Can allergies, atopy and asthma be the result of the frivolous activity of parasites?

“Irena Wartołowska
Paediatrician allergist Workplace: Allergology clinicfor Children

Z.O.Z. W-wa Śródmieście

Rutkowskiego Street 12

Parasite metabolites as the main pathogenic factor in asthma

For 13 years I ran the Allergology Clinic for Children from the Province of

Warsaw. During this time, 1748 seriously ill children were treated in the Clinic.

Before taking a position in this clinic, I worked in Rabka – children from the Warsaw Province were considered to be the most seriously ill in Poland. They arrived with shortness of breath, left with little or no improvement.

After the introduction of routine deworming of every child with asthma, the shortness of breath disappeared regardless of whether the child had been ill for 2 or 10 years. Asthma disappeared in children, their parents and grandparents. I treated whole families.

There was no need to send the children to health resorts, if they did go, it was for social reasons: the mother had to go to hospital and there was no one to take care of them at home.

After returning from the health resort each child was dewormed again.

How I figured it out

Already at the beginning of my independent work, I noticed that – whenever I found parasite eggs – after administering appropriate medication, the child stopped getting sick, and the recurrent dyspnea disappeared.

I started to look intensively for parasites, running coprological tests 20, 40 and even 60 times. Out of 1000 children examined in this manner, only half had positive laboratory results.

In all the children, not only did shortness of breath decrease or disappear, but so did other symptoms such as: wide pupils, salivation, sweating, nail biting, teeth grinding, sleep-talking, night terrors, screaming at night (I observed three cases) – my observation: motion sickness is caused by the invasion of human roundworms.

These were the symptoms characteristic of helminthiasis. The venoms of worms are vagotropic.

All children with asthma have clinical symptoms of worms – symptoms of irritation of the vagus system. I started giving all children with asthma anti-parasite medications based on their clinical symptoms.

As time went by, I noticed the following:

1. Children with asthma, after administering anthelmintic drugs, not only stop suffering from recurrent respiratory tract inflammation, but are resistant to infectious diseases. During epidemics at school, they do not get mumps, measles, or chickenpox, and after treating them and their family against pinworms and giardia, none of them get sick with the flu. One would like to boldly state that parasites pave the way for viruses.

2. Roundworms, being vagotropic venoms, cause bronchial spasms. After administering drugs for roundworm and whipworm infections, the paroxysmal cough cleared up.

The correctness of the above observations is confirmed by experiments performed on animals: irritating the descending branch of the vagus nerve with an electrode causes bronchial spasms, after removing the electrode, dyspnea disappears without any complications. On the other hand, a blockade of this branch of the vagus nerve, which was performed by the late Prof. Radliński, causes the resolution of severe asthma attacks (I observed two such cases), but the symptoms of poisoning remain: gray integuments, cyanosis of the lips, sweating, strong heart rate, ripple of the carotid vessels, fatigue.

Anti-parasitic drugs not only stop the attacks of dyspnea but also remove the aforementioned symptoms of severe poisoning, caused by parasite venoms. An enlarged liver, often swelling 3 – 4 cm under the costal arch, returns to normal size, an enlarged spleen shrinks and retreats under the costal arch – I observed 3 such cases in infants.

Dr. Kowalski ( Parasitology News) found degeneration of liver cells during roundworm infestation in the gastrointestinal tract in pigs. In terms of antigens, the venoms of the animal roundworm are similar to those of the human roundworm.

The accusations that I use harmful drugs against parasites without confirming them in the stool are unjustified.

Even if such drugs were toxic (which I did not observe), they work for a short time, whereas the metabolites of the parasites keep poisoning the body for years.

Several times I observed the so-called “deterioration” after the first treatment against pinworms and roundworms, understood as the acceleration of the expected dyspnea attack, and in one patient I observed for the first time the triggering of an asthma attack with no prior dyspnea. This was a child with a severe form of dermatitis atopica. I explain this phenomenon as the Herxheimer reaction when a large amount of toxins is released during the removal of parasites. It is worthwile to know this and warn the mother, give anti-allergic drugs and repeat the treatment after the symptoms of the disease have subsided. In the above-mentioned case, the repeated treatment with routine medication resulted in the removal of severe skin lesions and stopped the recurring dyspnea attacks.

After deworming, the laboratory results normalize: ESR, A, S, O.

There is no more increased sensitivity to insect bites.

Serious reactions to bacterial vaccines subside.

Memory is greatly improved: d-grade students change into A-grade students, children qualifying for special school become good students.

Headaches disappear – I have not disappointed a single mother.

Hypertension goes away after removal of roundworms, and hypotension after treatment against giardia.

