Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'hookworm'.
The search index is currently processing. Current results may not be complete.
Found 1 result
-
I know this is an odd question. And may label me as a crack-pot. Five years ago (after doing a ton of PubMed research) my sons and I got a small dose of helminths as immunomodulatory probiotics, and a few months after that my son (DS 11) finally started having colds that didn't immediately turn into sinus infections. He'd not had that for years and years. And allergy shots were no longer as painful, with smaller local reactions, able to go to a higher maintenance dose. No longer out of school as often. We were delighted. (The theory is an expansion of the hygiene hypothesis, that our bodies co-evolved with parasites as well as bacteria; that the things we are allergic to typically have the same proteins as the parasites we would normally host, but since our immune system can't target the parasites, it targets look-alike environmental allergens instead, or tissues in our own body, producing autoimmune illnesses. The helminths protect themselves by excreting substances that immunomodulate our system to increase t-regs and decrease chronic inflammation. No helminths -> more inflammation. And that's how it seemed to work out for us. But helminths only live 3-5 years, and he's been ill much more frequently the last few winters, so in early August we all were re-inoculated. And then two weeks later he went to school, and after two days of school this kid -- who likes school -- had a sudden onset of PANS, first appearing as intense general and school anxiety. So I've been hoping that the hookworm would serve him well again, and actually treat the PANS once the helminths really mature, but a part of me wonders if this time we might have done him wrong. I'd hate to eliminate the helminths needlessly -- but worry about leaving a stone unturned just because it's not the answer I would want. So that's why I'm asking for others' experiences. I don't think I'd find anything by searching for PANS + helminths on PubMed!!!
