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The worms and other intestinal parasites
which infest human beings are more common in tropical and
subtropical areas. Most of these worms and parasites gain
entry into the body either through the mouth or through
the skin of the feet. Children are more prone to
infection from these worms than adults.
There ar several types of intestinal worms. The most
commonly noticed parasites in India are roundworms,
hookworms, threadworms and tape-worms. Roundworms are
giant intestinal parasites measuring 15 to 25 cms. in
length. They are off-white in colour and are most
frequently infect children. Eggs produced by them are
passed in stools. Roundworm eggs may remain alive in the
soil for many months.
Hookworms are small worms measuring one cm. long. They
attach themselves to the walls of intestines within the
bowel. They cause serious bleeding, and poison the
patient as well. Pinworms are small white worms about
6.35 cm. in length.
Threadworms are small thread-like creatures which can be
noticed in the stools of children. The female worm, one
cm. in length, moves at night to anal canal to lay its
eggs. More than 30 different types of tapeworm infections
may affect the human body. Some tapeworms are only a few
inches long, others measure from ten to 30 feet or more
in length.Symptoms
The usual symptoms
of intestinal worms are diarrhoea, foul breath, dark
circles under the eyes, constant desire for food,
restlessness at night with bad dreams, anemia and
headache. Infants and young children are likely to be
irritated all the time and are prone to throw tantrums at
the slightest excuse.
Roundworms may give rise to inflammation of the intestine
and lungs. The usual symptoms are diarrhoea, nausea,
vomiting, loss of weight, fever, nervousness and
irritability. Children with hookworm disease appear pale
and are often weak. They may give rise to nutritional
disorders. Threadworms may cause an intense itching in
the areas around the anus. Tapeworms and roundworms may
cause convulsion in children.
Threadworms infection which is very common in children,
may cause periodic bouts of diarrhoea, itching around
anal area, alternating with constipation, loss of weight,
cough and fever.
Causes
The eggs of these
parasites are introduced into the human system through
the medium of food or water, especially under cooked or
badly-cooked meat. Roundworms are caused by eating
contaminated foods. If the soil in which chldren play
becomes contaminated with the eggs of these parasites,
they are easily transferred to the mouth through dirty
fingers, particularly by children living in unhygenic
conditions. There is always a greater danger of
contamination where human wastes are used in fertilizing
vegetables. Great care should therefore be taken to
ensure that all foods are thoroughly cleansed and
properly cooked before use.
Hookworms enter the human body through skin from infected
water. Pnworms and threadworms transmission result from
dirty fingers and food. Tapeworms are transmitted to the
body through under-cooked flesh foods.
The real cause of intestinal worms, however, is the use
of contaminated food or water. The eggs of these worms,
can breed in the intestine only if they find a suitable
medium for their propogation. This medium is an
intestinal tract clogged with morbid matter and systemic
refuse due to wrong freeding habits.
Treatment
The modern medical
system prescribes drugs to kill the parasites. They may
give temporary relief, but they are more likely to harm
the digestive process and create other complications.
Nature cure methods, on the other hand, aim at
strengthening the intestine so as to purge the parasites.
The treatment for intestinal worms should begin with
diet. The child-patient should be kept on exclusive diet
of fresh fruits for two days or so. If possible, a small
warm-water enema, mixed with the juice of half a fresh
lime, may be administered daily during this period to
cleanse the bowels. This would help expel mucus and
threadworms from the intestine. Bed clothes of the
patient must be exposed to sun everyday and he should
stay in a well-ventilated room.
After spending two or three days on exclusive fresh fruit
diet, the child may be allowed to take raw and boiled
vegetables in addition to fruits. This diet may be
continued for two or three days, after which he may be
allowed to have porridge, or gruel. Thereafter, he may
gradually embark upon a well-balanced light diet
consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, milk and
wholemeal bread. The diet should exclude fatty foods such
as butter, cream, and oil, refined foods and all flesh
foods. This diet should be continued till the parasites
are completely eliminated. Mud packs and cold compresses
applied to lower part of the abdomen will help in the
initial stages of the treatment.
Home
Remdies
Several home
remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of
intestinal worms. Of these, the use of coconut is most
effective. It is an ancient remedy for expelling all
kinds of intestinal worms. A teaspoon of the
freshly-ground coconut should be taken at breakfast. This
should be allowed by a dose of 15 to 30 ml. of castor oil
mixed in 125 to 175 ml. of lukewarm milk after three
hours. The process may be repeated till the cure is
complete.
Garlic has been used for expelling intestinal worms from
ancient times. The juice of one or two garlic cloves,
mixed in half a cup of fruit or vegetable juice, can be
given. It will kill the parasites without harming the
patient.
The carrot (gajar) is valuable in the elimination of
threadworms in children as it is offensive to all
parasites. A small cup of grated carrot taken every
morning, with no other food added to the meal, can clear
these worms quickly.
The digestive enzyme papaia in the milky juice of the
unripe papaya (papita) is a powerful anthelmintic for
destroying roundworms. A teaspoon of fresh papaya juice
and equal quantity of honey should be mixed with two
tablespoons of hot water and given as dose to children in
the age group of seven to 10 years.
This should be followed two hours later by a dose of
castor oil as in case of ground coconut. This treatment
should be repeated for two days, if necessary.
The child-patient should be given dry friction bath daily
during the period of treatment to build-up general
health. Older children should also be encouraged to take
alternate hot and cold hip baths daily. The procedure for
taking these baths has been explained in the Appendix.
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