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 indigestion are more often attributed to overeating or food quality. And few people believe that these symptoms can indicate a parasitic infection.
The worst thing is that they hide helminthiasis, slowly undermining our health. The risk group includes children, whose body is often vulnerable to parasites. This is why it is so important to prevent worms naturally, with the help of immunity.
Worms and damage to the body
Worm infestation 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, the parasites are divided into 3 groups:
- biohelminths- through food (echinococcus, bovine tape and pork).
- geohelminths- with hands contaminated with feces, household items, sometimes water (whip, hookworm, roundworm).
- contact worms- by personal contact with an infected person, less often by self-infection (pins, dwarf tape).
According to the structure of the body, parasites are divided into the following types:
- round (nematodes).
- film (cestodes);
- inflatables (have strong sucker and flat body).
The risk group includes children attending preschool, agricultural workers, immunocompromised patients, the elderly and the elderly. Pets can also pose a risk of infection.
In adults, helminthiasis often progresses latently, has a prolonged course, and presents with various clinical signs that are disguised as different pathologies. Children are characterized by an acute course with severe symptoms, which is associated with the peculiarities of the immune system.
Worms use the human body as a source of food, habitat and reproduction. Instead, by releasing the products of their vital activity, worms cause systemic toxic damage to human organs and systems.
For example, hookworm larvae secrete an anticoagulant to maintain blood flow. It has been estimated that A. duodenale alone causes 0. 2 ml of blood loss per day. For the loss of 5 ml of blood, the presence of 25 pieces of helminths in the body is enough. But there are usually many more than that. As a result, the infected person has severe anemia.
According to numerous studies, helminth infestations contribute to the more frequent development of physical diseases, worsening of chronic pathologies, having a negative effect on the host organism, including the immune system.
A feature of most helminths is the 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 variety 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 alert for our health. Protects the body from the introduction of viruses, bacteria and parasites. Unfortunately, immunity treats the latter a little worse. This is especially true for children. The child's defenses are underdeveloped and helminth infestations further undermine the body's resistance to infections. That is why the prevention of helminths in children is so important.
Antiparasitic immunity is similar to antibacterial immunity. Both cellular and humoral ligaments are involved in protecting against helminths. The first barrier for invaders 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 system cells that trigger a cascade of reactions to reject 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 barrier.
Immunity against helminths is divided into primary and secondary. Since the primordial individual is born, he is a genetically determined defense factor. The secondary is formed during life after infection and the production of specific antibodies against a particular type of parasite.
The recently discovered TSLP (Thymus Stromal Lymphopoietin) has 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 defense responses regulated by two types of T-lymphocytes.
The likelihood of infection depends largely on the innate immunity and 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 does not have the necessary vitamins and minerals 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 chronic stress or illness, it is imperative 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, resort to drug therapy.
How does worm's immunity work?
Primary helminth immunity can work in several ways:
- The parasite adapts to the internal environment of the host organism, grows well, grows, multiplies. The immune response is minimal. In such cases, helminths are long-lived, sometimes difficult. An example is the invasion of the dwarf film.
- A moderate immune response occurs with the introduction of helminths. This limits the worm's fertility. For example, a round worm.
- The defense reaction is well expressed, which prevents 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 a latent (latent) course.
- Effective primary immunity stops the introduction of parasites into the skin and mucous membranes. As a result, helminths do not penetrate the internal organs and do not harm health.
Secondary immunity helps the body respond faster and more efficiently to repeated helminthic invasion. This prevents the growth of worms in the first stage of infection and reduces the toxic effects. The protective reaction is based on the presence in the blood of antibodies (immunoglobulins) of this type of helminth.
The main links of the immune defense against parasite invasion:
- the reaction of the tissues of the internal organs, which leads to isolation (capsule formation) and destruction of worms.
- production of class A and E immunoglobulins.
- changes in hormonal activity, especially on the part of estrogen, which are found in both the female and male body.
- hereditary factor (antiparasitic primary immunity).
An indicator of infection is the high content of eosinophils in the blood, which indicates an allergic reaction. The second important point is the sharp increase in the concentration of immunoglobulin E, provided that there is no food intolerance.
Important prevention rules
The immune system treats the introduction of parasites in different ways, not always quite effectively. Our job is to help the body prevent the threat of alien invasion. Precautionary measures must be taken 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.
Precautionary measures are simple and accessible to all, while allowing you to completely (or almost completely) rule out the risk of helminth infestation. However, doctors advise high-risk groups to take extra precaution with medication, even if all necessary measures are taken. Medications are also taken according to the doctor's instructions if infection is suspected or worms are detected at diagnosis.
Rules for the prevention of helminthiasis:
- Buy meat and fish products at designated locations. Sellers must have a quality certificate and a health certificate.
- Cook the food adequately. Follow the rules of salting, canning and pickling.
- Drink boiled tap water or filtered water.
- Wash vegetables and fruits under running water before use. The grass can first be rinsed with soapy water and then rinsed with clean water. Dip strawberries in 1% baking soda. After the berries are washed well with running water. Vegetables that are heavily contaminated with fertilizers are first recommended to soak in a weak iodine solution (not more than 0. 3%).
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, outdoors, when working in your garden, after any contact with animals, including pets.
- Clean the area regularly with disinfectants, especially the bathrooms and the kitchen.
- Denature pets according to the veterinarian schedule (usually 1-2 times a year).
- In case of enterobiasis, pay special attention to hand and nail hygiene, wash the child at night and in the morning, change underwear and bed linen each time, which are ironed. This prevents recurrent self-infection.
- It is important to follow a healthy lifestyle to strengthen and maintain your immune system. Rational diet, regular physical activity, proper stress response and rejection of bad habits will reduce the risk of parasitic infection.
- Chemoprophylaxis 1-2 times a year according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor.
Medicines for worms are taken in pill form.It is a chemoprophylaxis that aims to destroy parasites that may have entered the body but failed to provoke a reaction from the internal organs.
They have an anthelmintic 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, a laxative is taken.
The prevention of helminthiasis consists in strengthening the immune system, the observance of the rules of personal hygiene and the culinary processing of the products. By following simple rules, we can protect ourselves from worm infection. Annual chemoprophylaxis helps our immune system cope with foreign attack.
Talk to your doctor before taking an anthelmintic. The specialist will choose the right treatment for you and will give recommendations for the treatment regimen. An uncontrolled intake can not only be useless, but also harm your health. Do not forget that.
An excellent alternative to pills are worm herbs.