Helminth infection is one of the most common childhood illnesses. According to official statistics, more than 20 million people are affected by helminth infestations, 80% of whom are children. Symptoms of the presence of worms in the body are not always pronounced. Consider what are the main signs of helminth infection in children, treatment methods, and preventative measures.
Types of helminths
There are over 3 hundred types of worms. All of them can be divided into three groups:
- Nematodes (pinworms, roundworms, whipworms).
- Tape worms (bovine tapeworm, porcine tapeworm).
- Plaice worms (cat and Siberian plaice).
Most of the time, children have worms belonging to the first group. Between them:
- Roundworms are long worms with sharp points. The color can be different: from pink to yellow. Adults parasitize the small intestine. Roundworms reproduce at high speed - the female is capable of laying up to 240, 000 eggs per day;
- Pinworms - belong to round worms and small sizes. They are usually white or yellowish in color. Females lay eggs near the anus and perineum. Eggs become infectious after a few hours.
- Vlasoglavs are round worms with thin front ends, with which they can pierce the intestinal wall. At the same time, whipworms are saturated with their blood and poison the rest of the organs with their waste. Secretions are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported throughout the body.
Important! Sometimes parents don't even suspect that helminths have installed themselves in their children's bodies. In the chronic stage, the disease may be asymptomatic.
Experienced doctors say that, with close examination, worms can be found even in apparently healthy children.
How Children Are Infected
Fundamentally wrong will be the opinion that worm infection occurs due to insufficient child care. Helminth infestation cases are not uncommon in the most prosperous and well cared for children. The main source of infection is dirty hands. An active child learns about the world around him and spends a lot of time outdoors, in the garden, on the playground and in the sandbox. These are places of significant accumulation of worm eggs. There are frequent cases of infection in animals that children love to play with.
Unwashed vegetables and fruits are another danger. Especially species whose fruits are in contact with the ground, such as strawberries, should not be eaten unwashed.
Important! You should not think that peeled fruits (bananas, tangerines, oranges) will be absolutely safe. Before eating, they should be washed as well as other fruits.
You can become infected with worms by eating fresh cow's or goat's milk. If the animal has been kept in conditions that do not meet hygiene standards, it is not surprising that parasites have taken up residence in its milk. Another cause of worms can be meat and fish that are not cooked properly.
Infection cannot be prevented if the child does not develop hand hygiene habits before meals and after using the bathroom. Bad habits of biting your nails, sucking your fingers, biting the tip of a pen or pencil are not entirely harmless, as it appears at first glance, since a child's hands are not always clean enough. It is absolutely unacceptable for a child to pet or handle stray dogs or cats.
common symptoms
All signs of onset of worm infection can be divided into general and specific, which are characteristic of certain types of parasites. The presence of general intoxication in children's bodies can be evaluated by the general manifestations of worm injuries:
- stool disturbances (constipation, diarrhea);
- frequent dizziness, nausea, bad breath;
- marked weight loss due to the fact that the parasites absorb most of the nutrients from food;
- dermatological diseases (rash, papillomas, diathesis, brittle nails);
- nervous system disorders (bad mood, crying, poor sleep and chronic fatigue in the child);
- low hemoglobin levels;
- immunity disturbances, which lead to frequent viral illnesses;
- low resistance to respiratory diseases (sinusitis, nasal polyps, adenoids);
- Allergic reactions.
Important! Usual prophylactic vaccination may be a sign of the presence of parasites. If accompanied by severe allergic reactions, a visit to a parasitologist is necessary!
Moth Infestation Signs
Caring parents want to know what worms look like in a child's stool. Typically, pinworms in a pot or near a child's anus can only be seen in advanced cases. As a rule, it is rarely possible to see them with the naked eye. But an attentive mother will always pay attention to the following symptoms:
- itchy anus;
- pain in the abdomen, especially around the navel;
- drooling, nausea;
- anxiety of a child who frequently wakes up or is restless during sleep;
- teeth grinding during sleep (no definitive medical evidence).
If a child scratches the anus, especially at night, this causes the parasites to reach the hands and, later, the skin all over the body. As a result, inflammatory skin diseases are possible. Combing the anus is also dangerous, as it contributes to reinfection by worms when the child, without washing his hands, picks up food, toys or pulls them into his mouth.
