Methods of infection
Animals can transmit toxocariasis to their children through feeding with milk or while still in the womb. And for the helminth to enter the human body, only external interaction must occur.
In most cases, a person eats dirty food and does not wash his hands before eating after coming from the garden or garden plot. Infection is more often observed when the warm season begins, but in other seasons infection also occurs actively.
According to medical statistics, toxocariasis is often detected in veterinarians, children and the elderly, vegetable sellers, people working in the garden, and those who have dogs.
Prevention
To prevent re-infection with parasites, it is important not only to follow the prescribed treatment for toxocariasis in adults, but also to adhere to certain preventive measures:
- Adults should avoid direct contact with stray animals, and do not allow small children near stray cats or dogs.
- Since toxocariasis often occurs in people due to the specifics of their work, it is necessary to undergo regular preventive examinations in the clinic. The professions at risk include veterinarians, hunters, dog breeders, kindergarten teachers, and gardeners.
- After a walk, be sure to thoroughly clean the paws and fur of pets, wash your hands several times with soap, and for adults, observe the rules of personal hygiene.
Manifestation of toxocariasis
Interestingly, it is impossible to become infected with toxocariasis from a person. This is due to a feature of human anatomy that prevents the helminth from reaching sexual maturity. But in the body of a dog or cat they reproduce well and actively infect the environment through feces and through fur.
When an infection enters the human body, it can affect almost all organs, constantly being in motion. If treatment is not started in time, it will be difficult to get rid of the helminth, since relapses will often occur. Symptoms of the disease can manifest completely differently for everyone. It depends on the state of the immune system and the degree of its resistance.
There are such forms of toxocariasis as:
- Skin – damage, various rashes, redness of the skin. Where the larvae accumulate, swelling may occur and severe itching begins;
- Visceral – most often observed in children, since their immunity is still very weak. A sick child may begin to vomit, often feel sick, have a stomach ache, fever begins, the liver becomes enlarged, the functioning of the respiratory system is disrupted - frequent coughing and shortness of breath;
- Neurological - an infected person becomes inattentive and unconcentrated, but overly active, and problems with sleep occur. Such disorders in the field of neurology occur due to helminths entering the brain;
- Ophthalmic is the rarest form, accompanied by damage to one eyeball.
At the slightest suspicion of the presence of helminths, it is recommended to contact a therapist or infectious disease specialist. Depending on the stage of the disease, it is necessary to select effective ways to eliminate the disease.
Types of toxocariasis
Depending on the location of roundworms, the following types of helminthic infestation are distinguished:
- The visceral form of toxocariasis occurs most often. When Toxocara larvae enter the body, they migrate to internal organs, for example, the liver, heart, lungs or kidneys.
- Ocular toxocariasis is a rare form. As a rule, parasites settle in one eyeball, affecting its membrane or muscle structure. There are several manifestations of pathology - abscess, neuritis, granuloma or keratitis.
- The cutaneous form is characterized by constant migration of worms across the dermis. As a result, an allergic reaction occurs that resembles eczema, urticaria, or angioedema.
- Neurological toxocariasis is dangerous because it entails a disorder of the central nervous system. Worm larvae that enter the brain begin to develop, which leads to sleep problems, memory impairment, nervousness and decreased attention.
Antiparasitic therapy
Doctors prescribe special drugs against toxocariasis for treatment, which can only fight moving individuals. Since they do not affect the larvae in granulomas, additional use of a hepatotoxic substance is recommended. Its effects should be actively monitored by prescribing physicians.
If a child has ocular toxocariasis, he is prescribed Depomedrol injections. In severe cases, surgeons perform surgery. Is it possible to get rid of this disease using traditional methods?
Treatment of toxocariasis with folk remedies
Video
The first symptoms of the disease should immediately lead a person with complaints to specialists. Since this helminth has not yet been sufficiently studied by medicine, it is best to be observed by a parasitologist. Given his narrow profile, he will be able to immediately diagnose the disease and prescribe competent treatment.
As for folk methods, you can find quite a lot of them. Their main principle is the use of products with a bitter and pungent taste. According to doctors, they are quite effective, but it is not possible to completely remove toxocara from the body, so you must definitely use traditional medicines.