The experience of Dr. Sprehn from Leipzig also supports the parasitic etiology of respiratory diseases. He observed newborn foxes, separated them from their mothers, put them in a sterile environment and from time to time infected them with parasites, each time with a different species of worms.

After being infected with one species of worms, the foxes did not show any symptoms of illness: cheerful, active, very good appetite.

After infection with the second species of worms, they lost their appetite and were less active.

After infection with the third species of parasite, they became lethargic, began to get sick.

With what?

Bronchitis, pneumonia. The immunity was getting weaker in those foxes under study that had some kind of affinity.

To sum up: a loud paroxysmal cough subsides after medications against roundworms, especially pinworms and ascaris; shortness of breath disappears after the use of anti-giardia drugs.

It seems that dyspnea is associated with increased permeability of the vessels of the respiratory system.

Giardia, harmless for some time, or hardly noticeable in its pathogenic effect, at some point – perhaps because of the intrusion of new parasites, perhaps due to an external or internal bacterial infection (multiplication of bacteria in the sinuses, tonsils, teeth as a consequence of reduced immunity of the body) – may acquire antigenic properties.

In this case, the phenomenon of an antigen combining with an antibody may occur in the wall of the vessels of the respiratory system that has been damaged by several infections, with concomitant congenital defects, or with hereditary atopy. The respiratory system can become prone to shock as a locus minoris resistentiae.

The parasitic etiology of increased vascular permeability is supported by the disappearance of recurrent Quirecke’s oedema and recurrent acute laryngitis, after anti-giardia drugs. I observed the removal of transudative fluid from the abdominal cavity three times after the administration of metronidazole (after three days).

Good or bad results of asthma treatment also confirm the parasitic etiology of this malady.

There is no improvement when the child is sent to a nursery school or kindergarten, where he or she is exposed to pinworm infestation.

Pinworms and giardia are always present in the life of humans, from the first months of our lives.

Dr. Batko found pinworm eggs in house dust in 80% of cases. In the Provincial Allergy Clinic, I found that sneezing is a pathogenic symptom of pinworm infection.

Who does not sneeze?

The second parasite that constantly accompanies humans is giardia. The Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Praga II in Warsaw found giardia in infants in nurseries in its district in 80% of cases.

The introduction of a third or even fourth species of a parasite (roundworm larva, whipworm eggs) with vegetables served in salads, which happens most often in nurseries and kindergartens, creates conditions for the formation of respiratory tract inflammation.

The cyclical nature of respiratory tract inflammation, as well as the cyclical nature of dyspnea attacks, can be explained by the cyclical ovulation and cysting of parasites. Giardia cyst every 26 days, pinworms ovulate every 28 days, roundworms ovulate every 2.5 months (I have not found information in the literature about the ovulation cycle of whipworms ).

The thus far inexplicable spontaneous remissions of asthma as well as its incomprehensible recurrences can be explained by the life cycle of worms (roundworms live 2 years, whipworms 5 years) and their repeated infestation.

There is also no improvement when asthmatic patients eat at mass catering centers, where they are susceptible to infestation by human roundworm larva or whipworm eggs due to poorly washed vegetables and fruits (strawberries and green carrot shoots are the most dangerous).

There is no improvement if the father or one of the adolescent siblings does not take medication against pinworms and giardia, or in homes that do not strictly adhere to personal hygiene recommended by the doctor.

Symptoms of dyspnea will not disappear in children of health care workers: doctors and nurses, because they are in constant contact with the patient’s infected underwear. When exiting the rectum, a single female pinworm disintegrates and releases 20 thousand eggs.

The following treatment protocol was developed at the Provincial Allergology Clinic.

In the case of dyspnea, which was particularly prolonged and did not subside under the influence of anti-allergic drugs, a broad-spectrum antibiotic was administered for 10 days, followed by sulfonamides for 7 days. After the fever and dyspnea subsided, subcutaneous desensitization with polyvaccine was recommended, and 3-4 days after discontinuation of sulfonamides, anti-parasitic drugs were administered in a fixed order, first for pinworms and roundworms, then for whipworms, and finally metronidazole alternating with chlorquinaldine or furazolide.

I will provide the exact method separately, but at this point I want to strongly emphasize the following:

One must not administer anti-giardia drugs at the beginning of the treatment, even if giardia cysts are found in the patient’s stool, and no roundworm larvae or whipworm are detected.

There is a bad tolerance to drugs against protozoa, or even a serious disease can manifest itself (in 16% – Dr. Batko writes about it, and the same percentage of this phenomenon was observed in the Provincial Allergology Clinic).