Girls are at increased risk for the worms to enter the external genitals, where females exit the anus. This infection is accompanied by urinary incontinence and intense secretion from Organs genitals. Lack of proper treatment can lead to a noticeable delay in the child's physical growth and development.
Symptoms of damage to roundworms and whipworms
Unlike pinworms common in temperate climates, roundworms prefer warm, moist air. Ascaris infection is suspected when the child, in the absence of respiratory disease, begins to present a dry cough, which intensifies at night. This is because the parasites move throughout the body. Other symptoms include a rash, fever, pale skin and dark circles. With a severe form of the disease, gallbladder inflammation, nerve disorders, and epileptic seizures are possible.
Infection with whipworms is usually slow or asymptomatic, but bloody diarrhea, anemia, and delayed physical development may occur.
Diagnosis of helminthiasis
If an infection is suspected in a child, a series of tests and studies need to be carried out. Diagnostic methods will determine the type of parasite. The child needs to pass:
- stool analysis for worm eggs - you need to take it with a break of several days;
- analysis for dysbiosis - establishes the difference between the E. coli indicator and the norm;
- a general blood test to determine the level of iron in the body;
- scraping for worms.
Important! A single analysis for the presence of helminths in feces, in many cases, does not detect parasites in the child's body. The re-examination of the stool is of great importance.
Since worms and roundworms quickly die outside the human body, it is recommended to have a stool analysis for the presence of helminths as soon as possible after evacuation. Scraping for worms should be performed at least once a year. It is mandatory when the child enters kindergarten, school or hospital.
To eliminate the risk of parasites entering other internal organs, ultrasound, endoscopic examinations and computed tomography are performed.
Characteristics of worm disease in a child
Usually, worm infection in children occurs after 1 year. It is a period of active knowledge of the world, in which the baby loves to study the objects around her, savoring them. However, cases of helminth infection are also found in children. Such diseases are considered a very serious problem, causing enormous damage to the still defenseless organism.
One of the main causes of the disease is infection with helminths still in the uterus. If the mother-to-be is herself a carrier of worms, her larvae during pregnancy can enter the fetus through the placenta. Infection can occur during the baby's passage through the mother's birth canal. Thus, when born, the baby is already a carrier of worms.
The risk of helminth infection in a baby increases when the baby starts to crawl. If the house contains pets, basic hygiene rules are not observed, so it is easy for a baby to collect all kinds of bacteria and parasites in their body.
It is much more difficult to make an effective diagnosis in childhood than in a child from 1 year of age. Signs of helminthiasis in babies can be defecation disturbances, inflammation around the anus and lips in girls, poor appetite and weight loss, irritability and anxiety. Even in the case of an insignificant probability of infection, you need to show the child to the doctor and have the necessary tests done.
traditional treatments
In most cases, the treatment of helminthiasis takes some time. The child should be taken to a pediatrician, parasitologist and pediatric gastroenterologist. Drug treatment occurs in three stages: a period of elimination of toxins from the body, a course of anthelmintic therapy, and a subsequent cleansing and strengthening program.
Preparations for worms
Before using antiparasitic agents, children are prescribed sorbents for general body cleansing and antihistamines to relieve inflammation and the manifestations of allergies. Then take anthelmintic medications.
Important! Worm preparations are toxic, so they can only be taken as prescribed by the doctor, observing the prescribed dosage! Do not use strong drugs for prophylaxis!
When prescribing medications, the child's age, the severity of the disease and the risk of side effects must be taken into account.
Pill formulations can be given to older children who are already able to swallow the pill. It is not uncommon for a child to refuse to swallow the pill or spit it out. Do not crush or crush the tablet. You can try giving it to your child while playing or with food. For infants and toddlers, medications in the form of a drug suspension are more suitable. Antiparasitic agents act according to the following scheme: the first method destroys the adult helminths and the next prevents the maturation and reproduction of the larvae.
Side effects usually indicate the death of parasites under the influence of the drug. To eliminate them, you can take activated charcoal. But this must not be done before 24 hours, otherwise the effect of the anthelmintic agent will be reduced. In some cases, courses of complex antiparasitic drugs that include multiple medications may be prescribed. Anthelmintic agents have several contraindications. They are not prescribed for children with malignant tumors, certain blood disorders and liver disorders.
To eliminate intense itchiness in the anus, anesthetics are prescribed, which relieve the sensation of irritation and burning. Zinc oxide in combination with beeswax or glycerin reduces itching and creates a protective film in the anal area.