Toxocariasis - diagnosis
Toxic carcinoma is very difficult to diagnose. Regular stool samples taken at different times of the day will not give positive answers, because the larvae are often found in different parts of the body, and only lay eggs on the intestinal mucosa. A blood test helps determine the presence of this toxocara. An indicator in this case is an increase in protein and the number of eosinophils, acceleration of ESR. In addition to a general biochemical study, the diagnosis of toxocariasis includes:
- Taking a sputum sample from adults helps to establish the presence of a visceral form of the disease and investigate the degree of reproduction of Toxocara.
- Ultrasound of the peritoneal cavity will detect the presence of toxocara in the pancreas, heart, bronchi, and spleen.
- Chest X-ray - will be effective for pulmonary toxocariasis.
- CT scan with MRI will determine the presence of parasites in the brain and spinal cord.
- Ophthalmoscopy - will be effective for ocular toxocariasis.
Blood test for toxocariasis
The most informative method for diagnosing invasion in adults is testing the patient’s venous blood for antibodies to Toxocara. The essence of the method is that upon contact with the helminths toxico canis or catis, the immune system immediately responds and begins to produce special anti-igg or igm bodies. In a healthy person, the norm for a diagnostic titer is considered to be a study where the total coefficient does not exceed the ratio of 1:100. If the decoding of antigens goes beyond the scope, there is a high probability of developing toxocariasis.
Analysis for toxocariasis may not be informative in the following cases:
- when Toxocara affects the eyeball or retina;
- if diagnosed too early, when the body has not yet developed a sufficient amount of antibodies;
- the adult has already undergone treatment for toxocariasis in the past.
- Stuffed potatoes - recipes with photos. How to cook stuffed potatoes in the oven or slow cooker
- Oatmeal cookies: recipes
- How to hem jeans
Traditional methods for treating children
A product made from a mixture of honey and wormwood receives positive reviews. This recipe even helps get rid of helminth larvae that have entered the child’s body.
Wormwood seeds are well ground using a coffee grinder, and for one tablespoon of the mixture you need to take 100 g of honey. It is recommended to take the thoroughly mixed product shortly before meals in the amount of 1 tablespoon. At the same time, it is useful to use some potent drug so that the treatment is as effective as possible.
Elecampane root has a good effect in the fight against toxocara. Raw materials can be bought in a special shop or prepared in the summer. To use, the root is crushed and poured with a glass of boiling water.
The container with the infusion should be covered and left for 10 hours, preferably covered with a blanket. Children are recommended to drink the infusion every 3 hours, the dose is 2 tablespoons. Treatment occurs for one week, then it is necessary to take a break of the same duration.
Concept of toxocariasis
Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease that occurs as a result of parasitism in the human body by worms from the genus Toxocara. As the disease progresses, it affects internal organs and eyes. Once in the body, the larvae begin to grow and turn into sexually mature, dioecious worms, reaching 18-20 centimeters in size, localized mainly in the stomach and small intestine. In the course of their life, they lay a huge number of larvae, which spread through the blood vessels to all internal organs and very successfully begin to parasitize there.
Symptoms and signs of toxocariasis
The symptoms of toxocariasis are quite different. The fact is that they directly depend on the location of the parasites and the speed of development. There are 2 forms of toxocariasis: ocular and visceral toxocariasis.
Visceral toxocariasis in most cases manifests itself as a progressive fever, which can last from several weeks to several months. In this case, the lymph nodes enlarge and the presence of total lymphadenopathy is possible. Pulmonary lesions in the form of bronchopneumonia and bronchitis are also observed, and bronchial asthma may develop.
Among other things, some patients experience an enlarged liver, others have an enlarged spleen, and still others experience a skin rash. If, during the disease, Toxocara larvae migrate to the brain area, then damage to the central nervous system occurs.
If the human body is infected
a small number of Toxocara larvae, then ocular toxocariasis develops, which is manifested by uveitis, the development of granulomas, pars planitis, abscess in the vitreous body, chronic endophthalmitis, optic neuritis, keratitis and migrating larvae in the vitreous body are not excluded.
Treatment of toxocariasis
Treatment of toxocariasis occurs with medications, based on a comprehensive examination and diagnosis. But alternative treatment methods are also possible. Of course, this is the treatment of toxocariasis with folk remedies. Of course, this treatment should also be carried out in accordance with the regimen and method of treatment agreed with the attending physician.
