Helminths are a group of parasitic diseases characterized by a high degree of infection. Helminth eggs are extremely durable, they are able to remain on various surfaces in the environment for a long time and at the same time maintain their vitality. It is a pity that helminth eggs surround us everywhere: on the ground, in water, on land, in dust, in food and in pet hair. However, it is very easy to prevent infection, so you just need to follow some precautions: personal hygiene rules and general hygiene standards. After all, preventing worms is the best way to protect yourself from helminth infestation.
Ways of infection with helminths
You can be infected with worms in the following ways:
- when you eat contaminated meat and fish.
- when you eat 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 larval vectors;
- through infected feces.
- through pets that have been infected with parasites.
Prevention of worms in adults
The prevention of worms in humans is not limited to the observance of 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 drugs yourself, as the parasites are of different types and live not only in the intestines, but also in other organs. In addition, do not forget that by taking the wrong dose of the drug or taking it uncontrollably, you can greatly harm 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 poisoning in the body and liver.
Third, most anthelmintic drugs only affect adults and their larvae and eggs remain harmless.
Worm prevention is a set of measures that are not limited to a single pill or to personal hygiene rules. Simply, in some cases it is enough to observe only personal hygiene, while in others these measurements are few, supplemented with pharmacological factors. 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 knows 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 follow the basic rules of personal hygiene. In addition, preventive measures are quite simple and very effective. Protective measures against parasitic infection:
- Frequent hand washing 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;
- refusal to eat raw meat and fish products, as well as low or medium rare steak;
- meticulous washing of vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries under running water.
- use smoked, salted or dried fish with extreme caution,
- 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 the cat's tray and bowls with disinfectant.
- ironing of underwear and bed linen after washing
- Do not use water from unknown food sources and do not swim in unknown bodies of water.
- cut your fingernails close, as helminth eggs are able to remain in the nail hole even after washing your hands.
- performs regular dehydration of pets
- Use protective gloves when cleaning the premises, as well as for garden work.
How to protect children from pests
Young children are potential victims of helminths, as babies cannot do personal hygiene on their own. In addition, at this age he knows the world around them, he tries everything. Therefore, there is a high probability of developing a parasitic invasion in a child. In this case, the child's parents take precautionary measures. However, it is impossible to monitor babies, at this age they are quite active, and can be infected with helminths at the same time.
To prevent worms in children, it is necessary:
- You often wash your child's hands from an early age to get used to the basics of personal hygiene.
- iron baby's underwear and bedding.
- disinfect his toys and wash soft toys in warm water.
- Do not let pets sleep in the same bed as your child.
- Teach your child to wash their hands after each contact with pets.
- subject food for the child in high quality heat treatment;
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly under running water.
- keep the child's room clean and tidy.
- treat the area where the child crawls with disinfectant (if under 1 year old).
If you suddenly have an infection, then only a doctor should prescribe methods for the treatment of helminthiasis. You should not do self-medication, because your child's health and life are at stake.
Anthelmintic drugs are potent toxic agents. It is necessary to treat the child with him with great care and under the strict supervision of the treating physician. Only the doctor prescribes the type and dose of the drug, as each drug has different indications of age.
A child can be given anthelmintic drugs 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 treating 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 drugs affect a certain type of helminth and only destroy them. The second type of drug affects most of the parasites of different types (round, flat and banded). In addition, some drugs affect the respiratory system of the helminth, others cause muscle paralysis in them, others stop the process of glucose absorption and others inhibit metabolic processes in the body of the worm. 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 autumn, before the onset of the cold season. It is necessary to use medication at the same time when the patient develops symptoms caused by a parasitic invasion. As a rule, these are:
- stomach ache;
- nausea and vomiting?
- itching in the anus
- general weakness and malaise
- insomnia;
- weight loss.
Anthelmintic treatment is carried out for a maximum of 3-5 days. With a single dose of worm medicine, not all parasites can die and the rest are able to migrate from the intestines to other organs and even have time to give birth. After two weeks, it is necessary to resume taking anthelmintic drugs to destroy the emerging helminths.
Anthelmite treatment consists of three stages, which last about two weeks:
- The first week prepares for the elimination of parasites from the body. For these purposes, they maintain a light diet, take medications that improve bile outflow and work of the gastrointestinal tract.
- The second stage consists in the immediate administration of anthelmintic drugs. The course of treatment is 5 days.
- The third stage is the elimination of dead parasites from the body. Laxatives and enemas are used for this purpose. The last stage is very important, as the bodies of helminths can begin to decompose, causing severe poisoning in humans.
Anthelmintic drugs
In the pharmaceutical market, worm tablets are very well presented, in addition, in different price categories. The following pharmacological agents are used to prevent worms:
Based on levamisole
Medications help to improve the body's defenses by producing the necessary antibodies in the blood. Drugs also inhibit the process of oxidation of glucose (glycolysis), thus causing the death of parasites. Drugs are effective for various parasitic invasions. Side effects are seen in the form of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Based on mebendazole
The most effective for the treatment of ascorbic acid, enterobiasis and hair loss. Drugs disrupt the metabolic processes in the body of the parasite, thus causing its death. The funds are very toxic, as they can accumulate in the body. For this reason, you should not use them alone without a prescription, as they can cause serious damage to the body. Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation, as well as in the presence of chronic pathologies.
Based on albendazole
The drugs effectively kill 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 are selected individually in each 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.