Intestinal worm infection is the most common type of infestation. There is an opinion that in one form or another more than 90% of the world's population is infected with helminths, although this view has not received any scientific confirmation. Most often, helminthiasis affects children who disregard the basic rules of personal hygiene. However, the presence of parasitic worms in the intestines of adults is not uncommon.
Symptoms and signs of infection
In modern medicine, there are certain ideas about what symptoms indicate a helminthic lesion. But in reality, the clinical picture of helminthiasis in its full form is extremely rare. Much more often, the disease is latent and its signs are not specific enough to associate with worms.
The pathological influence of worms is based on several mechanisms:
- mechanical damage to the intestinal walls;
- toxic effect of parasite waste products;
- the ingestion of part of the substances necessary for the human body, which are ingested with food;
- Blockage of the liver ducts, intestinal lumen (worm clots).
As a rule, helminths do not collect in clumps and are located longitudinally in the intestinal lumen. Acute intestinal obstruction develops only with improper treatment, when alarmed, but not destroyed, parasites begin to actively move, entangle and form volumetric complexes from their own bodies.
Helminthiasis have the following symptoms:
- nausea;
- Weakness;
- Dizziness;
- to throw up;
- Headache;
- Diarrhea;
- weight loss;
- itching in the anus;
- regional lymphadenitis;
- pain in the joints;
- occult blood in feces;
- signs of inflammation in the small intestine;
- Stomach pain.
Some types of helminths can invade the bladder and cause hematuria (blood in the urine), invading the liver, lungs, muscles, and brain. If the lungs are affected, the patient has a debilitating cough, sometimes sputum is separated with an admixture of blood.
Worms in children usually lead to a decrease in growth and intellectual development, make the child nervous and restless. Pinworms that crawl out of the anus to lay eggs cause severe itching at night and in the evening (when the worms are most active).
types of parasites
In the human body, 3 main types of worms parasitize: round, ribbon-shaped and flat.
roundworms
The most prominent representatives of the parasite species are pinworms and roundworms. Infection with these worms accounts for 80% of cases of all worms found on the territory of the countries of the former CIS.
These worms are of different sexes, have relatively small body sizes (from 1-2 to several tens of centimeters), infection occurs through the fecal-oral route.
tapeworms
They are the largest of all parasitic worms. The best-known representatives of the group, pork and beef tapeworms, can reach a length of 10-15 meters.
Reproduction of parasites occurs without the participation of the second individual. Eggs are excreted into the environment with the patient's feces.
flatworms
Small representatives of helminths, usually living in the bile and liver ducts.
Residents of endemic areas can not cause symptoms of the disease for many years. When infected in a person who has not been exposed to the parasite in the past, they lead to severe liver disease. Can cause hepatitis, manifestations of gallstone disease and other symptoms.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus is the only tapeworm that uses humans as an intermediate host.
In this case, the larvae of the parasite get into the bloodstream, spread throughout the body and settle in the tissues, after which they begin to grow. Echinococcal cysts form. In this case, tablets from worms are practically useless for humans or animals. Finns will be removed immediately.
Tablets from worms for adults
The vast majority of anthelmintics popular today are made on the basis of one of three main substances: mebendazole, albendazole or levamisole.
based on mebendazole
Broad-spectrum drugs prescribed to patients suffering from enterobiasis, ascariasis, ankylostomidosis, trichuriasis, teniasis, echinococcosis and other helminthic invasions.
Side effects include:
- nausea;
- Stomach pain;
- Vomit;
- Headache;
- an increase in the amount of liver enzymes in the blood.
Contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, children under 2 years old, people with liver diseases and alcohol addiction (in case of binge drinking). When prescribing these remedies, no laxative is prescribed.
Based on albendazole
Means have a wide spectrum of action, which allows you to achieve a therapeutic effect in ascariasis, enterobiasis, infection with tape and flat parasites. Used to treat echinococcosis when surgical treatment is not possible.
The drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy, lactation, younger children, with pathology of the retina and non-helminthic lesions of the liver. Side effects are nausea, vomiting and other signs of toxic syndrome, which are characteristic of almost all anthelmintic drugs.
Based on levamisole
Most effective for infection with pinworms and roundworms. With other helminthic diseases, they also have the necessary effect, however, treatment may require a longer course than when using analogues.
Medicines have immune-stimulating properties and as such can be used in cases of moderate immunodeficiency.
Means based on levamisole are contraindicated in the following conditions:
- Pregnancy;
- lactation;
- Childhood;
- alcoholism in the binge stage;
- liver disease;
- agranulocytosis.
Levamisole and its derivatives during long-term treatment can cause agranulocytosis, nausea, vomiting, depression, dermatitis, anorexia.
tablets and suspensions for children
As a rule, the treatment of helminthiasis in children over 3-4 years old can be done with the same drugs that are prescribed for adults. In this case, the dose of the drug should be adjusted to the age of the child.
You should be aware that the suspension may be made up of any tableted active ingredient for ease of administration. To do this, the required amount of the drug is crushed into powder, added to the required amount of drinking water and mixed thoroughly.
Self-prepared suspensions cannot be dosed in the same way as factory dosage forms. The required amount of the drug is measured before preparing the suspension!