Treatment of toxocariasis with folk remedies
To treat toxocariasis, many recommend using the bark and twigs of tall ash. To do this, take a teaspoon of crushed bark or twigs and pour one glass of boiling water and cook over low heat for 7-8 minutes. Then, tightly wrapped, infuse for an hour. Take it warm, one tablespoon in the morning and evening on an empty stomach.
Elecampane root is considered very effective in the fight against toxocariasis. To do this, take a tablespoon of crushed elecampane root and pour a glass of boiled water, wrap it warmly and let it brew for 9-10 hours. We take two tablespoons every three hours. We take the medication for a week, then take a week break and repeat the course of treatment.
Another interesting way to treat toxocariasis. Take a tablespoon of common sorrel and pour a glass of hot water. Let it sit for 2 hours. Take 2 tablespoons four times a day. We accept it within a week.
It is worth noting that all of the above methods for treating toxocariasis cannot be taken for more than one week; it is necessary to take a break from taking it for at least a week. The fact is that long-term use can negatively affect kidney function.
How to cure adults from toxocariasis using folk methods?
The manifestation of the disease in such patients is the same as in young children. This means that the treatment process should occur in a similar way. True, in the case of adults, many medications and folk remedies can be used, since there are no contraindications due to age.
Using garlic . This product can be used in two ways. The first is to eat 10 cloves of garlic with warm milk. After a few hours, you can use a laxative.
The second method involves installing garlic enemas . You need to prepare a decoction of two heads of garlic, previously peeled, and two glasses of milk. The heated liquid cools down, then enemas are given with it every day for 1 week.
Tansy infusion . To prepare it you will need the raw materials of this plant in the amount of 3 tablespoons. It is poured with a glass of boiling water in an enamel or glass container, which is well insulated and remains calm for 3 hours. It is recommended to take the medicine one tablespoon three times a day. The duration of treatment is one week, followed by a break of 7 days.
Adults can also have enemas. For 250 ml of boiled water you will need 1 tbsp. spoon of tansy leaves. The mixture is boiled for 15 minutes over low heat, then filtered through cheesecloth. Once it has cooled to room temperature, you can use it daily before bed for a week.
Helminths and onions . To start treatment in the morning, start preparing the remedy in the evening. The onion head is carefully chopped with a knife, poured with boiling water and infused overnight. In the morning you can start drinking 1 tablespoon of the product. Reception is recommended 4 times a day for one week.
It is very important to consider that products with onions and garlic cannot be used if a person simultaneously suffers from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Pumpkin seeds . They are very useful in the fight against worms. To get rid of toxocariasis, they must be mixed with honey. For an adult patient, you need to take 300 grams of seeds, peel and grind them, then mix with honey in the amount of 70 g. All this is eaten at once, and after a few hours a laxative is taken.
Nuts with alcohol . The recipe involves the use of green walnut peels. It is finely chopped with a knife and smoothed in a glass jar. All this is filled with alcohol - half a liter. In a dark place, the mixture is infused for about 50 days. When this time expires, it is recommended to take the drug according to the following scheme:
- On the first day - 1 drop with 100 ml of boiled water;
- On the second day - 2 drops with 200 ml of boiled water.
So, the dosage is increased until the sixth day.
Taking mushrooms . You will need dried chanterelles, from which you need to make a powder. For one teaspoon of the resulting mixture there is 150 ml of alcohol or vodka. This product is infused for 10 days, and the bottle with it must be shaken well every day. The folk remedy is taken for two months, and you need to drink 2 teaspoons a day.
Ash bark . Traditional methods of treating toxocariasis also involve the use of substances contained in the roots and branches of tall ash. Such raw materials can be purchased already crushed, but it is better to buy whole branches with roots, since this way all the useful substances remain in them. Grinding can be done using a knife or coffee grinder.
The resulting raw material is poured with a glass of boiled water, brought to a boil again and cooked for about 10 minutes. The broth is well wrapped in a blanket or towel for 1 hour. In the morning and evening before meals, it must be taken warm.
Common oxalis for toxocariasis . The raw materials from this plant are poured with boiled water, then infused for two hours. It is recommended to drink several tablespoons of the product up to 4 times a day. It is recommended to carry out treatment for one week, then take a break for the same amount of time, and treat again. So, you need to alternate weeks until complete recovery.
