One of the most common childhood illnesses is helminth infection. According to official statistics, more than 20 million people are affected by helminthic infestations, of which 80% 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, methods of their treatment and preventive measures.
Types of helminths
There are over three hundred types of worms. All of them can be divided into three groups:
- Nematodes (pinworms, roundworms, whipworms).
- Tapeworms (bovine tapeworm, pork tapeworm).
- Moat worms (Siberian cat and fluke).
Most often children have worms belonging to the first group. Among them:
- Roundworms are long worms with pointed ends. The color can be different: from pink to yellow. Adults parasitize the small intestine. Roundworms reproduce at high speed - the female is able to lay up to 240, 000 eggs per day;
- Pinworms - belong to roundworms and small sizes. They are usually white or yellowish in color. Females lay eggs near the anus and in the perineum. The eggs become infectious after a few hours.
- Vlasoglavs are roundworms with thin anterior ends, with which they are able to pierce the intestinal wall. At the same time, the whipworms are saturated with its blood and poison the rest of the organs with their wastes. The secretions are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body.
Important! Sometimes parents do not even suspect that helminths have settled in their child's body. In the chronic stage, the disease can be asymptomatic.
Experienced doctors say that with a careful examination, worms can be found even in a child with a healthy exterior.
How children are infected
Fundamentally mistaken will be the opinion that infection with worms stems from a lack of child care. Cases of helminth infestation are not uncommon in the wealthiest and most well-cared for children. Dirty hands are the main source of infection. 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 from animals that children like to play with.
Another danger is unwashed vegetables and fruits. 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 thoroughly as other fruits.
You can get infected with worms from eating fresh cow's or goat's milk. If the animal has been kept in conditions that do not meet hygienic standards, it is not surprising that parasites have settled in its milk. Another cause of worms can be meat and fish that have not been properly cooked.
Infection cannot be avoided if the child has not developed hand hygiene habits before meals and after using the toilet. Bad habits of biting your nails, sucking your fingers, biting the tip of a pen or pencil are not at all harmless, as it seems at first glance, since a child's handsare not always clean enough. It is absolutely unacceptable for a child to pet or handle stray cats or dogs.
Common symptoms
All signs of manifestation of infection with worms can be divided into general and specific, which are characteristic of certain types of parasites. The presence of general intoxication in the body of children can be judged by the general manifestations of worm lesions:
- stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea);
- frequent dizziness, nausea, bad breath;
- significant weight loss due to the fact that parasites absorb most of the nutrients from food;
- dermatological diseases (rash, papillomas, diathesis, brittle nails);
- nervous system disorders (moodiness, tearing, lack of sleep and chronic fatigue in the child);
- low hemoglobin levels;
- disorders of immunity, which leads to frequent viral diseases;
- low resistance to respiratory diseases (sinusitis, nasal polyps, adenoids);
- allergic reactions.
Important! The usual prophylactic vaccination can be a signal of the presence of parasites. If it is accompanied by severe allergic reactions, a visit to a parasitologist is essential!
Signs of pinworm infestation
Caring parents want to know what worms look like in a child's stool. Usually pinworms in a pot or near a child's anus can only be observed in advanced cases. Usually, it is rarely possible to see them with the naked eye. But a careful mother will always pay attention to the following symptoms:
- itching of the anus;
- pain in the abdomen, especially around the navel;
- drooling, nausea;
- anxiety in a child who often wakes up or fidgets in his sleep;
- teeth grinding during sleep (no definitive medical evidence).
If a child has itchy anus, especially at night, this leads to the penetration of parasites on the hands, and later on the skin all over the body. As a result, inflammatory skin diseases are possible. Combing the anus is also dangerous in that it contributes to re-infection with pinworms when the child, without washing his hands, takes food, toys or pulls them into his mouth.
Young girls have an increased risk of pinworms entering the external genitalia, where females crawl from the anus. This infection is accompanied by urinary incontinence and profuse discharge from the genitals. Lack of proper treatment can lead to a noticeable delay in a child's growth and physical development.
