Worms are parasites belonging to the group of helminths. Those present in mammals, fish, and humans feed from the "host, " damaging the body by reducing the nutritional value of foods, excreting waste products, reducing immunity, and increasing sensitivity to allergens. Throughout the history of the fight against helminthiasis, mankind has invented a number of treatments. We consider the effectiveness of these methods, the effect of prevention in the form of regular intake of anti-worm tablets, and separate the truth from fiction.
Worms: parasites harmful to health
Although there are symbiont parasites in nature that exist at the expense of the host, but not only harm but also benefit the main organism, worms are parasites whose presence in the organism significantly impairs health. In terms of the extent of damage, helminthiasis is compared to diseases such as tuberculosis, coronary heart disease, and chronic diarrhea.
Worms are parasites that, even in the early stages of helminthiasis, can cause disorders of the digestive system, immunity, and allergic reactions. With the development of the disease, anemia and various deficient conditions can be observed due to the consumption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals by worms, which enter the human body through food.
The group of worms, parasites, worms includes tapeworms, dumplings, nematodes, toxocaras. In terms of the spread of helminthiases, they are compared to infectious diseases, second only to influenza. And the presence of helminths in the body in the background of the acute infectious process can significantly complicate healing, prolong the disease.
Severe helminthiasis also affects reproductive function, may be the cause of infertility, the birth of children with developmental disabilities. The spread of worms throughout the body is the cause of human disability.
The prevalence of worms is most often explained by non-compliance with hygiene rules ("dirty hand disease"), quality of living conditions and personal and commercial contamination of areas around livestock farms. Non-compliance with health and hygiene regulations: food, hands, surfacesprocessing in places creates a favorable environment for the reproduction and transmission of worms from one carrier to another under our climatic conditions.
Children and the elderly are most susceptible to parasitic diseases due to decreased immune protection. Kids aren’t used to washing their hands yet, but they have the instinct to examine everything with their mouths, as well as chewing their nails and sucking their fingers.
Myths and reality: the treatment and prevention of "helminthiasis"
The existence of various "home" alternative methods for treating helminthiasis is due to the view that it is "shameful" to see a doctor with such a diagnosis. Therefore, after being informed of the presence of worms from the test results or suspecting helminthiasis with general symptoms, people often try to avoid consulting a specialist by buying "anti-worm tablets" in pharmacies or using "folk" treatments.
Self-diagnosis is often based on false indications and treatment attempts are detrimental to health. One common myth is that nocturnal bruxism, gnashing of teeth in a dream, is an indisputable sign of the presence of worms in the body, parasites that contribute to restless sleep. This version has not been confirmed in scientific research, and bruxism is most often caused by stress and dysfunction of the nervous system. And in this case, there is no point in "treating worms. "
Let’s look at some common alternative techniques for treating helminthiasis.
Consumption of greens rich in large amounts of aromatic substances: parsley, dill, celery, coriander has no effect on intestinal worms and other groups of parasites living in and on the body surface. In the same way, helminths are indifferent to vegetables, fruits, oranges, which also have healing properties. Increased amounts of vitamins along with large amounts of vegetables or pumpkins, sea buckthorn, carrots, persimmons can improve the overall condition but do not cure helminthiasis. But hypervitaminosis and indigestion are quite common in those who love this method of therapy. Not to mention the possibility of further infection when using poorly washed herbs: to get rid of worm eggs, greens need to be washed thoroughly several times before eating.
Different types of bowel washes, bowel enema with lemon juice or garlic promise immediate rid of parasites. However, the small intestine cavity, the habitat of helminth samples, is not available for enema and Esmarch mug. The consequences of such a pseudo-scientific method are not the cure of helminthiasis, but the violation of the intestinal microflora by regular enema and, as a result, the erosion of the mucosal surface when caustic juices are used.
Dangers of self-prescribing tablets against worms
If folk remedies do not help, medication should be sought. Anthelmintic tablets, drugs that cure helminthiasis, are quite common and can be sold freely in pharmacies.
However, it is worth remembering that there is a fairly large number of helminthiasis and other parasites, and despite the existence of combination drugs, there is not a single "worm tablet. "Different drugs are produced for different types of helminth samples.
In addition, drugs against helminthiasis are quite toxic and have a number of contraindications, both in terms of general health and in terms of age or physiological conditions (different periods of pregnancy). The selection of the appropriate drug is made by a specialist who takes into account all the factors, the extent of the infection. In some cases, a cure is needed that combines several medications, additional medications to support the body during treatment, and the prevention of the most likely complications.
Prevention of helminthiasis in the form of regular antiparasitic agents, followed by some, especially pet breeders, can cause more harm than the initial stage of the disease. The effect of anthelmintics is based on the poisoning of parasites, but they are toxic to humans and should not be taken as a "prevention".