Some people wonder why interrupt treatment if the helminths have not yet been completely eliminated from the human body. The explanation lies in the negative effect of the drug on the kidneys and liver in case of long-term use.
Antiparasitic collection .
It contains powders from herbs such as calendula officinalis, caraway seeds, and calamus roots. The first of them has a dosage of 3 grams per day, the rest - 1.5 grams. The products can be taken without capsules before meals. Treatment is carried out for two weeks.
Traditional medicine recipes
Despite the rapid development of traditional medicine, folk remedies continue to be popular among the population. This is associated with a huge number of folk recipes aimed at combating many diseases, including toxocariasis. To treat toxocariasis, you can use decoctions and tinctures based on products of plant origin, which can be found in almost any store or pharmacy.
Pomegranate
To combat toxocara, a decoction or tincture of pomegranate peel is used. This medicine can cope with pathologies that were caused by helminth parasitism in the human body.
To prepare the tincture you need:
- Grind 50 g of fresh pomegranate peel and place in a metal container.
- Pour 400 ml of boiling water into the vessel and leave for 6 hours.
- Place the vessel on the fire and boil until the amount of liquid is reduced by half, then remove from the heat and cool.
This remedy must be taken once, or divided into portions and consumed within 1 hour.
A decoction of pomegranate peel can be prepared much faster than a tincture, and for this you need:
The decoction of pomegranate peel must be divided into several servings, and after taking the product, you must limit yourself from eating food for several hours.
Onion
To treat toxocariasis, you need to chop a medium-sized onion in any way and pour a glass of hot boiled water. The tincture should be left overnight, and treatment can begin in the morning. The product should be taken 1 tablespoon every 6 hours for a week, and a week after the end of the dose, the course should be repeated with the same dosage.
The use of such a drug is permitted for the treatment of children, adults and pregnant women, provided there are no contraindications.
Sagebrush
Wormwood is an excellent remedy for fighting parasites. To prepare the medicine you need:
- Grind 2 tablespoons of wormwood seeds, pour in 1 liter of boiling water and, after cooling completely, strain;
- Add 200 g of honey to the seeds and mix;
- The medicine must be taken 1 tablespoon before each meal. The course of treatment should be at least 2 weeks.
The product is not recommended for women during pregnancy.
Walnut
Treatment of toxocariasis with an alcohol tincture of green walnut peel is popular among infected people, but preparing the medicine takes a long time:
- The peel must be crushed and placed in a jar.
- The resulting mass must be filled with 0.5 liters of alcohol.
- The container with the composition of the future medicinal product must be placed in a dark place for 50 days.
After the required time has passed, treatment can begin. On the first day, you should take 100 ml of boiled water with the addition of 1 drop of the medicine, and the next day the dosage should be doubled, and 2 drops of tincture should be added to 200 ml of water. The course of treatment should last 6 days.
Parsley and dill
Products containing dill and parsley can help get rid of toxocara, but treatment with them requires a long time of use. To prepare the medicine you need:
- Grind 2-3 tablespoons of parsley and dill;
- Pour 400 ml of hot boiled water, then strain;
- The resulting mass must be mixed with honey in equal parts;
You need to take the product in 50 ml portions throughout the day.
Prevention of toxocariasis
Everyone knows that it is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. As a preventive measure against any helminths, personal hygiene is first and foremost. After playing with pets or working in the garden, you should thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, especially before eating. Dogs and cats also need to be checked regularly by veterinarians, not only as a preventative measure, but also for the health of the animals themselves.
In addition, all fruits and vegetables brought from the garden or purchased at the market must be washed in clean water. As for playgrounds, it is better not to allow any animals that could infect the area.
Home methods for treating toxocariasis in adults and children: the best folk remedies
Toxocariasis is a parasitic disease caused by the larvae of Toxocara worms. It is transmitted through cats and dogs if personal hygiene rules are not followed. It is dangerous because it affects vital organs and even the human brain. Without treatment, the pathology can cause serious harm. Therapy is based on taking anthelmintic drugs. Treatment of toxocariasis with folk remedies is prescribed only as an addition to the main therapy or for the purpose of preventing the disease.