Drug reluctance is observed, including vomiting, skin eruptions appear, and purulent tonsillitis has been noted.

During severe dyspnea in adults – this happened in the patient’s family – if dyspnea did not subside after antibiotics and anti-allergic agents, 5 minute enemas with one liter of garlic-infused water (6 cloves of garlic crushed and boiled for 5 minutes in 1 liter of water every evening for 40 days) were recommended. I found in the literature that garlic enemas used for 40 days remove not only pinworms, but also whipworms, which live in the large intestine.

I observed the disappearance of shortness of breath after 15-17 infusions in cases where steroids did not help and these were discontinued, because they were no longer needed after the enemas.

Only when there was silence I was not afraid to administer a treatment against parasites.

I would like to describe an interesting and instructive case.

A 17-year-old patient accompanied by his mother came to the clinic in a state of very severe dyspnea, completely covered with psoriatic scabs, from the top of his almost hairless head to his toes. His eyes shone and the red of his lips was without scabs.

A terrible condition of a man!

He was ill from the first years of his life. I already had experience in treating severe cases: antibiotics, anti-pinworm and roundworm drugs, anti-whipworm drugs during the second treatment. After the second treatment, and during the third one his condition was very good, there was no trace of shortness of breath, the skin cleansed, I prescribed anti-giardia medication.

The patient did not show up for the fourth visit. After three summons in writing, his mother arrived. The healthy patient suffered an anaphylactic shock, probably due to a renewed infestation with parasites: within 3 days he was in hospital for resuscitation and did not even want to hear about further treatment attempts. However, I convinced his mother and prescribed him all the medications from the beginning, adding a polyvalent bacterial vaccine for subcutaneous desensitization.

After a few years, when I was already retired, he visited me at home with a beautiful wife and a beautiful, healthy baby in his arms. He came to thank me for his “beautiful life”. He ended up in a good, loving family.

What mistake did I make a few years ago?

During the first visit, I could not administer the bacterial vaccine subcutaneously, because there was no healthy place on the skin, and after the second treatment during the third visit, I overlooked it, I forgot.

In such a great allergic state, the patient should not have been left defenseless against the inevitable repeated invasion of parasites. If during the third visit I had administered a polyvalent bacterial vaccine with a dilution of 1:1000, he would not only have been desensitized to the bacterial protein, but I would have stimulated the organism to produce bodies that would block all venoms entering from the outside and that would prevent the anaphylactic shock.

Even treatments administered in absentia removed the symptoms with no recurrence.

I would like to describe one more case where anti-parasite drugs not only gave full health, but also saved the patient from certain death. The only case in my practice of saving a life by using anti-parasite drugs.

A mother, who was my patient at the time, came to me with a request to visit her 8-year-old son.

He had been ill since birth, and recently the periods of illness have become very severe: cyclical and increasingly high temperatures, accompanied by swelling of both salivary glands. The otolaryngologists used all possible methods of treatment, but he could not break the cycle of the recurring disease.

With great anxiety I accepted the home visit: I saw the boy during a fresh relapse of the disease, after being administered an antibiotic.

The symptoms of the disease included: dilated pupils, wet hands, pronounced undulation of the carotid vessels, large, swollen tonsils, tooth decay, red contouring of the gum at the point of contact with a healthy tooth. The heart rate was strong, the tones were clear, the liver protruded 2 cm from under the costal arch. The medical record (the family doctor made it available for inspection) indicated cyclical temperature jumps from low-grade fever to recent fevers of up to 40 degrees, accompanied by the swelling of the salivary glands. I counted 17 instances which repeated regularly, every 20 days. In addition to the cyclical nature of the disease, the patient suffered from teeth grinding, night screams.

There were certainly worms with symptoms of toxemia.

During this time, the parents obtained the drug verni-cyn, a proteolytic preparation, an Indian pumpkin extract, which removes all roundworms in three days. I administered this preparation, and then I recommended anti-giardia drugs – there were no more febrile incidents – the boy was saved!

He had two more bouts of the disease, every few years, but repeated treatment with anti-parasite drugs (although not the same types) cured him. He is healthy and lives a normal life.

In this patient, I found a rarely described and underestimated symptom in the form of red contouring on the gum mucosa at the point of contact with the teeth. This symptom occurs in a severe toxic state of worm infestation, it disappears after treatment against parasites.

I consulted the otolaryngologists about the aforementioned patient, and he knew similar cases from the literature, where a contrast image of the salivary ducts showed dilation of these ducts, and the salivary gland looked like a tree during autumn, on which only a few leaves remained.

Summary

Practice sometimes precedes learning. The issue of parasites and their broad pathogenic significance must be of interest not only among internists, but also immunologists.

