Worms in humans are a rather unpleasant phenomenon that may not appear for a long time. Parasitic worms are scientifically known as helminths. A human infection is called helminthiasis. This happens when worm eggs enter our body. Contrary to popular belief that worms are purely a childhood disease, adults are also susceptible to serious parasite infestations. Scientists have calculated that every fourth person on Earth is a carrier of this disease.
Where can they live?
Adult helminths move through the body until they settle in the organs that are best for them. Parasite eggs enter the intestines and settle there. This is the most common location. It is easy to detect and remove worms in the intestines.
In second place in popularity among worms is the liver. Next comes the lungs. There are very rare forms of the disease in which worms invade the eyeballs and muscles.
classification
Human worms are classified according to their location. There are lumen and tissue types.
Material- these are those who live in organs. They can cause the following diseases:
- Paragonimiasis– This is a type of infection of the lung tissue by worms;
- Echinococcosis- liver damage;
- Cysticercosis- Brain;
- Filariasis- lymph nodes.
The second type of human worms isbright. This is the most common type of intestinal disease. Worms can be completely different: hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, tapeworms, pinworms and others.
Stages of development
Worms in adults can arise from very different sources. In order for the parasite to develop in the body, it must enter through the mouth. Worm eggs can be found in raw meat, untreated water from reservoirs or on dirty hands. In this form, they enter the oral cavity, then the stomach, and then are absorbed by the intestines.
The larva hatches from the egg in the stomach and begins its journey through the human body until it finds an ideal environment for further development. If these are intestinal parasites, a move is not necessary for long. If it is pulmonary or cerebral, the larva moves through the bloodstream until it settles in the right place.
In the third stage of development, the larva turns into an adult helminth, which feeds on vitamins and minerals intended for the human body. The parasite lays eggs again and reproduces at a very high rate.
The time frame for completing all stages is from several hours to several days. During this period, it is important to choose a good remedy for worms for a person.
Symptoms
There are not always clear signs of worms in humans. Symptoms may only appear during certain periods of illness or may not occur at all. When an adult lives in the body, it is extremely difficult to notice, as the disease can be confused with any other disease. Helminths can be detected randomly through a stool test.
To imagine what happens in the body, consider the example of the roundworm life cycle. This type of worm loves to travel and can reveal itself when moving around the body.
The cause of infection with roundworms can be the consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits. The parasite lays eggs on the ground and can easily get onto plants.
After the worm egg gets into the mouth and stomach, it begins to grow and turns into a larva, which very quickly (within 2-3 hours) enters the circulatory system and begins to move through the small bloodstream. Your target is the lungs.
The larva grows in the lung tissue until it grows into an adult, which has little space and has to eat the cells of the alveoli and small bronchi. It is at this stage that the first symptoms appear, and if the diagnosis is made correctly, an antiworm remedy will quickly help get rid of them.
The patient begins to cough, experiences attacks of shortness of breath, and the body temperature rises. In rare cases, an allergic rash occurs. This is how worms manifest themselves in humans. Symptoms and treatment depend on the stage of development, as all of these signs can be confused with a cold.
As soon as the adult has chewed its way through the respiratory tract into the mouth, it lays eggs, which the human ingests again and which then end up in the gastrointestinal tract, where the cycle begins again.
Phases of the disease
Symptoms of worms in adults can vary depending on the phase of the disease. There can be two of them:
- Acute
- Acquired.
The first phase occurs in the first few days after infection as the larvae migrate through the body. A person may experience itching, red skin, and rashes. A dry, barking cough with choking attacks may occur. When you donate blood for tests, the result shows a significant increase in eosinophils.
The transition to the second phase indicates that human worms have settled in the right place and exist quietly, without disturbing anyone. This is a hidden phase that may not appear for several years.
Medicines for worms in humans help get rid of them only if an infection is accidentally discovered. Men and women need to listen carefully to their bodies. Over the months that people eat parasites, the general condition of the body changes. First, the metabolism suffers. The special feature of helminths is that by attaching to the organ walls, they deprive the cells of all nutrients and minerals, which disrupts the functionality of the affected areas.
