain unharmed.
Worm prevention is a set of measures that are not limited to just one pill or only personal hygiene rules. Only that in some cases it is enough to observe only personal hygiene, while in others these measures are few, they are supplemented with pharmacological agents. Only the doctor determines in which cases the usual preventive measures are sufficient and in which they should be supplemented with pills.
Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene
However, everyone is familiar with the well-known saying that it is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. Before the disease is felt, it is better to observe the basic rules of personal hygiene. In addition, preventive actions are quite simple and very effective. Precautions against parasitic infection:
- frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before eating;
- frequent change of shoes and bedding;
- high quality heat treatment of meat and fish;
- refusal to eat raw meat and fish products, as well as low or moderately rare steak;
- thorough washing of vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries under running water;
- use smoked, salted or dried fish very carefully,
- after any contact with pets, hands should be thoroughly washed, and cat litter should be cleaned with protective gloves; it is also necessary to treat cat trays and bowls with a disinfectant;
- ironing of shoes and underwear after washing;
- do not use water from unknown food sources and do not swim in unknown water bodies;
- cut your nails short, as the helminth eggs are able to stay in the nail hole even after you have thoroughly washed your hands;
- regularly perform deworming of pets;
- use protective gloves when cleaning the premises, as well as to work in the garden.
How to protect children from parasites
Young children are potential victims of helminths, as infants are unable to perform personal hygiene on their own. In addition, at this age they know the world around them, enjoy everything. Therefore, there is a high probability of developing a parasitic infestation in a child. In this case, the child's parents take preventive measures. However, it is impossible to keep track of babies, at this age they are quite active and can be infected by helminthiases at some point.
To prevent worms in children, it is necessary:
- often wash your child's hands, from an early age to teach him the basics of personal hygiene;
- iron the baby's underwear and crib;
- disinfect his toys and wash soft toys in hot water;
- do not allow pets to sleep in the same bed with your baby;
- teach your child to wash their hands after any contact with pets;
- subject high quality heat treatment to baby food;
- wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly under running water;
- keep the baby's room clean and tidy;
- treat the place where the child is crawling with a disinfectant (if under 1 year old).
If an infection has suddenly occurred, then only a doctor should prescribe methods for treating helminthiasis. You should not treat yourself because your child's health and life are in danger.
Anthelmintic drugs are strong toxic agents. It is necessary to treat the child with them very carefully and under the strict supervision of the attending physician. Only the doctor prescribes the type and dose of the medicine, as each medicine has different indications of age.
It is possible to give a child anthelmintic medication only when he has been accurately diagnosed with a parasitic infestation. 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 get pills for worms
All medicines for worms are divided into:
- drugs with a narrow spectrum of action;
- broad-spectrum drugs.
The first drug affects a certain type of helminth, and only destroys them. The second type of drug affects most parasites of different types (round, flatworms and tapeworms). In addition, some drugs affect the helminth's respiratory system, others provoke muscle paralysis in them, others inhibit the process of glucose uptake, and others block metabolic processes in the worm body. All these actions contribute to the death of parasites and their elimination from the body.
Experts believe that the prevention of helminthiasis should be carried out twice a year. Once in early spring, and the second in late fall, before the onset of the cold period. It is necessary to use the drug at the same time when the patient experiences symptoms caused by parasitic infestation. As a rule, these are:
- stomach ache;
- nausea and vomiting;
- itching in the anus;
- general weakness and malaise;
- insomnia;
- weight loss.
Anthelmintic therapy is carried out no more than 3-5 days. With a single dose of worm medicine, not all parasites can die, and the rest of them are able to migrate from the intestines to other organs and even have time to lay eggs. After two weeks, it is necessary to repeat taking anthelmintic drugs to destroy the newly emerged helminths.
Anthelmite therapy includes three phases, which last approximately two weeks:
- The first week is preparing for the expulsion of parasites from the body. For these purposes, they maintain a light diet, take medications that improve bile output and the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
- The second stage consists of the direct administration of anthelmintic drugs. The course of treatment is 5 days.
- The third stage is the elimination of dead parasites from the body. For this purpose, laxatives and enemas are used. The final stage is very important, as the bodies of helminths can begin to decompose, causing severe intoxication in humans.
Anthelmintic drugs
In the pharmacological market, worm tablets are very well presented, moreover, in different price categories. The following pharmacological agents are used to prevent worms:
Based on levamisole
The drug helps improve the body's defenses by producing the necessary antibodies in the blood. Also, drugs inhibit the process of oxidation of glucose (glycolysis), thus causing the death of parasites. Drugs are effective for various parasitic infestations. Side effects are observed in the form of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Based on mebendazole
Most effective in treating ascariasis, enterobiasis and trichocephalosis. Drugs disrupt metabolic processes in the parasite's body, causing its death. Funds are very toxic, as they can accumulate in the body. Therefore, you should not use them yourself without a doctor's prescription, as you can seriously damage the body. Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation, as well as in the presence of chronic pathologies.
Based on albendazole
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 dosage and frequency of use is chosen individually in each specific case, as it depends on the type of parasite and the degree of infection. The use of these drugs for prophylaxis is a fairly reliable protection against various types of parasites.