Anthelmintics are used to treat various types of helminthiasis (infection with parasites) and their prevention.According to the WHO, helminth infestation affects 95% of the world's population and almost everyone takes deworming pills at least once in their life.Therefore, it is so important to understand the existing spectrum of pharmacological agents, the features of their use, the specificity of their action and possible side effects.
Anti-worm drugs are divided into two categories: broad-spectrum tablets and drugs that act selectively on a specific type of worm.Broad-spectrum drugs act as a toxin for most known parasites.But targeted drugs are safer for humans and provide a guaranteed result in establishing an accurate diagnosis.
Until now, only herbal remedies have been used to treat worms.The most famous anthelmintic herbs are tansy, pumpkin seeds, garlic, worm fern extract, cloves, yarrow, dandelion and others.Taking herbal preparations has proven to be effective in preventing helminthic infestations.Their composition is balanced, harmless to humans (as long as there is no individual intolerance) and with prolonged use they create an unfavorable environment for the development of worms.
How does a parasite infection occur?
Unfortunately, many people neglect preventive measures because they believe that parasitic diseases are the fate of third world countries or people who neglect personal hygiene.To catch worms, you don't have to eat unwashed food, hug street cats, or eat raw meat and fish.
The eggs of many parasites (cysts) - roundworms, pinworms, echinococci - are microscopic and occur in the soil.Along with dust, cysts rise into the air and are inhaled by people.The development of the parasite begins in the human body: a larva hatches from the egg, which then transforms into an adult parasite.
You can become infected with worms through contact with a sick person.At the same time, people often do not know what the source of the infection is: helminth infestation occurs for a long time without any symptoms.And only after a few years it turns out that the health has been severely affected by parasites.
Worm eggs are found on household items and are transmitted by insects.There are many routes of infection, so prevention of parasitosis is indicated for both adults and children.
Types of parasitic worms and methods of combating them
The type of infection with parasitic worms, the symptoms of helminthiasis and the tablets suitable for treating worms depend on the class of the causative agent of the disease.There are three classes of parasites: cestodes, trematodes and nematodes.
Cestode remedies
Cestodes are tapeworms that cause certain diseases in humans: Cestodias.There are more than 3,500 helminths in this class, 30 of which pose a direct threat to human health.The most famous representatives of cestodes: dwarf, pork and cattle tapeworms, tapeworm.To combat these parasites, dewormers containing praziquantel and albendazole are used.
All cestodes have a similar structure: their body is divided into a head, neck and body, which consist of many segments.There are hooks on the head for attachment to the host's intestines.Each segment of the helminth is a kind of “factory” for the production of eggs: cestodes are very fertile and can produce up to 2 million cysts per day.Together with the feces, the eggs enter the environment, where the life cycle of the cestodes begins.
The helminth cyst enters the groundwater in a protective shell, from there into plants and is eaten along with grass by livestock.Cysts are activated in their body, from which larvae hatch and spread throughout the body of the intermediate host.When a person eats contaminated meat, the larvae enter his gastrointestinal tract, where they penetrate the intestinal walls and develop into a sexually mature individual.If the larvae get into the blood or lymph, they spread throughout the body along with fluids and settle in all organs and tissues: muscles, lungs, heart, brain and spinal cord.Some parasitic worms from the cestode class live up to 20 years and during this period slowly eat a person from the inside.Since cestodes have almost completely lost the digestive system, helminths absorb nutrients from the host's intestines.The human body quickly begins to suffer from malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.
The most common infections caused by cestodes are hymenolipedosis, diphyllobothriasis, cysticercosis and teniarinchiasis.Although each helminthic infection has its own characteristics, all cestodiases are characterized by some common symptoms:
- The gastrointestinal tract and liver are particularly affected.An exception is cysticercosis, in which pork tapeworm larvae can invade any tissue, including skin, muscles, brain, and spinal cord;
- Severe mechanical damage to the intestinal mucosa occurs at the attachment points of the scolex - as a result, erosions and ulcers form;
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract develop: pain appears in the intestines, bowel movements are disturbed, vomiting is possible, the patient begins to lose weight, appetite changes (either increases or disappears);
- Neurological symptoms occur: fatigue, sleep disorders, irritability, and in cysticercosis also headaches and psychological disorders.
Properly selected anti-worm medications can quickly eliminate the infestation.
Trematodes and drugs against this type of helminths
Unlike cestodes, trematodes or flatworms affect all organs and tissues, causing severe systemic disorders in the human body.The best known helminths in this class are schistosomes, liver flukes and cat flukes.The structure of all trematodes is approximately the same: adult individuals have a flattened, leaf-shaped body of different sizes, for example, in liver flukes - up to 2 mm.
