Helminths or parasitic worms behave very secretly in the human body.The symptoms of the immune response to infection by parasites can easily be confused with flu, food poisoning, allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc. and you may not be aware of infection with pork tapeworm, a tapeworm that reaches 3 meters in length, for its entire lifespan - 2-3 years.Today we will talk about Helminthiasis, as well as about anthelmintic drugs and why you should not take them "just for prevention."
So, first of all let's give an introduction.Most common helminths in our area inhabit the intestines.However, some types of parasites can also colonize body tissues - muscles, lungs, brain, eyeball tissue, etc.
All helminths that are parasites of the human body are divided into three categories:
- Roundworms - Nematodes:Roundworms, pinworms, trichinella, hookworms, etc.Nematodes are the most "popular" parasitic diseases.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion people in the world are simultaneously infected with them (in total, more than two billion people are infected with various helminths).
- Fluke worms are trematodes.They affect the liver, bile and urinary tract, pancreas, intestines, lungs, and blood.The most common trematodes are opisthorchiasis, schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, fascioliasis, etc., and some of them can trigger carcinogenesis - the development of tumors.
- Tapeworms are cestodes.Currently there are 3,500 known species, and each can be a parasite of the human body.The cestode your body chooses depends on the country you live in.One of the main sources of infection with this parasite is fish that has not undergone full heat treatment.Echinococcosis, dirofilariasis, taeniasis, teniarynchiasis are cestodiases that affect not only humans, but also pets.
Helminths suppress the immune response, as a result of which the body's defenses experience a severe infection.They cause allergies, digestive disorders, and interfere with the function of internal organs.The body is poisoned by metabolic and putrefaction products of helminths, experiencing mechanical damage and suppression of the immune and nervous systems.
In addition, the presence of parasites:
- reduce the effectiveness of vaccination;
- complicating the course of various concomitant diseases;
- has a negative impact on the growth and development of children and the ability to work of adults;
- causes changes in intestinal biocenosis and activation of the growth of "bad" microflora (pathogenic and opportunistic - for example, fungi of the genus Candida, which cause candidiasis).
In general, it is absolutely necessary to treat Helminthiases.But you have to do this wisely.
Helminthiasis treatment.Medicines for worms
Once upon a time, mainly herbal medicines were used to combat worms - male fern, wormwood cypress, chenopodia oil, etc. nowadays, synthetic substances are used for this purpose.Therefore, some obsolete drugs (the above-mentioned herbal drugs, as well as hexylresorcinol, carbon tetrachloride, etc.) are excluded from the medicinal anthelmintic nomenclature, and some remain, but are used very limited (wormwood and tansy flowers, thymol, sulfur, pumpkin seeds, etc.).
Modern anthelmintics are divided into groups depending on their main effect on helminths of different classes (cestodes, nematodes, trematodes).Some drugs can treat several different classes of helminths.But it is important to remember that there is no concept of "the best cure for worms" - it all depends on the type of parasite occupying your body.
Today, most anthelmintic drugs are produced based on six main active ingredients - albendazole, mebendazole, praziquantel, pyrantel, piperazine adipate and levamisole.Let's consider their properties in more detail.
Albendazole
Albendazole preparations are effective against various parasites - both intestinal and those living in other organs.In addition, the effect of this substance depends on the time at which it is taken:
- On an empty stomach, albendazole is not absorbed, but only passes through the digestive tract, destroying intestinal parasites;
- Together with fatty food, albendazole is absorbed and destroys parasites outside the intestines (muscles, liver, lungs, brain, other organs).
Therefore, the use of albendazole drugs should be clearly agreed with the doctor based on the diagnosis and preliminary test results.
Mebendazole
Compared to albendazole, mebendazole is absorbed less intensively, and its effect is mainly manifested in the gastrointestinal tract.Despite this, mebendazole can also be prescribed to combat helminths living in tissues - for example, in the case of echinococcosis, when the echinococcal cyst is in a place that cannot be removed immediately.
According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), albendazole and mebendazole should be used for helminthiases caused by so-called soil helminths: roundworms, tapeworms, worms.Both substances belong to the same group and have the same effect - disruption of glucose absorption in the helminth's body.If there is a lack of glucose, the parasite dies of starvation.
The drugs albendazole and mebendazole are not "budget", but they are very valuable because they have few possible side effects.
Praziquantel
Effective against trematodes (feline and lung flukes, schistosomes).It is used to treat clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, opisthorchiasis, intestinal cestodiasis (taeniasis, teniarinchiasis), and others.
