Prevent parasitic infections

Looking at the unflattering pictures of parasites on the Internet and in magazines, many people assume that the problem must not affect them.But this is not the case, anyone can become infected with parasites!It turns out that almost everyone is home to parasites and protozoa at least once in their lives.

What to do?The solution to this problem is effective prevention, which we will discuss in this article.

Facts and figures about parasites

Despite the continuous development of modern medicine, the prevention of parasitic diseases is still of great importance today.The following data and facts demonstrate the need for preventive measures:

1. According to the World Health Organization, more than 4.5 billion people worldwide suffer from parasitic diseases.Parasites kill 16 million people every year.
2. In Europe, one third of the population is affected by parasitic infections.
3. More than 70 percent of people in our country are infected with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can cause vision loss and neurological disease.
4. Every year, at least 20% of children attending educational institutions suffer from helminthiasis.
5. A person may be attacked by up to 15 species of protozoa and more than 250 different worms at the same time.Helminthiasis accounts for approximately 89% of all parasitic infections.

Parasites affect not only the digestive tract, but also other vital organs – the heart, liver, kidneys and brain.They spread throughout the body, causing mechanical damage to organs and tissues, obstruction of bile ducts and inflammatory processes.In addition, they can lead to decreased immunity, allergic reactions, and tumors.

What are the types of parasitic diseases?

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

• soil worm disease- Disease caused by parasites that spend one of their life cycles in the soil.The eggs of these parasites can survive underground for up to 7 years, surviving severe frosts and remaining invasive;
• animal and human diseases— Parasitic infections affecting humans and animals;
• purely human factors- Diseases unique to humans only.

In parasitic infections, infectious diseases are different, in which parasites can be transmitted from person to person.

How can a person become infected with parasites?

Sources of parasitic diseases may be:

• Household items in apartments, public places, transportation;
• Food - Unwashed vegetables, fruits, raw or under-processed meat, fish.Parasitic infections are especially common in the summer, when we add vitamins to our diet: fresh berries, vegetables, herbs.These products may contain soil particles and therefore parasite eggs;
• Water from tap water, rivers, lakes.Parasites can enter the human body through the skin and mucous membranes by ingesting water while swimming in a pond;
• pet.All pet owners have a high risk of contracting zoonotic diseases;
• Children's sandbox.For example, a child's sandbox may contain animal feces, which means there is a possibility of worm infestation.

A common cause of parasitic infections is poor personal hygiene.Infection can occur if you do not wash your hands after visiting public places, going to the toilet, handling money, working in the garden, preparing fish, meat or salad.

In many occupations, the likelihood of people becoming infected with parasites is high due to the nature of their activities.These specialists include plumbers, workers in livestock farms, agricultural enterprises, the food industry and area cleaners.

There are also parasites carried by insects.Such as flies and mosquitoes.

Principles of parasite prevention at the social level

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

1. Promptly detect and treat patients with parasitic diseases.People who are cured promptly do not pose a threat to others.
2. Use disinfection and insecticide methods to promptly eliminate the pathogens of parasitic infections.This includes disinfection of wastewater, food and insect control in public places.For example, mosquito-proofing your seating area can prevent diseases like heartworm disease.
3. Protect the environment from contamination of parasite-containing substrates.First, this is the timely disinfection of septic tanks and the prevention of fresh animal manure being used as agricultural fertilizer.These requirements are enshrined in law and need to be strictly enforced.
4. Use chemotherapy drugs to prevent parasitic infections.For example, antimalarial medications are required when traveling to tropical areas or areas where malaria is endemic.Such treatments can prevent the development of malaria even if infection is possible.The same is true for occupational groups within the population.At certain times, chemical prophylaxis against parasitic infections is recommended for workers on livestock farms and farms.
5. Immunoprophylaxis or immunization of the population in parasite-infected areas.This measure focuses more on preventing protozoal infections than helminthiasis.
6. Improve the health literacy level of the entire population.

Personal Parasite Prevention Measures

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

However, we can emphasize basic rules that can reduce the risk of parasitic diseases:

• Personal hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after going to public places, after contact with pets, and before eating;
• Wet cleaning of apartments regularly using disinfectants;
• Boil bedding and underwear regularly;
• Purchase meat products at authorized trading premises;
• Meat and fish should be fully heat treated, at least 30 minutes.Another effective way to combat parasites is to pre-freeze fish and meat;
• Wash and process vegetables, fruits and herbs thoroughly in boiling water;
• Drink bottled and boiled water;
• Protect food from insects;
• Screen regularly for parasites.

Plants that can prevent parasitic diseases

An effective measure to prevent helminth and protozoal infections is to include plants and spices with antiparasitic effects in the diet.Today, more than 50 plants are known to have harmful effects on parasites:

• Calamus root.The plant is able to infect the nervous system of the parasite and expel it from tissues and organs;
• Marshmallow root.Acts on parasites in blood and muscle tissue;
• Basil leaves and stems.Basil’s antiparasitic effects are similar to those of marshmallow;
• Barberry berries, stems, leaves, 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.Additionally, it is effective against bacteria and viruses;
• Pomegranate.Not only the pomegranate fruit but also the peel has antiparasitic properties.Pomegranate peels can be used to make tea;
• The roots and flowers are Elecampane.They kill parasites that infect the digestive tract and nervous system.Additionally, the plant removes toxins from the body;
• The aerial parts of oregano are used to make tea.The plant has deleterious effects on protozoa, fungi, and opportunistic microorganisms;
• St. John's Wort.Actively combat luminal parasites living in the colonic spaces;
• ginger root.Able to expel parasites from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.The plant not only has antiparasitic effects but also has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory properties;
• Fruits, seeds, flowers of Viburnum genus.The plant excretes parasites from the bronchopulmonary tree, urogenital and gastrointestinal tracts.Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties;
• Cardamom seeds.They are powerful against the larval stages of parasites and protozoa and have antifungal effects;
• Coriander seed (cilantro) is a common plant often used in salads.Good at getting rid of intestinal parasites;
• Cinnamon.Antiparasitic properties are not lost even after heat treatment;
• nettle.Effective against parasites affecting the skin, intestines and respiratory organs;
• fragrant.It has particularly harmful effects on parasites of the respiratory and nervous systems;
• Commonly seen are the roots, leaves and stems of burdock.Helps eliminate parasites located in the bronchopulmonary tree and lymphatic system.

Watercress, paprika, sesame seeds, alfalfa, raspberries, juniper, birch, mint, mugwort, dandelion, parsley, tansy, chamomile, rhubarb, walnut leaves, fennel and garlic also have adverse effects on parasites.

Plants with antiparasitic properties can only be used in preventive doses.For example, large amounts of plants such as St. John's wort, yarrow, and tansy are poisonous and can be dangerous in overdose.Always consult an expert if you are unsure about the safety of a particular plant.

In addition, it is worth paying attention to the role of garlic.Among the folk remedies for treating parasites, garlic enemas occupy the first place.But in fact, this method is ineffective and very dangerous.Most parasites live in the small intestine and are not affected by enemas.A possible complication after a garlic enema is burns to the intestinal mucosa.