Almost all of us have had to deal with manifestations of helminthiasis. These parasites have coexisted with humans for so long that Hippocrates himself mentions them in his writings. According to WHO statistics, currently more than five billion people on Earth suffer from helminthiasis of various types.
The pharmacological industry regularly produces modern products designed to neutralize parasites in the human body; Folk remedies for helminthiasis, which complement traditional treatment, have also not lost their relevance.
About helminths
There are about 250 species of parasites that live in human tissues and organs. All of them are divided into two classes:
- flatworms (nematodes);
- Intestinal worms (cestodes and trematodes).
Its size varies from a few millimeters to 10-12 m. Parasites very quickly reach sexual maturity, after which they acquire the ability to lay from ten to one hundred thousand eggs per day.
These eggs remain viable for a long time, even if the conditions in which they are found are not the most favorable. Types of organisms affected by parasites, according to their stage of development:
- the final host in which helminths can develop to the stage of sexual maturity;
- Intermediate host, where helminths live until one of the stages of their development.
In the body of the final host, the parasite can complete its full development cycle many times and live in it for several decades. For several types of parasites, humans can be the final or intermediate host, as can shellfish, fish, and carnivores. Depending on the type of biological cycle, cases of parasitic infection are classified as:
- biohelminthiases - the development of helminths takes place in organisms of various species;
- Geohelminthiasis: helminth eggs spend part of their development cycle in the soil, without an intermediate host.
How does parasite infection occur?
The ways in which helminths enter the human body are very diverse, depending on social characteristics, natural and climatic factors, and food preferences. The main methods of helminth infection:
- Through dirty hands, contaminated water, poorly processed foods.
- By inhaling dust particles that contain worm eggs.
- Through the skin.
- After the bite of a mosquito as an intermediate host (Wuchereria bancrofti).
- By eating contaminated shellfish, meat and fish (trematodes).
The eating habits of some northern peoples suggest the use of raw and lightly salted fish. In this population, the prevalence of trichinosis and echinococcosis is high.
What organs are affected by helminthiasis?
Helminth damage can be localized to many organs and tissues. The localization of the helminth depends on the stage of its development, so the same type of worm at different stages of its existence can parasitize in different parts of the intestine. Organs affected by helminthiasis:
- Large intestine: intestinal worms, pinworms.
- Duodenum - Strongyloides stercoralis.
- Lymphatic vessels.
- Lungs – Paragonimidae.
- Subcutaneous tissue - Larva migrans.
- Helminths parasitize in hollow organs and tissues of the human body.
Depending on the location of the parasites, helminth infections are divided into types:
- tissue (echinococcosis, cysticercosis);
- luminal (taeniasis, enterobiasis, ascariasis).
Some helminths in the larval stage transform the tissues of the human body, forming capsules or granules around them (Trichinella, Toxocara). There is a type of helminths that migrate in a larval state both under a person's skin and in the tissues of their organs (larval helminths).
Its temporary residence in the human body takes both visceral and cutaneous forms; For them, the human being is an intermediate host.
Clinical manifestations of helminthiasis.
Like many other infections, helminthiasis goes through two stages of development: acute and chronic. Its duration:
- acute stage – from 2-3 weeks to several months;
- Chronic stage: from 2 to 3 months to several years.
Despite the variety of types of helminths and their localization, the symptoms of the acute stage have common manifestations - these are symptoms of allergies and toxic effects on the human body:
- slight increase in temperature
- Muscle pain,
- skin rash,
- swelling of the extremities,
- enlarged lymph nodes,
- dyspepsia,
- enlarged spleen and liver,
- damage to the central nervous system.
A laboratory blood test indicates a change in its formula: eosinophilia and a significant increase in the number of leukocytes are diagnosed. The transition from helminthiasis to the chronic stage is marked by symptoms that depend on the organ affected by the parasites, the stage of development of the worms, their number and variety. In the chronic stage of helminthiasis, the following symptoms are diagnosed:
- dyspepsia and intestinal pain,
- intestinal obstruction,
- colitis in hemorrhagic form,
- anemia,
- avitaminosis,
- sudden weight loss,
- obstructive jaundice, hepatitis (with liver damage),
- loss of some functions of the central nervous system (when the parasites are located in the brain),
- inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs (with migration of pinworms to the vagina),
- Stomach and intestinal ulcers (with chronic strongyloidiasis),
- damage to muscle tissue, formation of granulomas in the capillaries of the brain (with severe trichinosis),
- damage to the lymphatic system (due to infection with nematodes).