Pyrantel
Pyrantel is practically not absorbed in the human body, and therefore has a targeted effect only on helminths that have settled in the intestine.It releases worms that are sensitive to it, and in this immobile state they are eliminated from the body.
Pyrantel preparations are approved for use by children aged 6 months and older - they can be given the medicine in the form of a suspension, because it is easier to dose (in the form of tablets, the medicine is approved for use only from 3 years).In general, Pyrantel is well tolerated, the main thing is to take it with food or immediately after.
Piperazine Adipate
This substance affects the muscle and nerve cells of nematodes and roundworms, as a result of which the parasites are paralyzed and leave the intestine naturally (together with the feces).
For ascariasis, a two-day course of taking piperazine is usually prescribed, and for enterobiasis (pinworms)-1-3 five-day courses with a week break between them.Pinworms do not react to piperazine as quickly as waterworms - they are more resistant.Between courses, it is necessary to do an enema to gradually release the battalion of dead pinworms from the intestines.
Levamisole
Levamisole paralyzes the muscles of worms and worms.Important!Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited within 24 hours after taking levamisole.Otherwise, expect dizziness, rapid heartbeat, general weakness and unpleasant consequences.All of these are "disulfiram-like reactions";They are the basis for the action of drugs used in the treatment of alcoholism and cause alcohol aversion.
In general, levamisole differs from other anthelmintics in the side effects that develop most often, although it does not mix with alcohol.These include headaches, seizures, peripheral polyneuropathy, tremors, sleep disturbances, and confusion.
Another characteristic side effect of levamisole is olfactory hallucinations.Many people who take levamisole complain that for several days after taking it, it seems to them that everything around them smells of bleach, smoke, "chemicals," etc.
Why you shouldn't take an anti-worm medication "just to be on the safe side"
It is not recommended to take antiparasitic drugs "just for prevention," even if you have pets at home that walk outside.The role of pets in infecting humans with parasites has been greatly exaggerated.Yes, humans and dogs have "common" parasites - toxocara, but in most cases people are infected with toxocara through street dirt, which contains particles of dog feces and, thus, toxocara larvae.In addition, dogs and farm animals can be carriers of the Echinococcus parasite, which is also dangerous to humans.However, you still should not take Anthelmintics randomly.
In fact, different drugs from this group not only act on different helminths, but also have different contraindications for use, as well as different side effects.Some of these side effects can be very severe, because many anthelmintic drugs are toxic - because otherwise you cannot neutralize the worms: they are very persistent, like any other parasitic organism.Sometimes, after taking certain anthelmintics, for example Dekaris, as well as when treating opisthorchiasis, it may even be necessary to admit the patient to the hospital.
It is necessary to expose your body to "toxic attack" only when the invasion is laboratory confirmed (tested for Helminthiasis and received a positive result).
Therefore, you should not follow the lead of parasitophobia, although it is always driven by aggressive advertising of various "miracle drugs" and internet horror stories.Do not forget that the sanitary conditions in our country, at least, are far from the same in Africa, where mass preventive deworming is fully allowed.The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a list of countries where continuous Helminth control is recommended.
Prevention of Helminthiases
Of course, prevention of helminth infections must be carried out.But what is meant here is not drug prevention.To minimize the risk of catching "uninvited guests", just try to follow two main rules:
- Wash your hands.The most common nematode infections in our area (toxocariasis, ascariasis, enterobiasis) and echinococcosis are not without reason called dirty hands disease.So, no matter how trivial it may sound, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.Moreover, now, against the background of the coronavirus pandemic, these basic rules of hygiene have acquired greater meaning.
- Maintain food hygiene.Parasite eggs can enter the body from unwashed fruits, vegetables, and herbs - so rinse them under running water.Meat and fish that have not undergone adequate heat treatment also pose an increased risk.Parasitic larvae are very common in carp species, and can also wait for you in caviar at home, especially in Pike, where broad tapeworm larvae like to settle.Raw minced meat and rare steaks may contain pork or pork tapeworm larvae.
In addition to the usual heat treatment, there is another reliable way to sterilize meat and fish - freezing them.A household freezer with a temperature of -20 ° C is suitable for this.Keep fish or meat there for at least two days - and you can be sure: the larvae of most parasites cannot withstand such a "cold test".
As you can see, the complete prevention of Helminthiasis is mostly a way of life, and not at all the regular use of toxic drugs.Therefore, do not get carried away with medicines for no special reason, watch your food and personal hygiene and get tested regularly.