Prevention of parasitic infections

Seeing unpleasant images of parasites on the Internet and magazines, many people think that this problem will definitely not affect them.But that's not the case, anyone can get infected with parasites!It has been proven that during life, almost every person at least once becomes a "home" for helminths and protozoa.

How then?The solution to the problem is competent prevention, which we will discuss in this article.

About parasites in facts and figures

Despite the development of modern medicine, prevention of parasitosis remains important today.The need for preventive measures is proven by the following figures and facts:

1. According to the WHO, there are more than 4.5 billion people in the world who suffer from parasitosis.Parasites cause 16 million deaths each year.
2. In Europe, every third resident is affected by parasitic infections.
3. More than 70% of people in our country are infected with toxoplasma - parasites that can cause vision loss and neurological disorders.
4. Every year, at least 20% of children attending educational institutions get sick with helminthiasis.
5. A person can be attacked simultaneously by up to 15 types of protozoa and over 250 different types of worms.Helminthiasis accounts for about 89% of all parasitic infections.

Parasites can affect not only the digestive tract, but also other vital organs - the heart, liver, kidneys and brain.Traveling throughout the body, they cause mechanical damage to organs and tissues, blockage of bile ducts and inflammatory processes.In addition, they can cause a decrease in immunity, allergic reactions and oncology.

What are the types of parasitosis?

There are many parasitic diseases.The most common of them include:

• geohelminthiasis- diseases caused by parasites that pass one of their life cycles in the soil.The eggs of these parasites can survive in the soil for up to 7 years, surviving severe frosts and remaining invasive;
• zooanthroponoses- parasitic infections affecting both humans and animals;
• pure anthroponoses- diseases characteristic only of humans.

Apart from parasitic infections, contagious diseases are distinguished, in which parasites can be transmitted from person to person.

How can a person become infected with parasites?

The sources of parasitic diseases can be:

• household items in the apartment, public places, transport;
• food - vegetables, poorly washed fruits, raw or insufficiently processed meat, fish.Infection with parasites is especially frequent in the summer, when we enrich the diet with vitamins: fresh berries, vegetables, herbs.These products may contain soil grains, and therefore parasite eggs;
• tap water, water in rivers, lakes.While swimming in a pond, parasites can enter the human body through the skin, mucous membranes, as a result of swallowing water;
• domestic animals.All pet owners have a high probability of being infected with zooanthroponoses;
• sandbox for children.For example, children's sandboxes may contain animal feces, which means that there is a possibility of helminth infection.

A common cause of parasite infection is poor personal hygiene.Infection can occur if you do not wash your hands after visiting public places, using the toilet, handling money, working in your garden, preparing fish, meat or salads.

There are a number of professions where people, due to the nature of their activity, have a high probability of being infected with parasites.These specialists include plumbers, workers in livestock farms, agricultural enterprises, the food industry and area cleaners.

There are also parasites that are carried by insects.For example, flies, mosquitoes.

Principles of parasite prevention at the societal level

About 1 million patients with parasitic diseases are registered in our country every year.In this regard, preventive measures have been developed to prevent the spread of parasitosis.The basic principles of prevention include:

1. Timely identification and treatment of patients with parasitosis.A person cured in time does not pose a threat to others.
2. Timely destruction of pathogens of parasitic infections using disinfection and disinfection methods.This includes disinfection of sewage, food and the treatment of public places from insects.For example, treating resting areas for mosquitoes can prevent diseases such as dirofilariasis.
3. Protection of the environment from contamination by substrates containing parasites.First of all, this is the timely disinfection of pits and the prevention of the use of fresh animal feces as fertilizer in agriculture.These requirements are stipulated in the law and require strict implementation.
4. Prevention of parasitic infections using chemotherapeutic agents.For example, when traveling to tropical countries or countries where malaria is endemic, it is necessary to use antimalarial drugs.Such means prevent the development of malaria even with possible infection.The same can be said about the occupational groups of the population.During certain periods, chemoprophylaxis of parasitic infections is recommended for workers on livestock farms and agricultural farms.
5. Immunoprophylaxis or immunization of the population in areas of development of parasitic infections.This measure has more to do with the prevention of infection with protozoa than with helminthiases.
6. Improving the general sanitary culture of the population.

