Causes and choices of worm medicine based on the type of worm: function, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Deworming can be given when your child suddenly has no appetite, his body at a glance looks thin, weak and lethargic. This condition of decreased appetite is often caused by worms.

The reason is, worms are prone to attack children who still do not really understand about personal hygiene and the food they eat. So, what worm medicines can be given?

What are worms?

Worms is a condition in humans that is often characterized by the presence of parasitic worms that live in the large intestine and small intestine. Worms in human parasites can live in the body because the blood and nutrients in the intestines are absorbed, so that the worms can survive in the stomach.

Worms in humans are generally caused by 4 types of worms. Anything? There are pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. Each of these worm parasites has different remedies, because they are also of different types. If one takes deworming medicine, the child will recover longer.

What are the symptoms of intestinal worms?

Common symptoms of intestinal worms are:

• stomach ache
• Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
• Continued farting and flatulence
• Fatigue
• Drastic weight loss for no reason
• Stomach pain or pain when the stomach is pressed

People who are exposed to intestinal worms can also experience dysentery. Dysentery is an intestinal infection causing diarrhea with blood and mucus in the stool. Worms in the intestines can also cause a rash or itching around the rectum or vulva.

In some cases, you can see worms in your stool when you have a bowel movement. Some people may have worms for years without experiencing any symptoms.

The unexpected cause of intestinal worms

1. From contaminated soil

Children usually like to play with the ground, pick up toys that fall on the ground, or even plug bare feet on the ground. Playing with soil that is infected with worms is the most common way of causing children to have intestinal worms.

Worm eggs can enter through the legs and into the body. This is because the worm larvae can penetrate the skin of the feet. Worms can also enter the body when children play with the ground and have worm eggs on their hands or under their nails. Children often accidentally put their dirty fingers or hands in their mouths.

Usually children get hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm and roundworm type infections. Immediately take deworming medicine when you see symptoms of worms.

2. From drinking contaminated water

Several types of worms can breed in water. Generally, water that is in puddles, in lakes, or in dams when contaminated and used as a source of drinking water can cause people to become infected.

In addition, playing, bathing and swimming in this contaminated water area can also expose you to worm infections. Children tend to get worms most often because their immune systems are weaker than adults.

3. Eating undercooked or contaminated food

Hookworm eggs and roundworm eggs are common in plants and vegetables that grow in contaminated soil. If vegetables and fruit are not washed, both adults and children can get worm infections.

Apart from vegetables and fruit, worms can be obtained from animal flesh contaminated with worm eggs, this is because these animals eat and drink from water and soil that contains worm eggs.

Animal meats that may be contaminated include fish, cattle, sheep, and goats which can be infected with tapeworms. In addition, raw or undercooked meat and fish can also carry worms into the body.

4. Contact with infected people

If an adult or even a child who has tested positive for worms, then he can pass it on to other people. Usually a type of pinworm infection that is transmitted through other people.

Transmission can be from worm eggs under the nails or in unclean hands. After that, the hands that are contaminated with worm eggs when handling other toys or objects, the eggs can move. As a result, other healthy children who hold the contaminated toys are at risk of infection if their fingers and hands are put in their mouth.

How do doctors diagnose intestinal worms?

If you or your little one has symptoms of worms, it's best to check with your doctor immediately. Later, if worms are suspected, the doctor can examine your stool. You may need several stool samples to determine if parasites are present in your stool.

In addition, doctors can perform other tests, called tests "Scotch tape". This test is done by using a tape to the anus several times to take pinworm eggs. Later the tape will be identified under a microscope to see if there are worm eggs or not.

If worms or worm eggs are not detected, your doctor can do a blood test to look for the antibodies your body produces when it is infected with the parasites. In addition, doctors may perform x-rays or use screening tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), depending on the extent or location of the suspected disease.

Deworming at the pharmacy

Piperazin, pyrantel pamoate, mebendazole and albendazole are antihelmintic or deworming drugs that you find in pharmacies under various brands. Here are the types of worms and the type of worm medicine that you must know.

1. Roundworm

For roundworm medicine, you can buy drugs that contain ingredients piperazine. The piperazin in deworming kills roundworms by paralyzing the worm's muscles. Later the paralyzed worms will be thrown away with the feces.

2. Pinworms

For pinworm medicine, you can buy drugs that contain substances pyrantel pamoate. The substances in this drug can kill more worms than piperazine. Pyrantel pamoate works by paralyzing the neuromuscular worms. and remove it from the body along with feces. For pinworm medicine, you usually don't need to use laxatives for heartburn.

3. Hookworms

For hookworms or whipworms, you can give drugs with ingredients mebendazol. Medicines containing mebendazole can actually treat pinworms and roundworms too. The way this medicine works is to prevent the worms from absorbing the sugar which is a source of food for worms. Slowly the worms will die.