Important! Along with drug treatment, general cleaning of the house is necessary. For this, it is necessary to carefully wash and iron the bed linen, process the child's things and toys and destroy the cockroaches and bedbugs in the house.
During treatment, special attention is paid to the diet. Protein foods, fermented dairy products are recommended. Fiber-rich foods are beneficial for normal digestion and proper bowel movements. It is best to exclude sweets and baked goods from the diet.
How to remove parasites at home
Folk remedies are featured in many recipes that allow you to remove worms at home. Treatment with folk remedies not only helps get rid of the worms but also has a beneficial effect on the vital activity of the child's organs. Consider the most effective traditional medicine.
Enemas
With the help of an enema, the breakdown products of the helminths can be expelled from the intestine, which, even after death, continues to infect the child's body. It is recommended to add a few cloves of garlic and a teaspoon of salt to the water for the procedure. This aqueous solution is better absorbed by the intestines. Before the procedure, the mixture is boiled and cooled to 36 degrees. Garlic water enemas are also suitable for younger children. During the procedure, there is a risk of helminths moving through the intestines. To avoid this, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids before starting the enema.
To expel worms, you can add garlic to hot milk, pour the mixture into a pot and place the baby on top of it. The worms will crawl out under the influence of the garlic fumes. When performing this procedure, you should be very careful not to burn your baby's skin.
tansy
Tansy has earned a reputation as an excellent remedy for worms and roundworms due to its toxic essential oils. They are used successfully to expel parasites from the human body. The only caveat: for successful treatment, a large dose is needed, which is intended for adults. On the question of whether it is possible to administer tansia to children as an anthelmintic agent, it is impossible to obtain a definitive answer. The drug has a pretty long list of side effects: nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, seizures.
Important! The tansy decoction can only be prescribed to children at least 10 years old and weighing at least 30 kg. It is dangerous for preschool children to take tansy for worms.
pumpkin seeds
This simple tool has been known since ancient times and was used by our ancestors. Pumpkin seeds, so appreciated by many, work as an excellent remedy for parasites. Instead of seeds, you can give pumpkin seed oil, which is sold in pharmacies. It is taken half an hour before meals. For young children who do not yet know how to eat seeds, you can cook pumpkin broth. For this, the seeds are crushed, poured into boiling water and kept in a bain-marie. The resulting liquid is infused for 24 hours and drunk after straining.
Onion
Pour boiling water over the chopped onion and steep for 12 hours. This infusion is drunk for several days. Onions and garlic are good for regular meals.
juices
Carrot juice is considered the most popular in the treatment of worms. It certainly must be freshly squeezed. Useful beetroot, pomegranate and cabbage juices as well as rosehip infusions. However, you need to understand that it is impossible to get rid of helminths with juice alone. Therefore, its use on an empty stomach is considered part of a comprehensive helminth therapy.
natural vegetable oils
Hemp, linseed and cedar oils have antiparasitic properties. They are completely safe for babies. You can dampen a piece of cotton wool in oil and apply it to the child's anus at night. With this action, pinworm eggs are destroyed, which the female deposits during the child's sleep.
Doctor on the treatment of worms
In his speeches for television, the famous doctor observes that it is only possible to be successful in the treatment of worms with the help of modern remedies. The physician strongly advises parents not to self-medicate and to consult a specialist in a timely manner.
In this case, it is important to determine what type of worms attacked the baby and which medications will have the most effective effect on the baby. Of the folk remedies, a well-known doctor advises pumpkin seeds, recommending a dose of 300 grams at a time. But the grinding of teeth in a dream as a sign of helminthic invasion, the specialist considers a useless fiction.
Prevention of helminthic diseases
To minimize the likelihood of infection by parasites, preventive measures should be taken:
- make sure the child washes their hands as often as possible, especially before meals and after using the bathroom;
- don't drink raw water;
- do not eat raw meat and fish;
- wash vegetables and fruits well;
- do not allow children to touch stray dogs and cats with their hands and regularly give anthelmintic medications to pets;
- wash the child's toys daily;
- cut short nails, under which the parasite's eggs usually accumulate;
- observe personal hygiene and cleanliness in the home;
- in autumn and spring, take anthelmintic prophylaxis with the whole family.
Following all the rules is not an absolute guarantee of protection against parasites, but it does significantly reduce the risk of infection and its serious consequences.