Prevention of parasitic infestations

Looking at 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 become infected with parasites!It has been proven that during the course of 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 today.The need for preventive measures is proven by the following figures and facts:

1. According to WHO, there are more than 4.5 billion people in the world who suffer from parasitosis.Parasites cause 16 million deaths every year.
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 fall ill with helminthiasis.
5. A person can be simultaneously attacked by up to 15 species of protozoa and over 250 species 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 throughout the body, they cause mechanical damage to organs and tissues, blockage of the bile ducts, and inflammatory processes.In addition, they can cause decreased 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 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 frosts and remaining invasive;
• zooanthroponoses— parasitic infestations that 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 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 the summer, when we enrich the diet with vitamins: fresh berries, vegetables, herbs.These products may contain grains of soil, and therefore eggs of parasites;
• 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 ingesting water;
• pets.All pet owners have a high probability of becoming infected with 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 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 activities, have a high probability of becoming infected with parasites.These specialists include plumbers, workers at 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

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. 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 infestations using disinfection and disinsection methods.This includes the disinfection of wastewater, food, and the treatment of public places from insects.For example, treating rest 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 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 remedies prevent the development of malaria even with possible infection.The same can be said about professional groups of the population.During certain periods, chemoprophylaxis of parasitic infestations is recommended for workers on livestock farms and agricultural farms.
5. Immunoprophylaxis or immunization of the population in areas of development of parasitic infestations.This measure is more concerned with the prevention of infection with protozoa than with helminthiases.
6. Improving the general sanitary culture of the population.

Personal parasite prevention measures

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

However, we can highlight 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 bedding and underwear;
• purchasing meat products in places of authorized trade;
• 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;
• thoroughly washing and treating vegetables, fruits, and herbs with boiling water;
• drinking bottled and boiled water;
• protecting food from insects;
• regular screening 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 seasonings with antiparasitic effects.Today, more than 50 plant species are known that have a detrimental 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 the 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 especially effective against parasites that attack the liver;
• carnation.The effectiveness of cloves against parasites has been known since ancient times.Cloves are destructive for flatworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and protozoa.In addition, it is effective against bacteria and viruses;
• pomegranate.Not only pomegranate fruits, but also the peel have an antiparasitic 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 detrimental effect on protozoa, fungi, and opportunistic microorganisms;
• St. John's wort.Actively fights luminal parasites living in the interstitial space of the colon;
• ginger roots.Capable of expelling parasites from the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.The plant has not only antiparasitic, but also anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory properties;
• fruits, seeds, flowers of viburnum.The plant expels parasites from the bronchopulmonary tree, urogenital, and gastrointestinal tracts.Additionally, 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 (coriander) are a common plant that is often used in salads.Good at expelling intestinal parasites;
• cinnamon.Does not lose antiparasitic properties even after heat treatment;
• nettle.Effective against parasites that affect the skin, intestines, and respiratory organs;
• incense.It has a particularly detrimental 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 be used only 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 with 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 a burn to the intestinal mucosa.