Prevention of helminthsconsists in adhering to strict hygiene rules. Many of us do not even realize that we are infected with many parasites. Fatigue, apathy, headache and poor digestion are most often attributed to overwork or food quality. And few people think that these symptoms can indicate parasitic infection.
The worst thing is that helminths are hidden, slowly damaging our health. The risk group includes children whose bodies are often vulnerable to parasites. That is why it is so important to prevent worms naturally, with the help of immunity.
Helminths and bodily harm
Worm infection in humans can be caused by more than 400 species of parasitic worms. Infection often occurs through contaminated food and water, less often helminths penetrate the body through the skin.
Depending on the routes of infection, parasites are divided into 3 groups:
- biohelmintet- through food (echinococcus, beef and pork ribs);
- geohelminths- with hands contaminated with feces, household items, sometimes with water (whipworm, hook, roundworm);
- contact worms- by personal contact with an infected person, less often by self-infection (worms, dwarf tapeworm).
According to the structure of the body, parasites are divided into the following types:
- round (nematodes);
- tape (cestode);
- flux (have strong suckers and flat body).
The risk group includes children attending preschool institutions, agricultural workers, patients with immunity, the elderly and the elderly. Pets can also be a risk of infection.
In adults, helminthiasis often develops covertly (hidden), has a prolonged course, and manifests itself with various clinical signs disguised as a different pathology. Children are characterized by an acute course with vivid symptoms, which is associated with the peculiarities of the immune system.
Helminths use the human body as a source of food, habitat and reproduction. Instead, by releasing the products of their vital activity, worms cause toxic systemic damage to human organs and systems.
For example, needle worm larvae secrete an anticoagulant to maintain blood flow. It is estimated that A. duodenal alone causes 0. 2 ml of blood loss per day. For the loss of 5 ml of blood, the presence of 25 poisonous pieces in the body is enough. But there are usually many more of them. As a result, the infected person has severe anemia.
According to numerous studies, helminthic invasions contribute to the more frequent development of somatic diseases, exacerbation of chronic pathologies, having a negative effect on the host body, including its immune system.
A feature of most helminthiases is a chronic course associated with the prolonged presence of the pathogen in the body and recurrent recurrent infections. Helminthiasis in children is often accompanied by a range of non-specific symptoms: weakness, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances, indigestion, growth retardation and weight gain, and decreased immunity.
Diseases caused by helminths reduce the ability to work and worsen the quality of life.
The role of immunity against helminths
The immune system is on guard for our health. It protects the body from the introduction of viruses, bacteria and parasites. Unfortunately, immunity faces the latter a little worse. This is especially true for children. Child protection is underdeveloped and helminthic infestations further undermine the body's resistance to infections. That is why the prevention of helminths for children is so important.
Antiparasitic immunity is similar to antibacterial immunity. Cellular and humoral connections are involved in protection against helminths. The first barrier to intruders is the skin and mucous membranes. Most often, worms enter the body through the digestive tract. The mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines contains immune cells that trigger a cascade of reactions to repel the parasite and remove it from the body.
The problem is that helminths have their own defense mechanisms, which often allow them to easily cross the first hurdle.
Immunity to helminths is divided into primary and secondary. Since the main person is born, he is a genetically determined protective factor. Secondary is formed during life after infection and production of specific antibodies against a certain type of parasite.
The recently discovered TSLP (Thymus Stromal Lymphopoietin) aroused great interest among scientists. Due to its unique properties, cytokine plays an important role in protecting the body from worms. Depending on the nature of the infection, TSLP can enhance or suppress the defense reactions regulated by two types of T lymphocytes.
The possibility of infection depends mainly on the innate immunity and the health of the immune system as a whole, the effectiveness of which is always individual and depends on the type of worm.
The proper functioning of the immune system depends on our diet, if the body lacks the vitamins and minerals needed to build immune cells, then the response to infections will be weak and the fight will end in defeat.
Immunity needs biologically active substances that come to us with food. In case of stress or chronic illness, it is necessary to support the immune system with vitamins and trace elements, as the body uses all the nutrients to strengthen the nervous system, as well as herbs. And only in extreme cases, turn to drug treatment.
How does worm immunity work?
