MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH TO A COMMON PROBLEM - WORM INFECTIONS

 Abstract 

Worm infections continue to be among the most common diseases affecting children from low and middle income countries. Major worm infections of public health importance include Ascariasis, Trichuriasis, Hookworm, and Enterobiasis, which are transmitted through contaminated soil. Homeopathic medicines for worms help treat the problem naturally and are safe for use in children. 

Introduction

Human intestinal parasites are usually intestinal worms that live in the small or large intestine and use the stool or blood from intestinal wall as a source of food. Worms are intestinal parasites, which infest human beings as well as animals like cats, dogs etc. The common ones are roundworm, pinworm, tapeworm, hookworm etc.

In India, combined prevalence rates of worm infestation as per pooled data of 127 surveys is over 20%. Although most helminthic infections are mild and are often asymptomatic, but moderate to heavy worm infestations are generally associated with growth faltering, nutritional compromise, anemia and suboptimal academic performance among children from endemic regions. Migration of larval or adult worms also underpins pulmonary and gastrointestinal morbidity in affected children. 

Children residing in crowded spaces, in unhygienic conditions, consuming contaminated food and water, walking or playing barefoot and those in contact with animals are at high risk of getting infected with worms. Children with low immunity often tend towards repeated infections, have heavy infestation and also suffer from complications.

Clinical Feature

Parasites like worms and their waste products can reduce food absorbtion by causing inflammation of the intestinal wall. Food might also get slowed down in digestion resulting in excessive toxins, smelly farts, bad breath and bloating. Some bloodsucking worms leave leave open wounds resulting in darker feces. The loss of blood can cause iron deficiency, anemia and dizziness. Other symptoms caused by parasitic infections include:

· Allergies, Many allergies in humans are caused by worm infections. Tissue becomes inflamed and reactions to foods are the result when eosinophils (white blood cells) are increased due to them. Extreme skin rashes with blisters and food allergies or sensitivities may result.

· Anaemia, Worms leach nutrients from bodies causing anemia. When they are present in large numbers, they can create enough blood loss to cause anemia or iron deficiency in some people.

· Constipation, some worms can obstruct certain organs like the colon, liver and the bile duct, causing constipation and other problems.

· Diarrhoea, Most of the time diarrhoea is nature’s way of removing toxins.

· Fatigue, Symptoms include tiredness, flue-like symptoms, apathy, depression and a lack of concentration.

· Gas and Stomach Bloating, Some parasites live in the upper intestine, which can cause both gas and stomach bloating.

· Immune Dysfunction, Worms in Humans depress the immune system by decreasing immunoglobulin A.

· Nervousness, the waste products from parasites irritate the nervous system, resulting in anxiety and restlessness.

· Other Signs & Symptom of Worms & Parasites in Children

· Blisters can appear on the inside of the lower lip, wiping of the nose, restlessness and grinding of the teeth at night, dark circles under the eyes, hyperactive, bed wetting, headaches, sensitive to light, twitching eyelid, gum, rectum, or nose bleeding are signs they may have worms & parasites.

HOME REMEDIES 

 

· Although there's a lack of clinical trials testing the effects of natural remedies in the treatment of intestinal parasites, some preliminary research suggests that certain herbs and dietary supplements may have potential.

· Papaya Seeds - For a pilot study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2007, 60 children with intestinal parasites received immediate doses of either an elixir containing a mixture of papaya seeds and honey or honey alone. After seven days, a significantly greater number of those given the papaya-seed-based elixir had their stools cleared of parasites. In a glass of warm milk, add a tbsp of raw papaya and one teaspoon of honey and mix. Drink it daily for a week on an empty stomach and see the difference.

· Pumpkin Seeds - A natural remedy that shows promise is pumpkin seeds, which have been found to be high in amino acids, fatty acids, and the compounds berberine, cucurbitine, and palatine.

· Research on the use of pumpkin seeds for intestinal parasites includes a preliminary study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2016, in which pumpkin seed extracts were found to have some anti-parasitic activity.