4. Tapeworms

For tapeworm medicine, you can give drugs that contain substances Albendazol. This substance is also quite effective in eliminating pinworms, roundworms, whipworms and hookworms. This drug works by preventing the worms from absorbing sugar or glucose, so that these parasites die from running out of energy.

There are things that must be considered

Keep in mind that most deworming drugs can only kill worms by damaging the nervous system or preventing the worms from absorbing glucose so that these parasites die, but not the worm eggs.

Therefore, giving deworming medicine needs to be repeated in a certain time so that the newly hatched worms from the eggs can be eradicated immediately before they become adults and produce new worm eggs, this is the best way to end the worm's life cycle.

Make sure you choose worm medicine according to the symptoms that are caused because each of these parasites usually has different symptoms and of course with different drugs. Pay attention to the label on the drug packaging. If you are not sure what worms are in the body, consulting a doctor is the most appropriate option.

Natural worm medicine

1. Pumpkin seeds

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, pumpkin seeds can be a natural worm medicine. The reason is, pumpkin seeds contain many useful substances such as amino acids, carbohydrates and fatty acids.

In addition, they contain vitamins and minerals that can be a natural remedy for roundworms and tapeworms. How to use it, mash pumpkin seeds and mix with warm water. You can also mix pumpkin seeds and onions with soy milk to help your body fight roundworms.

In addition, according to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2016, stated that pumpkin seed extract has some anti-parasitic activity which is great for deworming.

2. Garlic

Garlic is known to help fight roundworms, the parasite giardia lamblia, and pinworms. These three parasites can infect the intestines and interfere with the function of your digestive tract.

Please mix grated garlic and radish, then grated both mixed with water. Strain the garlic and horseradish mixture and consume it twice daily before meals to treat worms and giardia parasites.

3. Carrots

Carrots can be helpful for worm infections because of their vitamin A content. Vitamin A in carrots is rich in beta-carotene which can prevent worms from multiplying in the body.

You only need to puree carrots in a blender and mix with honey, this mixture can help treat pinworms in the stomach. Consume 1 tablespoon of this mixture of carrots and honey before breakfast and before bed.

4. Goldenseal

Goldenseal is an herbal plant that works as an antimicrobial and can help support digestive health. You can use goldenseal as a deworming medicine in the form of tablets, ointments, and powders that are available in herbal medicine stores.

Goldenseal contains berberine. It is a substance that works against parasites in the intestines such as giardia lamblia, parasite entamoeba histolytica, and pinworms.

5. Eat healthy foods

There are several healthy diets that are recommended to treat intestinal worms and parasites naturally. Among others:

• Meanwhile, avoid consuming coffee, refined sugar, alcohol, and refined grains
• It is recommended to eat foods containing garlic
• It is recommended to eat carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and other foods that are high in beta-carotene. Beta carotene can prevent worms from multiplying in the body.
• It is advisable to eat probiotic foods such as yogurt or kimchi, which serves to rebuild beneficial bacteria in your intestines.
• It is recommended to eat lots of foods rich in vitamin C and vitamin B

Some herbal health practitioners also recommend doing a colon cleanse or detoxification. This is a way to do this by eating high-fiber foods and supplements that can act as worm medicine. Detox is done to help your body clear out intestinal parasites. Supplements that can help with deworming include psyllium husk supplements, beetroot supplements, and flaxseed supplements.

Immediately take deworming medicine to avoid complications

Immediately take worm medicine so that the worms in the body quickly disappear, because worms in the intestine increase the risk of anemia and complications of intestinal obstruction. This worm complication is more common in older adults and in people with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV infection or AIDS.

Intestinal worm infections can also pose a higher risk if you are pregnant. If you are pregnant and are found to have an intestinal worm infection, your doctor will determine which deworming therapy is safe to take during pregnancy and will monitor you closely while you are during pregnancy.

How to prevent intestinal worms?

There are several ways that children should do to prevent worms and do not need to bother taking deworming medication always. Parents can ensure their children do the following:

• Make sure children and parents wash their hands before eating or preparing food.
• Also wash your hands after touching, playing with the ground or using the toilet
• Make sure to drink only bottled or boiled water
• If you have a dog or cat, keep the animal and cage clean on a regular basis.
• Immediately throw dog and cat litter in the trash and wash your hands thoroughly afterward
• Wash the fruit and vegetables grown in the garden thoroughly
• do not allow children to play in areas where there is a lot of dog or cat litter
• Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables if there are many cases of intestinal worms in your environment
• Do not plug or walk barefoot in an environment with high worms
• Do not eat raw or undercooked pork, beef, or freshwater fish