Prevention of parasitic infections

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

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

Facts and figures about parasites

Despite the development of modern medicine, the prevention of parasitosis remains relevant today.The necessity of preventive measures is proved by the following figures and facts:

1. According to WHO, more than 4.5 billion people in the world suffer from parasitosis.Parasites kill 16 million people every year.
2. Every third person in Europe suffers from 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 who go to educational institutions get sick with helminthosis.
5. A person can be attacked by 15 types of protozoa and more than 250 different types of worms at the same time.Helminths account for about 89% of all parasitic infections.

Parasites can affect not only the digestive system, but also other vital organs - the heart, liver, kidneys and brain.Traveling throughout the body, it causes 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:

• geohelminthoses- diseases caused by parasites that spend one of their life cycles in the soil.The eggs of these parasites can live in the soil for up to 7 years, withstand severe frosts and remain invasive;
• zooanthroponoses— parasitic infestations affecting both humans and animals;
• pure anthroponoses- diseases that are unique to humans.

Parasitic infestations also include infectious diseases 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, in public places, in transport;
• food - poorly washed vegetables, fruits, raw or insufficiently processed meat, fish.Infection with parasites is common especially in summer, when we enrich the diet with vitamins: fresh berries, vegetables, greens.These products may contain soil particles and therefore parasite eggs;
• tap water, water in rivers, lakes.While swimming in the pool, parasites can enter the human body through the skin and mucous membranes as a result of drinking 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 infection.

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

There are a number of occupations where people are more likely to be infected with parasites due to the nature of their activities.These professionals include plumbers, workers in livestock farms, agricultural enterprises, food industry and grounds cleaners.

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

Principles of parasite control at the community level

About 1 million parasitic patients are registered in our country every year.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 parasitism.A person who recovers in time does not pose a danger to others.
2. Timely destruction of pathogens of parasitic infestations using disinfection and disinsection methods.This includes disinfection of waste water, food, cleaning of public places from insects.For example, treatment of resting places for mosquitoes can prevent diseases such as dirofilariasis.
3. Protection of the environment from contamination with substrates containing parasites.First of all, it is the timely disinfection of waste and the prevention of the use of fresh animal excrement as fertilizer in agriculture.These requirements are established by law and require strict compliance.
4. Prevention of parasitic infections using chemotherapeutic agents.For example, antimalarial drugs should be used when traveling to the tropics or areas where malaria is endemic.Such means prevent the development of malaria even with possible infection.The same can be said about professional groups of the population.In certain periods, chemical prevention of parasitic infections is recommended for workers working in livestock farms and agricultural farms.
5. Immunoprophylaxis or immunization of the population in areas where parasitic infestations develop.This measure is related to the prevention of infection with protozoa rather than helminthosis.
6. Raising the general sanitary culture of the population.

Individual parasite prevention measures

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

However, we can mention the main 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 bedding and underwear;
• purchase of meat products in authorized trading places;
• meat and fish should be sufficiently heat treated, at least 30 minutes.Another effective way to combat parasites is to pre-freeze fish and meat;
• thoroughly wash and treat vegetables, fruits and herbs with boiling water;
• drink bottled and boiled water;
• protect food from insects;
• regular examination for parasites.

Plants that can protect against parasitism

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

• calamus roots.The plant is able to infect the nervous system of parasites and expel them from tissues and organs;
• marshmallow roots.Affects parasites living in blood and muscle tissue;
• basil leaves and stems.Basil's anti-parasitic effect is similar to that of marshmallow;
• berries, stems, leaves, barberry roots.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;
• pomegranateNot only the fruits of the pomegranate, but also the peel has an anti-parasitic effect.Pomegranate peel can be used to make tea;
• roots, elecampane flowers.They kill parasites that infect the digestive system and nervous system.In addition, the plant removes toxins from the body;
• the above-ground part of thyme used to make tea.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.It is able to expel parasites from the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.The plant is not only antiparasitic, but also has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory properties;
• fruits, seeds, flowers of viburnum.The plant expels parasites from the bronchopulmonary tree, genitourinary and gastrointestinal tract.In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• cardamom seeds.They have a strong effect on the larval stages of parasites and protozoa and have an antifungal effect;
• Cilantro seed (coriander) is a common herb often used in salads.Good at eliminating intestinal parasites;
• cinnamon.It does not lose its antiparasitic properties even after heat treatment;
• nettle.It is effective against parasites affecting the skin, intestines and respiratory organs;
• incense.It has a particularly harmful effect on parasites of the respiratory system and nervous system;
• common burdock roots, leaves, stems.Helps eliminate parasites located in the bronchopulmonary tree and lymphatic system.

Basil, red pepper, sesame, clover, raspberry, juniper, maple, mint, wormwood, dandelion, parsley, tansy, chamomile, rhubarb, walnut leaf, fennel, garlic also have a harmful effect on parasites.

Plants with antiparasitic properties should be used only in prophylactic doses.For example, large amounts of plants such as St. John's wort, yarrow, tansy are poisonous and their overdose is dangerous.If you are unsure about the safety of a particular herb, be sure to consult a professional.

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the effect of garlic.Among folk remedies against parasites, garlic enemas occupy one of the first places.But in fact, this method is ineffective and very dangerous.Most of the 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.