What could the consequences be?
There are parasites that cause dangerous conditions in the body. For example, the presence of trichinae or schistosomes leads to anemia and vitamin deficiency.
Do not forget that worms also release their metabolic products into the human intestine, which leads to the development of dysbiosis and excessive reproduction of opportunistic organisms.
The immune system suffers. She becomes weaker and allergies appear. A person becomes vulnerable to virus attacks and gets sick more often.
If human worms are not treated, the consequences can be unpredictable. Each type of parasite affects different organs, and they are the ones that suffer first. If the liver is damaged, jaundice may develop. Hookworms cause anemia because this species of helminth feeds exclusively on blood. So, the most important thing at any stage is to choose a drug for worms for a person.
diagnosis
Just two tests can save a life. This is a general blood and stool test. With an annual medical examination, the risk of missing an illness is minimal.
The following changes occur in the blood: Leukocytosis – a shift in the leukocyte formula to the right and an increase in the number of eosinophils.
Worms in human feces are the safest and fastest way to detect them. You must carry out the test freshly, then the result will be correct.
Tablets for the prevention of worms in humans
Medicines can be divided into two groups: drugs with a broad spectrum of action and drugs that kill a specific type of helminths. Since there are more than 70 species of worms that infect humans, it is impossible to determine which parasite has invaded without testing. Tablets to prevent worms in humans should be prescribed by a doctor.
In medicine, all worms are divided into three groups:
- nematodes;
- cestodes;
- Trematodes.
Treatment depends on what type of helminths live in the body.
Nematodes (roundworms)
This species includes: pinworms, roundworms, trichinella, whipworms and Toxocara. The first two representatives are most common in children and adults.
Cestodes (tapeworms)
Cestodes are a large number of representatives of helminths. The most common are teniarhynchosis, coenurosis, alveococcosis, sparganosis, broad tapeworm and others.
Trematodes (flatworms)
Representatives of this class can be listed for a very long time. Most often the body is affected by opisthorchiasis (cat fluke), fascioliasis, clonorchiasis (Chinese fluke), pulmonary fluke and others.
How to take deworming tablets
Regardless of what type of helminths have settled in the body of an adult or child, remember the basic and most important rule: if a worm is found in one family member, everyone should be treated. It is necessary to disinfect all items in the house. If you have pets, you must first examine them as our pets can be the cause of the problem.
All anti-worm medications work on adults without affecting the eggs and larvae. Therefore, the second rule is: two weeks after taking the drug, the course must be repeated. This is especially true with a pinworm infection. These parasites are so insidious that they leave the larvae outside the body and a person can reinfect themselves.
It is recommended to take the tablets in the morning and do a cleansing enema in the evening.
Be careful! All medications must be taken as prescribed by a doctor. This is especially true in cases of infection with flatworms and tapeworms. They are so dangerous that treatment is carried out in a hospital. When removing it, the dosage must be strictly observed, taking into account the weight and age of the patient, since the drugs are very toxic. Self-medication is unacceptable in such cases!
Prevention of worms
The debates among mothers about whether or not they should take tablets against worms continue. Some believe that this is a good protection against dangerous consequences since children are most susceptible to infections. Others think it's unnecessary and don't want to burden the body with unneeded pills.
Children of school and preschool age are very often affected by pinworms. The test for enterobiasis can give a false negative, and then the sick child, bringing parasites into the house or school, can infect anyone. Pinworm eggs are transmitted through household items, a handshake, animal hair, doorknobs, and other objects in the environment.
The main prevention methods include compliance with personal hygiene rules. It is necessary to wash your hands with soap after defecation, before eating, after going outside or visiting public places.
What to do if a child complains of itching in the anus? This is one of the most pronounced symptoms of a pinworm infection. In this case, you need to get tested for enterobiasis as soon as possible. Let's say a child complains in the evening, then in the morning you have to run to the clinic.
If the result of the first curettage is negative and itching persists, the test should be repeated after two days for a week and then after another two weeks.
If any of the following apply to you, you should take preventive measures:
- presence of furry pets;
- constant games in the sandbox or on the floor;
- travel to an exotic country;
- Father is an avid fisherman or hunter.
