Prevention of parasitic infestations

Looking at unpleasant images of parasites on the Internet and in magazines, many people think that this problem will definitely not affect them.But this is not the case, anyone can become 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, the prevention of parasitosis remains relevant even today.The need for preventive measures is proven by the following figures and facts:

1. According to the WHO, more than 4.5 billion people in the world suffer from parasitosis.Each year, parasites cause 16 million deaths.
2. In Europe, every third resident is affected by parasitic infestations.
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 types of different worms.Helminthiasis accounts for about 89% of all parasitic infestations.

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

What are the types of parasitosis?

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

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

Separately, among parasitic invasions, contagious diseases are distinguished, in which parasites can be transmitted from person to person.

How can a person become infected with parasites?

Sources of parasitic diseases can be:

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

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 the garden, preparing fish, meat or salads.

There are a number of occupations where people, due to the nature of their activities, have a high probability of contracting parasites.These professionals include plumbers, farm workers, agricultural businesses, food processing and grounds cleaners.

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

Principles of parasite prevention at the community level

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

1. Timely detection and treatment of patients with parasitosis.A person treated in time does not pose a threat to others.
2. Timely destruction of pathogens of parasitic infestations using disinfection and disinsection methods.This includes disinfection of waste water, food and treatment of public places from insects.For example, treating rest areas against mosquitoes can prevent diseases such as heartworm disease.
3. Protection of the environment from contamination by substrates containing parasites.First of all, this is the timely disinfection of cesspools and the prevention of the use of fresh animal feces as fertilizer in agriculture.These requirements are enshrined in law and require strict implementation.
4. Prevention of parasitic infestations using chemotherapeutic agents.For example, when traveling to the tropics or to places where malaria is endemic, it is necessary to use antimalarial drugs.Such means prevent the development of malaria even in case of possible infection.The same can be said about the occupational groups of the population.In certain periods, chemoprophylaxis of parasitic infestations is recommended for workers in livestock farms and agricultural holdings.
5. Immunoprophylaxis or immunization of the population in areas of development of parasitic invasions.This measure is more concerned with preventing infection with protozoa than with helminthiasis.
6. Improving the general sanitary culture of the population.

Measures for personal prevention against parasites

There is no magic remedy that can protect a person from all parasitic infestations.Prevention of parasitic infection is multifaceted and includes many aspects.Preventive measures depend on the type of parasite, its development cycle and the way 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 disinfectants;
• regular boiling of bed linen and underwear;
• purchase of meat products from authorized outlets;
• sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish, which should be at least 30 minutes.Another effective way to combat parasites is to pre-freeze fish and meat;
• thorough washing and treatment of vegetables, fruits and herbs with boiling water;
• drinking bottled and boiled water;
• protecting food from insects;
• regular examination for parasites.

Plants that can protect against parasitosis

An effective measure to prevent infection with helminths and protozoa is the enrichment of the diet with plants and spices with antiparasitic action.Today, more than 50 types of plants are known to have a detrimental effect on parasites:

• roots of air.The plant is capable of infecting the nervous system of parasites and expelling them from tissues and organs;
• rhubarb roots.Acts on parasites living in the blood and muscle tissue;
• basil leaves and stems.The anti-parasitic effect of basil is similar to that of white blush;
• fruits, stems, leaves, roots of barberry.The plant is particularly effective against parasites that attack the liver;
• clove.The effectiveness of cloves against parasites has been known since ancient times.Cloves are destructive to flatworms, tapeworms, roundworms and protozoa.It is also effective against bacteria and viruses;
• Pomegranate Not only the fruits of the pomegranate, but also the peel have an antiparasitic effect.Pomegranate peels can be used to make tea;
• roots, flowers of Oman.They kill parasites that infect the digestive tract and nervous system.In addition, the plant removes toxins from the body;
• the aerial part of oregano that is used to make teas.The plant has a detrimental effect on protozoa, fungi and opportunistic microorganisms;
• St. John's wort.Actively fights lumen parasites living in the interstitial space of the large intestine;
• ginger roots.Able to expel parasites from the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.The plant has not only anti-parasitic, but also anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating properties;
• fruits, seeds, flowers of viburnum.The plant expels the parasites from the bronchopulmonary tree, urogenital and gastrointestinal tract.It also has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• cardamom seeds.They have a powerful effect on the larvae of parasites and protozoa, they have an antifungal effect;
• Cilantro (coriander) seeds are a common herb that is often used in salads.Good for expelling intestinal parasites;
• cinnamon.Does not lose anti-parasitic properties even after heat treatment;
• nettles.Effective against parasites that affect 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.Helps eliminate parasites found in the bronchopulmonary tree and lymphatic system.

Watercress, red pepper, sesame, alfalfa, raspberries, juniper, birch, mint, wormwood, dandelion, parsley, tansy, chamomile, rhubarb, walnut leaves, fennel, garlic also have a detrimental 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 their overdose 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 the treatment of parasites, enemas with garlic occupy one of the first places.But actually this method is ineffective and very dangerous.Most parasites live in the small intestine, which is unaffected by the enema.A possible complication after a garlic enema is burning of the intestinal mucosa.