Personal measures for the prevention of parasites

There is no magic medicine that can protect a person from all parasitic infections.Prevention of parasite infection is multifaceted and involves many aspects.Preventive measures depend on the type of parasite, its development cycle and how it enters the human body.

However, we can highlight the basic rules that can reduce the risk of developing parasitosis:

• personal hygiene: thorough hand washing after visiting public places, contact with pets, before eating;
• regular wet cleaning of the apartment with disinfectant;
• regular boiling of bedding and underwear;
• purchase of meat products in authorized trading places;
• sufficient thermal treatment of meat and fish, which should be at least 30 minutes.Another effective way to fight parasites is pre-freezing fish and meat;
• washing and thorough treatment of vegetables, fruits and plants with boiling water;
• drinking bottled and boiled water;
• protecting food from insects;
• regular checks for parasites.

Plants that can protect against parasitosis

An effective measure to prevent infection by helminths and protozoa is to enrich the diet with plants and spices with antiparasitic effects.Today, more than 50 plant species are known that have a harmful effect on parasites:

• calamus roots.The plant is capable of infecting the nervous system of parasites and extracting them from tissues and organs;
• marshmallow roots.Acts on parasites living in blood and muscle tissue;
• basil leaves and stems.The antiparasitic effect of basil is similar to that of marshmallow;
• berries, stems, leaves, roots of barberry.The plant is particularly effective against parasites that attack the liver;
• carnation.The effectiveness of cloves against parasites has been known since ancient times.Cloves are destructive to flatworms, tapeworms, roundworms and protozoa.In addition, it is effective against bacteria and viruses;
• pomegranate.Not only the pomegranate fruit, but also the peel has an anti-parasitic effect.Pomegranate peels can be used to make tea;
• roots, flowers of elecampane.They kill parasites that infect the digestive tract and nervous system.In addition, the plant removes toxins from the body;
• the above-ground part of oregano, which is used to make teas.The plant has a harmful effect on protozoa, fungi and opportunistic microorganisms;
• St. John's wort.Actively fights luminal parasites living in the interstitial space of the large intestine;
• ginger roots.Able to remove parasites from the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.The plant has not only anti-parasitic properties, but also anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating;
• the fruits, seeds, flowers of the vine.The plant removes parasites from the bronchopulmonary tree, urogenital and gastrointestinal tracts.In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• cardamom seeds.They have a powerful effect on the larval stages of parasites and protozoa and have an antifungal effect;
• Cilantro seeds are a common herb often used in salads.Good at removing intestinal parasites;
• cinnamon.It does not lose its antiparasitic properties even after heat treatment;
• nettlesEffective against parasites affecting the skin, intestines and respiratory organs;
• incense.It has a particularly harmful effect on parasites of the respiratory system and the nervous system;
• roots, leaves, stems of common burdock.It helps eliminate parasites located in the bronchopulmonary tree and the lymphatic system.

Cabbage, red pepper, sesame, alfalfa, raspberry, juniper, birch, mint, wormwood, dandelion, parsley, tansy, chamomile, rhubarb, walnut leaves, fennel and garlic also have a harmful effect on parasites.

Plants with antiparasitic properties should only be used in prophylactic doses.For example, plants such as St. John's wort, yarrow, tansy in large quantities are poisonous and an overdose of them is dangerous.If you are not sure about the safety of a particular plant, be sure to consult a specialist.

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the effect of garlic.Among folk remedies for parasites, garlic enemas occupy one of the first places.But in fact, this method is ineffective and very dangerous.Most parasites live in the small intestine, which is not affected by the enema.A possible complication after a garlic enema is burning of the intestinal mucosa.