The life cycle of the parasite is quite complex with multiple intermediate hosts.Trematode eggs end up in freshwater bodies and then in the body of the mollusk.A larva hatches from the cyst and undergoes a series of metamorphoses, making it mobile and active.The cercariae leave the body of the first intermediate host and enter the body of the fish.Here the helminth larva forms a protective capsule around itself and waits until the fish is eaten by the last host - a human.In the human gastrointestinal tract, the protective covering is destroyed and the parasite begins to actively explore its new habitat, entering the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body.The “preferred” habitat of trematodes is the liver, bile ducts and other abdominal organs.
Preparations against trematode worms contain active ingredients such as praziquantel, triclabendazole, bithionol, the dosage and duration of which vary depending on the type of infestation.Any synthetic drug against worms is a poison that is dangerous for both helminths and humans.Therefore, taking anthelmintics is associated with serious side effects (including the development of comatose states) and has many limitations.
The general symptoms of all trematodes are as follows:
- Acute allergic reactions: appearance of skin rash, itching and irritation;
- Difficulty urinating, appearance of cloudy sediment in the urine;
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract: diarrhea, the appearance of unpleasant heaviness every time after eating, pain and vomiting;
- Anemia;
- insomnia, increased irritability;
- Reduced immunity and associated frequent colds.
If you do not take medications against worms on time, dysfunction of the organs affected by the parasite will occur.When trematodes become lodged in the liver, cirrhosis develops;When the genitourinary system is affected, blood may be present in the urine, vaginal bleeding occurs in women, and infertility is possible.
Nematode remedies: how to get rid of parasites?
The third class of parasitic worms are nematodes or roundworms.In total there are more than 24,000 species, although not all of them lead a parasitic lifestyle.The most well-known roundworms are roundworms, pinworms and trichinella, which cause ascariasis, enterobiasis and trichinosis, respectively.Ascariasis is one of the most common helminthic infestations: according to WHO, every fourth person on the planet suffers from it.In total, parasitologists count more than 45 species of nematodes that pose a danger to humans.
They all have a similar rounded body shape, but the size of nematodes can vary from microscopic (about 80 micrometers) to simply gigantic (up to 8 meters).The life cycle of nematodes is approximately the same;Let's look at it using the example of roundworms.The eggs of the parasite, together with water, food or air, enter the body of the final host - humans.When swallowed in the gastrointestinal tract, the cyst hatches into a larva that penetrates the intestinal wall and enters the bloodstream.Together with the blood, the helminth spreads through tissues and organs, affecting all systems and settling in the lungs.Together with the sputum, the larvae are coughed up and swallowed a second time by the host, where they enter the intestine again.The roundworm larva develops into a sexually mature individual that begins to produce new eggs.
For the treatment of nematodes, various drugs against worms are selected, most often based on piperazine adipate, mebendazole, levamisole.General symptoms for all nematodes:
- Allergic reaction to the skin: rashes, itching;
- Intestinal problems: diarrhea, mucus in the stool, abdominal pain, increased gas formation;
- If the lungs are affected – cough, blood in sputum;
- From the nervous system: fatigue, sleep disorders, increased irritability, apathy.
Methods of helminth infection: where do parasitoses come from?
Maintaining personal hygiene and high-quality heat treatment of food are not enough to prevent helminthic infestation.A remedy for worms is not only needed if you regularly spend weekends in the country or keep farm animals.There are many ways to become infected with helminths:
- Inhale parasite cysts along with dust.Microscopic worm eggs are contained in the soil and rise into the air along with dust and settle on household items and clothing.This is one of the most common ways of contracting parasitic diseases.
- Consume food and water contaminated with worms.Helminth larvae and their eggs are found in meat, fish, milk, fruits, vegetables, herbs and water.To avoid helminthic infestation, you need not only to wash your hands, but also to heat treat all foods and drink only boiled water.However, this is not a 100% guarantee that anti-worm drugs are not needed: when cutting an infected product, cysts can get on the skin.
- Contact with a sick animal or person.Worm eggs are found in the fur of sick animals (including pets), from where they are transferred to clothing, toiletries, dishes and swallowed by humans.You can also contract a helminth infection through contact with a sick person, for example by shaking hands.Therefore, preventative tablets against worms are regularly taken in closed groups (kindergartens, boarding houses).
- Take a walk in the park or visit an endemic area.A number of parasitic worms can enter the human body through uninfected areas of skin.These include filariae: they literally penetrate the skin, enter the bloodstream and penetrate various tissues of the human body.