In all recurrent diseases with clinical symptoms of worms, including asthma, concomitant parasite infestation should be taken into account and removed on the basis of clinical symptoms, without wasting time on coprological examinations.

No one looks for Bordet-Gengeou bacilli when diagnosing whooping cough, because they are difficult to detect.

Treatment method at the Allergy Clinic for children.

I start by removing:

Pinworms.

I administer pyrantelum before the first breakfast once and again after 12 days, in doses depending on age and weight:

• From 6 months of age, syrup – 1/2 teaspoon
• From 10 months of age, syrup – 2/3 teaspoon
• From the age of one, syrup – 1 teaspoon
• From 2-6 years of age – 1/2 – 2 tablets
• From the age of 10 – 2 and 1/2 tablets
• From 40 kg to 60 kg in weight – 3 tablets
• Over 70 kg – 4 tablets

 

The drug is administered before breakfast, the tablets should be grinded thoroughly into powder and mixed with a small amount of water. I treat the whole family. On the eve of the treatment, you should change your bed linen. For the duration of the treatment, it is recommended to walk and sleep in additional tight-fitting cotton panties, which must be boiled separately. It is very important to wash yourself daily and generously lubricate the anal area with petroleum jelly. I recommend such hygiene for 5 weeks.

Sometimes I use garlic enemas (crush 6 cloves of garlic and boil for 5 minutes in 1 liter of water). Enemas are used when I cannot improve the dyspnea after using conventional drugs. After the symptoms subside, I start administering anthelmintic drugs.

Ascaris worms.

• I also use pyrantelum, but give this drug four times in 12-day intervals.

Whipworm.

Treatment with vermox:

• From 2 years of age – 2 x 1 tablet
• For older children – 2 x 2 tablets
• Adults – 2 x 2 tablets or 2 x 3 tablets
• I administer Vermox after meals within 3 days, I repeat it four times, every 12 days.

Giardia.

• Before treatment against protozoa, administer an antibiotic for 5 days. In infants and children up to 2 years of age, I use furazolidone:
• 2 x 1 small spoon up to a year old
• 3 x 1 small spoon for children up to 2 years of age
• 4 teaspoons a day until the age of 3.
• before meals for 7 days every 10 days, repeat 3 times.
• Older children take metronidazole 2 x half a tablet before meals for 7 days.
• From 10 years of age and adults 2 x 1 tablet – one day break
• For 7 days chlorquinaldin 2 x 1 tablet or 3 x 1 tablet after eating, 2 days break.
• For 7 days, metronidazole in doses as above – one day break.
• For 7 days chlorquinaldin as above – 2 days break.
• For 7 days, metronidazole in doses as above – one day break.
• For 7 days chlorquinaldin as above.

From the last day of the third course of mertronidazole, every 25 days 2 x metronidazole over 3 days in doses administered as a booster treatment over a period of 6 months, or even better 12 months.

If the patient has an inflammatory focus, deworming should be postponed until it is eliminated.

During the removal of giardia, it should be remembered that the administration of metronodazole gives biocenoses in the intestines, and therefore there is an increase in pathogenic coli bacterium, which always accompanies protozoa.

Associate Professor Żeligowska recommended V-cyline for 5 days in doses appropriate to age before the removal of giardia.

Example.

When removing parasites, I first found giardia and I started removing them. I administered medication to a six-month-old child according to the Grot method.

A concerned mother arrives: the dyspnea is gone, but severe purulent tonsillitis appears every 2 weeks. Let this case be a warning about the importance of the order of administration of drugs when removing parasites. Prof. Groer taught during lectures: sometimes removing parasites is dangerous, sometimes it is better not to touch them. Dr. Batke, in her monograph on giardiasis, never advised to remove protozoa before eradicating roundworms. In 16% of cases, there is poor tolerance of drugs against protozoa if roundworms have not been sufficiently removed.

An example from my practice: a child after 2 treatments with Vermox receives Furazolidone. With each dose, he refuses to take the medicine.

I understood that the treatment against whipworm was insufficient, because it was the most difficult to remove. Once again, I returned to the appropriate drug, after which furazolidone was administered again and turned out to be a very tasty drug. If administered at the wrong time, anti-parasite drugs sometimes exacerbate skin eruptions, sometimes new ones appear, which have not occurred before, shortness of breath and even an asthma attack may appear. I explain this phenomenon as the Kerxheimer reaction. The drug destroys parasites and increases the level of toxins in the blood. You need to remember this, warn the parents and conditionally recommend phenasoline 2 times a day in a dose appropriate to the age of the patient.”