Symptoms of damage to roundworms and whipworms
Unlike the pinworms common in temperate climates, roundworms prefer warm, moist air. Ascaris infection is suspected when a child, in the absence of respiratory disease, begins to suffer from a dry cough, which intensifies at night. This is because the parasites travel throughout the body. Other symptoms include a rash on the body, fever, pale skin, and dark circles under the eyes. With a severe form of the disease, inflammation of the gallbladder, nervous disorders and seizures are possible.
Whipworm infection is usually slow or asymptomatic, but bloody diarrhea, anemia, and delayed physical development can occur.
Diagnosis of helminthiasis
If a child is suspected of being infected, it is necessary to perform a series of tests and studies. Diagnostic methods will determine the type of parasite. The child must succeed:
- analysis of feces for worm eggs - you need to take it with a break of several days;
- dysbiosis analysis - differentiates between the indicator of E. coli and the norm;
- a general blood test to determine the level of iron in the body;
- scratching for pinworms.
Important! A single scan for the presence of helminths in the stool in many cases does not detect the parasites in the child's body. Of great importance is the reexamination of feces.
Since pinworms and roundworms die quickly outside the human body, it is recommended that a stool test be done for the presence of helminths as soon as possible after a bowel movement. Pinworm scraping should be done at least once a year. It is compulsory when a child enters a kindergarten, a school or a hospital.
In order to eliminate the risk of ingress of parasites into other internal organs, ultrasound, endoscopic examinations and computed tomography are performed.
Features of the disease with worms in an infant
Usually, infection with worms in children occurs after 1 year. It is a period of active knowledge of the world, where the baby likes to study the objects around him, to taste them. However, cases of helminth infection are also seen in infants. These diseases are considered to be a very serious problem causing enormous damage to the still defenseless body.
One of the main causes of the disease is infection with helminths while still in the womb. If the future mother herself is a carrier of worms, their larvae during pregnancy can enter the fetus through the placenta. Infection can occur when the baby passes through the mother's birth canal. Thus, barely born, the baby is already a carrier of worms.
The risk of helminth infection in an infant increases when the baby begins to crawl. If there are pets in the house, and basic hygiene rules are not followed, then it is easy for a baby to accumulate all kinds of bacteria and parasites in his body.
It is much more difficult to carry out an effective diagnosis in early childhood than in a child from 1 year old. Signs of helminthiasis in infants may be disturbed defecation, inflammation around the anus and lips in girls, poor appetite and weight loss, irritability and anxiety. . Even with an insignificant probability of infection, you need to show the child to a doctor and do the necessary tests.
Traditional treatments
In most cases, treatment for helminthiasis takes some time. The child should be taken to a pediatrician, parasitologist and pediatric gastroenterologist. Drug treatment takes place in three stages: a period of elimination of toxins from the body, an anthelmintic treatment and a subsequent cleansing and strengthening program.
Preparations for worms
Before using antiparasitic agents, children are prescribed absorbents for general cleansing of the body and antihistamines to relieve inflammation and manifestations of allergies. This is followed by taking anthelmintic drugs.
Important! Preparations for worms are toxic, so they can only be taken on prescription from a doctor, in the prescribed dosage! Do not use strong drugs for prophylaxis!
When prescribing medication, the age of the child, the severity of the disease and the risk of side effects should 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 or spit out the pill. Do not crush or crush the pill. You can try giving it to your child during play or with food. For babies and children of one year, drugs in the form of a drug suspension are more suitable. Antiparasitic agents work according to the following scheme: the first method destroys adult helminths, and the next prevents the maturation and reproduction of larvae.
Side effects usually indicate the death of the parasites under the influence of the drug. To eliminate them, you can take activated charcoal. But this should be done not earlier than after 24 hours, otherwise the effect of the anthelmintic agent will be reduced. In some cases, complex antiparasitic cures may be prescribed, which include several drugs. Anthelmintic agents have a number of contraindications. They are not prescribed for children with malignant tumors, certain blood diseases and liver dysfunction.