In order to recognize a helminthic infestation in the early stages and take medication against worms in a timely manner, you need to know the main symptoms of parasitic diseases.
General symptoms of helminth infestation
Parasitic worms infect all types of organs and tissues, disrupting their functioning and gradually destroying the human body.In many helminthic infestations, specific symptoms occur that are associated with damage to a particular organ: for example, in filariasis, clouding of the conjunctiva of the eye can occur, and in cysticercosis, a severe neurological disorder with seizures and paralysis can occur.
However, the severity of symptoms in parasitic diseases directly depends on the number of cysts ingested, the peculiarities of the life cycle of the parasite and its age.Therefore, many infections are initially asymptomatic;A person notices a slight malaise and dizziness without even thinking about the need to take dewormers.When a patient goes to the doctor with an illness, the specialist does not assume a helminth infestation, but begins symptomatic treatment.The patient feels better for a while, but then the symptoms return and worsen.Because the root cause – helminths – has not been eliminated.This is due to the difficulty of detecting parasitosis: conventional tests and smears are not informative.And only when serious disorders occur: the liver begins to fail, ulcers open in the intestines and it turns out that the patient has been a carrier of parasites for a long time.
Symptoms indicating the possibility of parasitosis:
- Allergic reactions on the skin.Redness, the appearance of hives, eczema, itching - all this may indicate the presence of worms in the body.Helminth infestations are often accompanied by respiratory allergies: rhinitis, redness of the eyes, swelling of the nasopharynx.
- Gastrointestinal diseases.Diarrhea or constipation, discomfort in the stomach and intestines, pain in the right hypochondrium - all this indicates the appearance of helminths in the body.Nausea and vomiting, mucus and blood in the stool are also common symptoms of helminth infestation.At the same time, disorders in the gastrointestinal tract often occur periodically and occur during the migration of parasites.
- Neurological disorders.All helminths gradually poison the human body with their toxins and affect the human nervous system.Headaches, insomnia, apathy, fatigue, increased excitability and irritability occur.Along with sweating and pale skin, such symptoms indicate infection with helminths.
- Reduced immunity.Parasitoses cause acute immunological reactions in the form of allergies, but gradually the body no longer has the strength to fight helminths and immunity decreases.The body becomes “open” to bacteria and viruses: people infected with parasites suffer more often from acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections and are at risk of HIV, oncology and diseases of unknown origin (for example, Alzheimer's disease).
As the infestation progresses, symptoms become more severe.Appears:
- gastrointestinal ulcers, stomach and intestinal bleeding;
- cirrhosis, peritonitis, cholecystitis, purulent cholangitis;
- Formation of adhesions on the organs of the urogenital system, leading to infertility;
- Endocarditis, heart murmur, heart muscle dysfunction;
- Pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, pleural prolapse.
If treatment of helminthic infestation is not started in a timely manner, it leads to serious dysfunction of all organ systems and death.The presence of one or more symptoms is a serious reason to think about the presence of parasitosis and undergo anthelmintic therapy.
Preventive use of deworming tablets
Since the risk of infection with parasites is high, every responsible person is faced with the question: is it necessary to take anti-worm drugs for prevention?The opinions of infectious disease specialists and parasitologists differ here.Synthetic antihelminthics are toxic and have numerous contraindications.However, if one of the family members has a helminthic infestation, everyone is recommended to take a course of anthelmintics to avoid re-infestation.
Preventive antihelminthic measures are indicated in families with young children: they are at high risk of infection with enterobiasis, and the test for it (smear from the anus) is often falsely negative.Therefore, preschool children are often prescribed Pyrantel tablets every six months.However, such treatment of worms is only half effective: chemicals affect only adult helminths, while the larvae and eggs of parasites remain in the child's body, continue to develop and harm him.
Residents of agricultural areas, travelers before visiting exotic countries, hunters and fishermen should also not neglect antihelminthic prophylaxis when sowing and harvesting.All these categories of citizens are at risk of parasitic infection.Typically, preventive measures against parasites are carried out twice a year: in spring and autumn.
Treatment of helminthic infestations in children
Most deworming tablets are suitable for use in children over 2 years old.What to do if an infant is diagnosed with a parasitic disease?This is not uncommon: the fetus often becomes infected in the womb if its mother is susceptible to helminth infestation.If an infant is diagnosed with helminthiasis, treatment should be strictly monitored by a pediatrician: the specialist will prescribe the correct dosage and select drugs against worms that are safe for the child's body.