· Turmeric -It is antiseptic and anti-microbial in nature and helps in eliminating all kinds of intestinal worms. Take a glass of buttermilk and add a tsp of turmeric powder in it. Drink it daily and you will get rid of parasites from the body.

· Grind a few neem leaves to form a fine paste. Consume half a tsp of this paste with a glass of water every morning on an empty stomach. Follow this remedy for a few days and you will get rid of parasites from the body.

· Garlic has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help get rid of the worms from the stomach. Chew raw garlic or drink garlic tea daily on an empty stomach for about a week.

· Coconut is the most effective home remedy to treat intestinal worms. Consume a tbsp of crushed coconut in your breakfast. After 3 hours, drink about one glass of lukewarm milk mixed with 2 tbsps of castor oil. Drink this for a week to get rid of all types of intestinal worms. Always buy castor oil labelled edible.

· Cloves have antiseptic and anti-parasitic properties that destroy intestinal worms and their eggs. Boil two to three cloves with a cup of water in a saucepan. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain. Drink this solution 3 to 4 times daily for a week.

· Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which can destroy the eggs of intestinal worms. Eating carrots on an empty stomach for a week can get rid of intestinal worms.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT:

Homoeopathy is a safe and reliable mode of treatment of worm infestations. These medicines strengthen the infection fighting mechanism of the body to eradicate the disease. Homeopathic medicines for worms not only eradicate the worms, but also help improve the overall health condition of the individual. Homeopathic medicines are natural and non-toxic remedies with zero side effects and therefore, most suitable for children. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of worms:

Indicated Remedies	Indications
Apocynum	Severe sneezing, with great itching and irritation in nostrils; excessive nausea and vomiting; tickling sensation at end of penis; ascarides.
Argentum-nit	Periodical pain in hepatic region and around the navel, with sickness at stomach, retching, vomiting of tough mucus; menses irregular, but always discharge of thick, black, coagulated blood, grayish-yellow color of face.
Artemisia	Convulsions from the irritation of worms, passes faeces and urine with the spasm; obstinate spasmodic strangury; hunger, but cannot get the food down; often (<) at night.
Asclepias	White tongue, excessive nausea with violent headache, diuresis and inclination to stool, and still increased appetite; tickling sensation at end of penis; ascarides.
Baryta-mur	Worm affections; foetid breath; pain in region of navel, (<) morning; dry cough; great appetite, slimy, coated tongue, bloated abdomen; periodical attacks of convulsions, which shake the whole body; chronic, painless diarrhoea, yellow, slimy stools, vomiting exhaustion.
Caladium	Worms in little girls travel over perineum into vagina, great irritation and even masturbation.
Calcarea-carb	Headache, dark rings around the eyes, pale, bloated face; thirst; thick, bloated belly; aching about the navel; diarrhoea; easy perspiration from motion, scrofulosis,; tapeworm after Graph; ascarides, with hard stool; crawling in rectum, as from worms, itching at anus, as from pinworms.
Chenopodium	Worm affections; constipation, ineffectual urging with pressure on bladder and rectum; frequent cutting pains in abdomen, especially at night; with flatulency and urging to stool; pale or yellowish color of face; scraping and burning in throat; secretion of frothy mucus from mouth and throat; dulness in head.
China	Pain in abdomen after eating, (<) at night; fulness of abdomen, pyrosis; pressure in stomach and retching; tremulous weakness all over.
Cina	Restless sleep, with rolling of eyes, dark rings around eyes; squinting; enlarged pupils; constant rubbing the nose; epistaxis grinding and gnashing of teeth; face ale and cold, or red and hot; loathing of food, or great hunger; nausea, vomiting; pain in umbilical region; abdomen hard and distend; constipation; dry, hacking cough at night; feverishness; convulsive motions of head and limbs; itching of anus from pinworms.
Dolichos-pruriens	Bloated, swollen abdomen, with constipation, cough most troublesome about bedtime, and for a while after going to bed; intolerable itching all over body.
Filix-mas	Gnawing and boring in bowels, aggravated by eating sweet things; constipation; loss of appetite; furred tongue, pale face, blue rings around eyes, itching of nose; irritable and cross.
Indigo	Convulsions resulting from worms; pain in umbilical region; cutting pain (<) by retracting the walls of the abdomen and by pressure; frequent urging to urinate,(<) at night, diarrhoea without injury to appetite or digestion.
Kousso	Indigestion; loathing; sleeplessness; weakness, with fainting; profuse and cold perspiration; emaciation; dull pain in bowels; bloatedness; constipation.
Punica-granatum	Vertigo, wavering before eyes, enlarged pupils, yellow complexion; grating of teeth; accumulation of water in mouth; changing appetite; gulping of watery fluid; vomiting;sensation of something moving in stomach; bloated bowels, colic, palpitation of heart; spasms; syncope; night colic.
Sabadilla	Vomiting of round worms, or nausea and retching, with sensation of worm in pharynx; or in case of taenia, burning boring and whirling in umbilical region; accumulation of water in mouth; chilliness and sensitiveness to cold; sensation as if abdomen were sunken in; nervous symptoms from worms.
Sulphur	Creeping in nose, creeping and biting in rectum, passage of lumbrici ascarides and taenia; nausea before meals and faintness after dinner; restlessness at night.
Stannum	Dull mind, pale face, sunken eyes; flushes of heat in face from movement; foetid breath; hunger, cannot eat enough, except in the evening, nausea after eating; gone feeling in epigastrium even after eating; profuse and pale urine, restlessness; the child moans during sleep or supplicates in a timid manner, (>) by living on stomach.
Terebinthina	Burning and tingling at the anus, with sensation as if ascarides were crawling about; passes segments of tapeworm; burning in rectum lessened by applying cold water; irritability and weakness of bowels; sharp appetite and thirst; has to take something at once; strange appetite after a square meal; foul breath; choking sensation; dry hacking cough;spasms and convulsions wakeful at night; screaming as if frightened; staring look, clenching of fingers; twitching in different parts of the body.