Folk recipes
Let's look at how to remove worms from a person at home. Recipes against helminths have been known since ancient times. And despite the fact that they are successfully replaced by synthetic substances, the folk method of prevention remains proven.
Let's look at the most effective recipes:
Onions, honey, aloe juice.Onions are considered the most universal remedy. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anthelmintic effects. Mix it with aloe juice and honey in equal proportions and get a real remedy for worms. Take 1 teaspoon before breakfast for several days. Since the product is sweet, children are likely to drink it.
Carrot juice.Fresh carrots not only contain a whole supply of vitamins, but also have an antihelminthic effect. Drinking it on an empty stomach will allow you to energize your body throughout the day and at the same time prevent an unpleasant illness.
Garlic– one of the most effective remedies against worms. Let's look at recipes on how to remove worms from a person at home:
- Finely chop or squeeze the garlic. Roll the resulting porridge in cheesecloth in small portions so that it looks like a candle. Insert into the anus at night for 10 days. This remedy is effective against pinworms and is used in adults and children.
- Garlic enemas. Another way to remove unpleasant neighbors from the intestines. The solution should consist of water and chopped garlic in a pulp ratio. For one glass you need a few cloves. Repeat the process 2 times a week.
- Garlic with honey. Another option for pediatric medicine. To prevent garlic from burning, it is mixed with natural honey. Take 1 teaspoon twice daily.
- Garlic in milk. For lovers of unusual tastes, milk-based medicines are offered. There are five crushed garlic cloves per liter of cow product. The mixture is boiled and taken in small portions before bedtime.
herbal teas
Since time immemorial, all medicines have been made from herbs. Mother Nature knows how to get rid of worm parasites better than anyone. It's time to systematize this knowledge.
To prepare an herbal remedy, you need to choose bitter plants such as cloves, wormwood, thyme, calamus, and cumin. Prepared infusions should be taken daily. Complete cleansing of the body takes a month, but improvement occurs within 2-3 weeks after the treatment.
Let's look at the most famous recipes for herbal tinctures for the treatment of helminths:
- Based on tansy.Pour boiling water over the grass in the following ratio: 100 grams of dry mix per 150 ml of hot water. Cover with a lid and let stand for 8-10 hours. You must take 30 drops dissolved in a glass of water.
- Based on wormwood.This herb needs to be infused in alcohol for a week. Ratio 1: 1. For 100 grams of grass 100 ml of alcohol. Take 25 drops dissolved in a glass of water.
- EffectiveTincture on walnut shells.It must be filled with alcohol per 100 grams of dry product and 150 ml of "fire water".
- Clove based.Dry, unopened buds of the clove tree are used for the tincture. Add 100 grams of aromatic spice to a glass of boiling water and let it brew for at least 3 days. The daily dose of the drug is 30 drops per glass of water.
Pumpkin seeds against worms
Pumpkin seeds are safe for both children and adults. This is a very popular folk remedy for combating helminths. Let's look at how to remove worms from humans using this product.
What's the secret? The fact is that the shell of pumpkin seeds contains a substance such as cucurbin, which is harmful to worms. Therefore, you should only consume green seeds unpeeled.
Kucurbin does not kill worms, only paralyzes them. Adult humans lose the ability to move, hold on to body cells and suck out nutrients, meaning they will soon die naturally and be excreted through the human anus.
The most effective recipe is pumpkin seeds and castor oil. A serving of 100 unpeeled seeds should be consumed in the morning. Then take a teaspoon of castor oil. The latter has a laxative effect to remove parasites from the body.
Mix pumpkin and honey. First you need to grind the seeds into porridge in a blender, and then add a little honey. Eat cereal in the morning on an empty stomach. The duration of treatment is several days. It is recommended to repeat the application after 2 weeks.
Another healthy breakfast consists of pumpkin seeds and garlic. First, the grains are fried until golden brown in a frying pan without fat or water. Then the mixture is poured into a blender, garlic is added and ground into a paste. Leave it overnight and take a tablespoon of the mixture in the morning.