Folk recipes for worms
When answering questions about how to expel worms from a child or an adult, one cannot overlook folk methods of treatment.
pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitin, a substance that has a negative effect on worms. The tool is effective in almost all intestinal worm diseases. Some sources claim that the action of cucurbitin extends to extraintestinal helminths.
Pumpkin seeds should only be eaten raw. The heat treatment destroys the active ingredients contained in it. In addition, it is not recommended to remove the shell. It is better if the seeds are crushed in a blender along with the peel. For easier handling, the mass can be poured with milk.
carrot
It is not necessary to use carrots as an independent remedy for the treatment of helminthiasis, since they are not sufficiently effective for this. However, carrots are quite suitable as a means of prevention and as an adjuvant in basic therapy.
You can use carrots in any form that does not require heat treatment. It is best if the dishes containing a vegetable contain pepper or hot spices (Korean-style carrots). The plant is given to children in raw, purified form.
linen
You can remove worms from the intestines with ordinary or black flax. Flaxseed can be used crushed and mixed with cinnamon. However, it is better if they are used in the form of an infusion. For the preparation 1-2 tbsp. Spoons with seeds crushed in a blender are poured with a glass of boiling water and left to infuse. After a few hours, the composition should be filtered and taken 100 ml twice a day on an empty stomach. Treatment lasts until such time as parasite eggs are no longer found in the feces.
chamomile decoction
A decoction of chamomile can be used in almost unlimited quantities. It does not have a direct antihelminthic effect, but it promotes the healing of microcracks in the intestinal mucosa formed as a result of the activity of worms.
In addition, chamomile contains a large amount of vitamins, natural immunostimulants and other useful substances.
garlic
Garlic is one of the best anthelmintic plants. You can use it both in its pure form and mixed with milk. The mixture is prepared by squeezing 10-12 drops of garlic juice into a glass of warm boiled milk. It is necessary to drink garlic milk in the morning on an empty stomach for 1-2 weeks. In the future, garlic is recommended to prevent re-invasion and improve immunity.
hemp and linseed oil
Hemp, flaxseed, sea buckthorn, cedar and other oils also have antihelminthic effects.
If we remove worms with folk remedies, then the oil should be given 1 teaspoon twice a day, preferably on an empty stomach, just before meals. A relative contraindication to the use of this method is severe dyspepsia, accompanied by severe diarrhea. Before starting oil treatment, fixatives should be taken.
tansy
Tansy is one of the most popular antihelminthics, recognized by both folk and traditional medicine.
For the treatment of worm infections, the plant can be taken in the form of a powder (oral, 0. 7-1 g 1 time per day for a week) or in the form of an aqueous decoction. Inflorescences are also part of many complex remedies (troychatka).
Tansy is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 12 years old!
Troychatka
The composition of the so-called "Troychatka" includes 1 g of tansy, 0. 5 g of cloves and 0. 3 g of wormwood. All components are crushed into powder and mixed together. It is allowed to use the mixture inside in its pure form. In this case, the dose of the drug should be increased gradually, starting with half 0. 7-0. 8 grams per day. Herbs can be mixed with food for ease of use. The composition is taken for several months.
mugwort
Wormwood is often used in the form of an alcohol tincture in the treatment of helminthiasis in adults. To do this, the dried grass is crushed, the required amount of powder is measured and poured with vodka in a ratio of 1: 3. The tincture is ready for use in 2-3 weeks. It is necessary to take 30-50 grams twice a day on an empty stomach.
In childhood, wormwood tincture is replaced with an infusion, using pure drinking water instead of alcohol. The frequency and duration of reception does not change.
Worm Enema Recipes
Enemas for helminthiasis can remove parasites that have migrated to the rectum to reproduce. Garlic, soda enemas, and tansy enemas are used.
Enema with garlic
To set an enema, a decoction of garlic is used. Several cloves of the plant are poured with water and boiled for 2-3 minutes. After that, the garlic pulp is removed, the broth is cooled, filtered, and then injected into the rectum with a syringe.
Garlic enemas are not given to children under 3 years old. This type of treatment is also useless for tissue parasites, tapeworms localized in the liver ducts, tapeworms. The procedure is performed before bedtime. Preliminary, it is recommended to do a cleansing enema.
soda enema
The solution is made from a glass of water and 0. 5 teaspoons of baking soda. The powder is dissolved and boiled for five minutes. After the solution is cooled, filtered and injected into the rectum before bedtime.
There is no age limit here. To put an enema for very small children, its volume should be compared with the height of the child. The course of treatment consists of 6-7 procedures.
Enema with tansy
The solution is prepared from crushed tansy inflorescences. To do this, pour 2-3 tablespoons of the powder with a glass of boiling water and insist for half an hour. The solution is then filtered through cheesecloth and injected into the rectum. The duration of treatment is 1-2 weeks.
Enema with tansy is contraindicated for children under 14 years old!
prevention
Clean hands are the basis for preventing worms. Therefore, a child, like an adult, must observe the basic rules of personal hygiene.
The second basic principle of prevention is the annual medical examination with a mandatory examination of feces for the presence of worm eggs. Preventive treatments are recommended only in the absence of contraindications and using low-toxic agents. Otherwise, highly toxic drugs will do more harm than good!