 

REPERTORIAL REFERENCE

 

KENT’S REPERTORY

RECTUM – WORM, – ascarides:BAR-C.. .NAT-M.. SABAD.TER.

RECTUM – WORM, – lumbric: . CINA. SPIG. SULPH.

RECTUM – WORM, – taeniae :CALC

 

MURPHY’S REPERTORY

INTESTINES – WORMS, parasites, general – ascarides; BAR-C..  NAT-M.  SABAD. TER.

INTESTINES – WORMS, parasites, general – lumbricoides; . CINA.SPIG. SULPH.

INTESTINES – WORMS, parasites, general – children, in: CALC.  CINA  NAT-P. SPIG.

 

BBCR REPERTORY

STOOL – Worms – lumbricoides, with: . CHAM.. CIC. CINA.NAT-M. RHUS-T. SABAD.SPIG. SULPH

STOOL – Worms – pinworms:ACON.. CALC. CHIN. CINA . FERR. GRAP  SULPH. TEUCR.

STOOL – Worms – tapeworm, with:CALC. PHOS. PLAT. PULS. SABAD.SIL.. STANN. SULPH

 

COMPLETE REPERTORY

RECTUM – WORM, WORMS – ascarides, oxyuris vermicularis, pinworms:BAR-C. . NAT-M.  TER. RECTUM – WORM, WORMS – lumbricoides, roundworms CINA. SPIG.. SULPH

RECTUM – WORM, WORMS – taeniae, tapeworms:CALC

RECTUM – WORM, WORMS – complaints – children, in:. CINA. SPIG.

 

Conclusion

From the homoeopathic point of view physician can approach treatment in different ways. Homoeopathy treats the person as a whole and tries to find a constitutional remedy with the aim of strengthening the organism generally. This means looking at not only the patient’s  symptoms, but also his or her general health and way of reacting to the environment, as well as what drives him or her on an emotional level. But homoeopaths can also treat symptomatically, meaning treating symptoms specifically. Please consult a qualified homoeopath before taking any homoeopathic remedy. Along with Homoeopathic medicines, the lifestyle, personal habits & food habits modification may be useful for treatment of patients