Prevention of parasitic infestations

Looking at unpleasant pictures of parasites on the Internet and in magazines, many people think that this problem will definitely not affect them.But that’s not the case, anyone can be infected with parasites!It has been proven that during life almost every person at least once becomes a “hotbed” for helminths and protozoa.

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

About parasites in facts and figures

Despite the development of modern medicine, the prevention of parasitosis remains relevant 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 worldwide suffer from parasitosis.Parasites cause 16 million deaths each year.
2. In Europe, one in three inhabitants is affected by parasitic infestations.
3. More than 70% of people in our country are infected with toxoplasma, a parasite that can cause vision loss and neurological disorders.
4. Every year, at least 20% of children attending educational institutions become ill with helminthiasis.
5. A person can be attacked simultaneously by up to 15 species of protozoa and more than 250 different species of worms.Helminthiasis accounts for approximately 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 throughout the body, they cause mechanical damage to organs and tissues, blockage of bile ducts and inflammatory processes.In addition, they can cause decreased immunity, allergic reactions and oncological effects.

What are the types of parasitosis?

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

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

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

How can a person become infected with parasites?

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.Parasitic infections are especially common in summer, when we enrich our diet with vitamins: fresh berries, vegetables, herbs.These products may contain grains of earth, and therefore parasite eggs;
• tap water, river water, lakes.When swimming in a pond, parasites can enter the human body through the skin, mucous membranes, following ingestion of water;
• pets.All pet owners have a high probability of being infected with zooanthroponoses;
• sandboxes for children.For example, children's sandboxes may contain animal feces, which means there is a risk of helminth infection.

A common cause of parasitic 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 in which people, due to the nature of their activities, have a high probability of becoming infected with parasites.These specialists include plumbers, workers on livestock farms, agricultural enterprises, the food industry and surface cleaners.

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

Principles of parasite prevention at the societal level

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

1. Rapid identification and treatment of patients with parasitosis.A person cured in time does not pose a threat to others.
2. Rapid destruction of pathogens of parasitic infestations using disinfection and disinsection methods.This includes disinfection of wastewater, food and treatment of public places against insects.For example, treating rest areas for mosquitoes can prevent diseases such as heartworm.
3. Protection of the environment against contamination by substrates containing parasites.First of all, it is the timely disinfection of cesspools and the prevention of the use of fresh animal droppings 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 places where malaria is endemic, it is necessary to use antimalarial medications.Such remedies prevent the development of malaria, even with possible infection.The same can be said of the professional groups of the population.During certain periods, chemoprophylaxis of parasitic infestations is recommended for livestock and agricultural workers.
5. Immunoprophylaxis or immunization of the population in areas of development of parasitic infestations.This measure concerns more the prevention of infection by protozoa than by helminthiasis.
6. Improve the general health culture of the population.

Personal parasite prevention measures

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

We can nevertheless highlight basic rules which 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 meat products from approved retail outlets;
• sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish, which should last at least 30 minutes.Another effective way to combat parasites is to pre-freeze fish and meat;
• wash and treat vegetables, fruits and herbs thoroughly with boiling water;
• drink bottled and boiled water;
• protect food from insects;
• regular screening for parasites.

Plants that can protect against parasitosis

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

• calamus roots.The plant is capable of infecting the nervous system of parasites and expelling them from tissues and organs;
• marshmallow roots.Acts on parasites living in blood and muscle tissues;
• 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;
• eyelet.The effectiveness of cloves against parasites has been known since Antiquity.Cloves are destructive to flatworms, tapeworms, roundworms and protozoa.In addition, it is effective against bacteria and viruses;
• grenade.Not only pomegranate fruits, but also their skin have an antiparasitic effect.Pomegranate peels can be used to make tea;
• roots, elecampane flowers.They kill parasites that infect the digestive tract and nervous system.In addition, the plant eliminates toxins from the body;
• the aerial part of oregano, which is used to make teas.The plant has a detrimental effect on protozoa, fungi and opportunistic microorganisms;
• St. John's wort.Actively combats luminal parasites living in the interstitial space of the colon;
• ginger roots.Able to expel parasites from the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.The plant not only has antiparasitic, but also anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties;
• fruits, seeds, viburnum flowers.The plant expels 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;
• Coriander seeds (cilantro) are a common herb often used in salads.Good for expelling intestinal parasites;
• cinnamon.Does not lose its antiparasitic properties even after heat treatment;
• nettle.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 nervous system;
• roots, leaves, stems of common burdock.Helps eliminate parasites located in the bronchopulmonary tree and the lymphatic system.

Watercress, red pepper, sesame, alfalfa, raspberries, juniper, birch, mint, wormwood, dandelion, parsley, tansy, chamomile, rhubarb, walnut leaves, fennel and 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 and tansy in large quantities are poisonous and their overdose is dangerous.If you are unsure about the safety of a particular plant, be sure to consult a specialist.

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the effect of garlic.Among the folk remedies for parasites, garlic enemas occupy one of the first places.But in reality, 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 a burn of the intestinal mucosa.