Intestinal parasites are the scourge of modern society. According to statistics, almost every second person is the owner for this or that creature, hidden in the intestinal lumen. We are talking about both helminths - parasitic worms, and the simplest microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye. All of them exist at the expense of their owners, pulling on themselves nutrients, vitamins and minerals. But are parasites as dangerous as they say, and is it always necessary to treat an infected person right away?
A few words about fashionable disease
The topic of parasites is actively exaggerated in the media. In many Internet forums, the controversy over how to properly remove protozoa and helminths from the body does not stop. The most unusual schemes are presented, amazing recipes are offered that, according to forum members, can cure all diseases, from the well -known giardiasis to exotic schistosomiasis. From the TV screens they broadcast that human beings are in danger, and each of us has long been seriously ill and hopeless. The news was received by colleagues, relatives and friends who were terrified of the horrible prospects, and the advertising of magical drugs that could save humanity from dangerous neighbors did not stop.
What really happened? Of course, parasites exist and, when infected, can cause a lot of harm to a person. That’s just not every inhabitant of Earth is sick, and moreover, not everyone needs medical help. Before you try a new modeled remedy for a scary ringworm or a scary filaria, you should make sure that such treatment is needed.
It is important to understand: not all medications can solve the real problem. Many dietary supplements widely advertised in the media are not only useless, but also dangerous, and can lead to the development of serious health problems.
Uninvited guests: who is threatening someone?
Common parasites are:
- Giardia is the most frequent companion of children aged 2 to 5 years attending kindergarten. Adults with giardiasis rarely get sick.
- Pinworms are other parasites that occur mainly in preschool children and in adults who do not adhere to the rules of personal hygiene.
- Ringworms are parasites that live in the small intestine and are able to penetrate other organs (including the lungs). Reaching a large size, can lead to intestinal obstruction.
- Pig and bovine tapeworms, broad tapeworms choose the large intestine as their place of localization. Infection occurs through dirty food and hands.
- Opisthorchis and fascioli prefer to exist in the bile ducts, triggering the development of obstructive jaundice.
In recent years, exotic parasitic diseases have also been reported. This picture is associated with the active migration of the population, visiting popular tourist destinations, including Asian, African, and Latin American countries. Non-compliance with hygiene rules, swimming in local bodies of water, eating traditional foods, including those purchased from the market by hand, lead to active infection with unusual parasites, which can be recognized far from immediately.
Symptoms of parasitic infestation
The infection is often unnoticed by a person. The notorious Giardia can go unnoticed for years, and the only symptom is a change in habitual behavior. Giardiasis, "a disease of melancholy and sadness", makes the patient lethargic, indifferent, leads to fatigue, loss of strength, depressive mood. It is rare for anyone to find the cause in a parasite. Most people associate these symptoms with stress, fatigue, lack of sleep and other traits in one’s normal life.
Some parasites that live in the gut make themselves clearly recognizable. Against the background of aggression, certain signs may appear:
Dyspeptic syndrome
The most common manifestations of parasitic infections, characterized by the occurrence of symptoms such as:
- dizziness and vomiting;
- abdominal pain (usually around the center);
- diarrhea or constipation, unstable stools with pathological impurities.
In half of the patients there was an increase in the liver and spleen. The accumulation of parasites in the intestines can cause obstruction, leading to severe pain in the abdomen, and the absence of stool. This condition requires immediate surgical attention.
Anemia syndrome
Some parasites are able to attach to the intestinal mucosa to get the nutrients needed for life. Persistent injury leads to blood loss, which leads to iron deficiency and contributes to the development of anemia.
Common hangover syndrome
One of the signs of parasitic invasion is a prolonged subfebrile body temperature. If other causes of fever are not identified, it is advisable to check for helminths.
allergic syndrome
Long -existing parasites interfere with the digestive tract, which triggers the development of allergic reactions. It can be a breakdown of feces when eating certain foods or a skin rash like hives.
Decreased immunity
Parasites reduce the synthesis of immunoglobulins, and especially Yg A. This leads to the emergence of frequent colds and exacerbates chronic pathology.
Other signs of parasitic invasion
Against the background of infection with helminths, other symptoms may occur:
- bruxism - teeth grind during sleep;
- insomnia, often awake at night;
- pain in muscles and joints (with the spread of parasites or as an autoimmune response to their presence);
- Headache;
- shortness of breath, cough (when parasites enter the bronchopulmonary system).
All of these symptoms are not specific and can occur in a variety of diseases. Before trying to clean the body of parasites, you should make sure of their presence, as well as find out who exactly are these uninvited guests.
Diagnostic principles
Some parasites are easily detected in feces or on linen, while others are not detected without special laboratory tests. If you suspect an infection, you should see a doctor - general practitioner or infectious disease specialist. The doctor will conduct an examination, analyze the patient’s complaints and provide his or her recommendations for further diagnosis. There is no point in checking for all the parasites known to science and wasting time, money and nerves on such searches.
To diagnose dangerous guests, the following methods are used:
- detection of parasites and their eggs in feces;
- serological studies to determine antibody titers.
Diagnostic methods do not always indicate infection with parasites. Improper fecal collection techniques, violations of transport schemes - all this can lead to the fact that dangerous neighbors will not be identified. Serological studies also do not always show, because high immunoglobulin G titers persist for some time after complete elimination of parasites. If the patient is convinced that he is infected or there are certain prerequisites for this (visiting an exotic country, non -compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, cases of infection in the immediate vicinity), the examination should be repeated.
Is it necessary to cleanse the body of parasites?
Deworming is indicated only when the diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory methods. Symptoms alone are not enough to carry out any measures to cleanse the body of parasites. Abdominal pain, broken stools, or skin rashes do not indicate obvious infection with helminths, as these signs are also found in other diseases.
For deworming, various drugs are used to destroy harmful guests and remove them from the body. These drugs are toxic, causing unpleasant side effects, so you can take them only as directed by a doctor. The doctor will determine the dose and duration of the medication, and also indicate the effects that should be expected. If you do not follow these safety rules, you can seriously harm your body and achieve unwanted effects.
Drugs against parasites are only the first stage of therapy. Next, the doctor prescribes other medications:
- ways to restore the intestinal microflora;
- supplies for the normalization of gastrointestinal motility;
- antihistamines to eliminate allergic reactions;
- vitamin.
The purpose of such treatment is not only to destroy parasites, but also to restore normal body functions. In the second stage, various herbal decoctions are also used for successful treatment:
- sage brush;
- tansy;
- chamomile;
- flax seeds and pumpkin seeds, etc.
This herb is contained in various supplements used to cleanse the body of parasites. It is necessary to use such products with caution, because not always only relatively harmless components are included in the composition of such additives. At best, there will be no side effects from the miracle cure, at worst, unwanted reactions and complications will appear.
There are cases when excessive passion for enemas, decoctions and tinctures leads to poisoning or chemical burns, and then instead of getting rid of parasites, a person receives many new problems. It is especially dangerous to take dubious supplements for the elderly and all those with heart, kidney and liver disease.
Prevention
It doesn’t make sense to engage in regular body cleansing of parasites at home in an improved way. Preventive decontamination is allowed only in special situations:
- parasite detection in family members;
- outbreaks of parasitic diseases in residential areas;
- clear violation of the rules of personal hygiene when visiting an exotic country;
- eat raw or half -cooked meat and fish, drink unpurified water from dubious sources.
Prophylactic decontamination may be recommended for pet owners, especially if a dog or cat is out. But in this case, it is easier to give parasite pills to a pet than to subject your family members to the same procedure.
Before conducting any experiments on your own body, you should consult a doctor.