In helminthiasis caused by echinococci, not only liver cysts form, but the parasites can also damage bone tissue. This causes the bones to become brittle and creates an additional risk of bone fractures. Damage to the human body by Dirofilaria repens larvae occurs through the formation of a subcutaneous nodule containing parasites. This node is capable of moving through the thickness of the skin and mucous membranes.
Analyzing the symptoms of helminthiasis, one can be convinced that there is no stable clinical picture of this disease and no clear specific signs.
Diagnosis of parasite infestation.
If an accurate diagnosis is not made in time, you may miss a time when treatment could be most effective.
The transition of helminthiasis from the acute to the chronic stage often masks the true cause of the disease.
Parasite infection can be confused with symptoms of completely different diseases. It is extremely important not to self-medicate, but to seek medical help from an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist. Their arsenal includes quite a few modern methods for diagnosing parasitic infestations:
- laboratory examination of feces, bile, sputum, blood, urine, scrapings of rectal and anal mucus, duodenal contents for the detection of parasites, their eggs and larvae;
- Ultrasound, x-ray;
- endoscopy, endobiopsy.
The most effective method is considered to be a serological test - a method of analyzing blood serum for antigens for infection with certain types of helminths.
This test can reveal the presence of parasites even in the early stages of infection.
Treatment of parasitic infection with traditional methods.
Based on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes anthelmintic therapy and the timing of the control study after treatment.
All recommendations from specialists must be carefully followed to avoid complications.
There is no need to remind you that you must observe hygienic preventive measures that prevent parasites from infecting family members and secondary infections.
Supporters of the use of traditional recipes should remember that the use of these remedies is an auxiliary method that does not replace pharmacological treatment.
Like medications, traditional medicine has contraindications and side effects. That's why it's worth discussing this method with your doctor before using them. Home remedies:
- Eat peeled pumpkin seeds for 2 weeks, keeping the thin green skin of the seed.
- A decoction of the peel extracted from a pomegranate in 3/4 tbsp. boiling waterThe remedy is drunk on an empty stomach, this should be done an hour and a half before, dividing the decoction into three doses. After a few hours, be sure to stimulate the stool with any laxative.
- Enemas with freshly squeezed carrot juice (40 ml) should be done daily for 7 days.
- Regular consumption of garlic and preparations that contain it.
- Introduce a whole clove of garlic into the rectum (against enterobiasis).
- Take freshly prepared garlic juice (10-15 ml) along with warm milk (1 glass), drink the mixture on an empty stomach, repeat the intake 1-2 times during the day.
- Infusion of 50 g of a mixture of garlic and grated horseradish root in half a liter of vodka. The mixture is infused for 1. 5 weeks and filtered. Mandatory dose – 1 tablespoon. l. Before each meal you should drink the infusion. Effective for giardiasis.
- An enema with garlic porridge, taken shortly before bedtime, is effective against pinworms and tapeworms. Enema solution: Stir 1 teaspoon into a glass of water. finely chopped garlic. Perform regularly throughout the week.
- Decoction of 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp. milk, 1 tbsp. l. Dried tansy flowers are administered as an enema. The enema mixture should be boiled for about 10 minutes. Perform 7 times, the treatment effect can be consolidated by repeating the course after a ten-day break.
Herbs and fees:
- 1 tspDried wormwood, pour 400 ml (2 tablespoons) of boiling water, strain and cool, take an infusion of 1-2 tablespoons. l. three times a day before each meal. Effective against ascariasis and enterobiasis.
- Infuse tansy (1 tablespoon of dried flowers) and 0. 5 liters of boiling water for 3 hours and administer as an enema into the rectum before going to bed. The product is contraindicated in pregnant women and children.
- Infusion for half an hour from 4 tablespoons. l. green nuts and a glass of boiling salted water, filtered and taken simultaneously with a laxative. Effective against tapeworm, ascariasis, enterobiasis.
- 1 tablespoon. l. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over the tansy flowers and filter the infusion after an hour. The admission frequency is standard - art. l. 20 minutes before meals. Therefore, it is necessary to receive treatment for 2-3 days, finishing taking the infusion with a laxative.
- A decoction of 1 kg of sorrel and 1 liter of boiling water is boiled for 2 hours (it is better to do it in a water bath), filtered and a couple of tablespoons of sugar should be added to it. The volume of the final product is 1 glass of decoction, it should be drunk 1-2 sips per day before meals.
Helminthiases are complex infections with a multicomponent clinical picture. They can cause serious complications and cause irreversible damage to human health.
It is unacceptable to self-medicate when infected with parasites. Traditional recipes should be used with extreme caution, only as a complement to pharmacological treatment.