To eliminate severe itching in the anus, anesthetics are prescribed, which relieve the feeling 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 therapy, it is necessary to carry out general cleaning of the house. To do this, you need to thoroughly wash and iron the bed linen, process the child's things and toys, and destroy cockroaches and bedbugs in the house.
During treatment, special attention is paid to diet. Protein foods, fermented dairy products are recommended. Foods high in fiber are beneficial for normal digestion and rapid bowel movements. It is better to exclude sweets and baked goods from the diet.
How to eliminate parasites at home
Folk remedies are presented in many recipes that allow you to get rid of worms at home. Treatment with folk remedies not only helps get rid of 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 decay products of helminths can be expelled from the intestines, which, even after their death, continue 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. Such an aqueous solution is better absorbed in the intestines. Before the procedure, the mixture is boiled and cooled to 36 degrees. Garlic water enemas are also suitable for the little ones. During the procedure, there is a risk that the helminths will move through the intestines. To avoid this, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids before applying the enema.
To expel the worms, you can add garlic to hot milk, pour the mixture into a saucepan and sit the baby on it. The worms will crawl under the influence of the garlic vapors. When performing such a procedure, you should be very careful not to burn the skin of the baby.
Tansy
Tansy has gained a reputation as an excellent remedy for pinworms and roundworms due to its toxic essential oils. They are successfully used to expel parasites from the human body. Only downside: for a successful treatment, you need a large dose, designed for adults. When asked whether it is possible to give tansy to children as an anthelmintic agent, it is not possible to get a definitive answer. The remedy has a rather long list of side effects: nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, seizures.
Important! A decoction of tansy can be prescribed only to a child at least 10 years old, whose weight is at least 30 kg. It is dangerous for preschoolers 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 loved by many, are an excellent remedy for pests. Instead of seeds, you can give pumpkin seed oil, which is sold in pharmacies. It is taken half an hour before meals. For small children who still do not know how to eat seeds, you can cook pumpkin broth. For this, the seeds are crushed, poured into boiling water and stored in a water bath. The resulting liquid is infused for 24 hours and drunk after draining.
Onion
Pour boiling water over the chopped onion and let steep for 12 hours. This infusion is drunk for several days. Onions and garlic are good for regular meals.
Juice
Carrot juice is considered the most popular in the treatment of worms. It must certainly be freshly squeezed. Useful juices of beets, pomegranates and cabbage, as well as rosehip infusions. However, you need to understand that it is impossible to get rid of helminths with juices alone. Therefore, their use on an empty stomach is considered part of a comprehensive therapy against helminths.
Natural vegetable oils
Hemp, flax and cedar oil have pest control properties. They are completely safe for babies. You can moisten a cotton ball in oil and apply it to the child's anus at night. By this action, the pinworm eggs are destroyed, which the female lays while the child is sleeping.
Doctor on treatment of worms
In his televised speeches, the famous doctor notes that it is possible to achieve success in the treatment of worms only with the help of modern drugs. The doctor strongly advises parents not to self-medicate and to consult a specialist in a timely manner.
In this case, it is important to determine which type of worm has attacked the baby and which of the drugs will have the most effective effect on him. Among 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 idle fiction.
Prevention of helminthic diseases
To minimize the risk of infection with parasites, preventive measures should be followed:
- make sure that the child washes his hands as often as possible, especially before meals and after using the toilet;
- do not drink raw water;
- do not eat raw meat and fish;
- wash vegetables and fruits well;
- do not let the child touch stray dogs and cats with his hands and regularly give the animals anthelmintic drugs;
- wash the child's toys daily;
- cut nails short, under which parasite eggs usually accumulate;
- observe personal hygiene and house cleanliness;
- in the fall and spring, undergo anthelmintic prophylaxis with the whole family.
Compliance with all the rules is not an absolute guarantee of protection against parasites, but it significantly reduces the risk of infection and its serious consequences.