Primary immunity against helminths can work in several ways:
- The parasite adapts to the internal environment of the host organism, grows well, develops, multiplies. The immune response is minimal. In such cases, helminthiasis is long-term, sometimes severe. An example is the conquest of the dwarf strip.
- A moderate immune response appears with the introduction of the helminth. This limits the fertility of the worm. For example, the round worm.
- The protective reaction is well expressed, which blocks the full development of the parasite. The worm does not reach sexual maturity, but can be harmful to health. The disease is short-lived or takes on a latent (latent) course.
- Effective primary immunity prevents the entry of parasites into the skin and mucous phase. As a result, helminths do not penetrate the internal organs and do not harm health.
Secondary immunity helps the body respond more quickly and effectively to recurrent helminthic invasion. This blocks the development of worms in the first stage of infection and reduces toxic effects. The protective reaction is based on the presence in the blood of antibodies (immunoglobulins) to this type of helminth.
Key links of immune defense against parasitic invasion:
- tissue reaction of internal organs, which leads to isolation (formation of a capsule) and destruction of worms;
- production of class A and E immunoglobulins;
- changes in hormonal activity, especially on the part of estrogens, which are found in both the female and male body;
- hereditary factor (primary antiparasitic immunity).
An indicator of infection is a high content of eosinophils in the blood, which indicates an allergic reaction. The second important point is a sharp increase in the concentration of immunoglobulin E, provided there is no food intolerance.
Important rules of prevention
Immunity copes with the introduction of parasites in different ways, not always effectively. Our task is to help the body prevent the threat of foreign invasion. Preventive measures must be followed at all times and without exception.
Parents should teach their child from an early age the rules of personal hygiene to minimize the risk of infection.
Preventive measures are simple and accessible to all, while allowing you to completely (or almost completely) rule out the risk of helminth infestation. However, doctors recommend that at-risk groups undergo additional prophylaxis with medication, even if all necessary measures are taken. Medications are also taken as directed by the doctor if an infection is suspected or worms are detected during diagnosis.
Rules for the prevention of helminthiasis:
- Buy meat and fish products in certain places. Sellers must have a quality certificate and a health certificate.
- Cook enough food. Follow the rules of salting, canning and pickling.
- Drink boiled or filtered water.
- Wash vegetables and fruits under running water before use. Vegetables can first be rinsed with soapy water and then rinsed with clean water. Strawberries are dipped in a 1% soda solution. Once the berries are completely washed with running water. Vegetables heavily contaminated with fertilizers are recommended to be first soaked in a weak solution of iodine (not more than 0. 3%).
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, outside, working in your garden, after any contact with animals, including pets.
- Regularly clean the area with disinfectant, especially bathrooms and the kitchen.
- Tighten pets according to a veterinarian's schedule (usually 1-2 times a year).
- In case of enterobiasis, pay special attention to hand and nail hygiene, wash the baby at night and in the morning, change underwear and sheets, which are pre-ironed with an iron. This prevents recurrent self-infection.
- It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle to strengthen and maintain your immune system. Rational diet, regular physical activity, correct response to stress and rejection of bad habits will reduce the risk of parasite infection.
- Chemoprophylaxis 1-2 times a year according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor.
Medicines for worms are taken in pill form.This is a chemoprophylaxis that aims to destroy parasites that may have entered the body but did not have time to cause a reaction from the internal organs.
They have an antihelminthic effectpumpkin seeds.Before eating the seeds can be chopped and mixed with a little honey. The daily dose for adults is 300 grams, for children, depending on age. Up to 4 years - 80 grams, up to 7 years - 100 grams, up to 10 years - 150 grams, up to 15 years - 200 grams. After 3 hours, take a laxative.
Prevention of helminthiasis consists of strengthening the immune system, adhering to the rules of personal hygiene and culinary processing of products. By adhering to simple rules, we can protect ourselves from worm infection. Annual chemoprophylaxis helps our immune system cope with the foreign attack.
Talk to your doctor before taking an anthelmintic. The specialist will choose the right medicine for you and give recommendations for the treatment regimen. An uncontrolled waiting can not only be useless, but also harm your health. Remember this.
An excellent alternative to pills are worm herbs.