In some cases, doctors recommend waiting until the child is older to reduce the risk of the toxic effects of the dewormer.However, this is not always justified: in severe parasitic diseases, the child's physical and mental development stops.His body is gradually poisoned by helminthic poisons, metabolic processes are disrupted, and the child's body does not receive enough macro- and microelements necessary for life.All organ systems suffer; inflammation of the intestines, liver, bile ducts, lungs and heart occurs.This creates an enormous danger to life: parasitosis leads to death.
Therefore, it is so important to prevent helminthic infestation in children, to undergo preventive anthelmintic treatment before conception and to observe the rules of personal hygiene during pregnancy.
Tablets against worms during pregnancy
Pregnancy is a contraindication to taking most medications for worms, especially in the first trimester, when the main tissues and organs of the fetus are being formed.Doctors prescribe anthelmintics only when a woman's life is at risk if treatment is not started immediately.
To cure helminthic infestation, drugs based on piperazine are prescribed to pregnant women.However, the optimal solution would be to undergo a preventive anthelmintic course before conceiving a child.
The choice of drugs against worms
When choosing dewormers, the following are taken into account:
- type of helminth infestation;
- degree of infestation;
- The patient's current condition and history.
Not only the type of anti-worm tablets is selected individually, but also their dosage and course of administration.Concomitant medications are often prescribed to facilitate the evacuation of adult helminths and their larvae (e.g., laxatives).Prebiotics, immunomodulating drugs and vitamin complexes also help in the fight against parasites.
Only through systematic treatment can you completely eliminate helminth infestation, remove parasites from the body at all stages of the life cycle, including eggs, and eliminate the consequences of the disease.
How dangerous are worms?
Helminths affect all organ systems and tissues;Severe infestation leads to gradual destruction of the human body and death.But that's not the only reason why helminth infections are dangerous.
Parasites feed on their host's body;They literally “drink” “all the juices” from the body.As a result of helminth infestation, vitamin deficiency occurs;A person does not receive essential micro and macro elements such as selenium, zinc, copper and iron.Metabolic processes in the cells are disrupted, vitamins are not synthesized and degenerative concomitant diseases such as scurvy occur.Due to vitamin deficiency due to parasitic diseases, hair falls out, the skin becomes dry and gray, the functioning of the nervous system deteriorates: periods of apathy alternate with attacks of irritability, normal sleep disappears.
In addition to the fact that helminths “eat” all useful substances, they also poison the human body with their waste products - dangerous toxins.Parasitic toxins are poorly excreted by the kidneys and liver, whose functions are already impaired due to helminthiasis.Gradually, toxins accumulate in the blood and spread throughout the body, causing such common symptoms of parasitosis as allergies, reduced immunity and headaches.Over time, the symptoms worsen: tremors appear in the limbs, vision is impaired, and internal bleeding begins.Every organ becomes inflamed: doctors diagnose chronic cholangitis, intestinal and stomach ulcers, liver cirrhosis, bronchitis and pneumonia appear in the respiratory tract, the heart “makes noise” - endocarditis develops.
Therefore, anti-worm agents must work comprehensively: they must not only remove helminths from the human body at all stages of their life cycle, but also eliminate toxic poisoning and compensate for the lack of nutrients.
The most common types of worms
| Type of helminth (name of disease) |
Organs and tissues affected by worms |
| Alveococcus (alveococcosis) |
Liver, brain, lungs.The kidneys, peritoneum, spleen and muscles are less commonly affected. |
| Ascaris (ascariasis) |
Small intestine, lungs, bile ducts. |
| Bull tapeworm (Taeniarinhoz) |
Upper gastrointestinal tract |
| Whipworm (Trichocephalosis) |
Large intestine, appendix. |
| Dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepiasis) |
Gastrointestinal tract. |
| Chinese coincidence (Clnorchiasis) |
Duodenum, liver, bile ducts. |
| Cat fluke (opisthorchiasis) |
Small intestine, bile ducts, liver. |
| Lung fluke (paragonimiasis) |
Lungs, subcutaneous tissue, brain, muscles. |
| Tapeworm (diphyllobothriasis) |
Small intestine. |
| Pinworms (enterobiasis) |
appendix and appendix. |
| Pork tapeworm (taeniasis or cysticercosis – when a tapeworm develops in the human body) |
Small intestine, skin and subcutaneous tissue, muscles, spinal cord and brain, eyes, bones, all internal organs. |
| Trichinae (Trichinosis) |
Intestine, all organs invaded by the parasite, including central nervous system, eyes, skin. |
| Echinococcus (echinococcosis) |
Intestines, liver, lungs and cysts can also form in other organs. |