Helminth infection is one of the most common childhood diseases. According to official statistics, worms affect more than 20 million people, 80% of whom are children. Symptoms of the presence of worms in the body are not always pronounced. Think about what the main signs of helminth infection in children are, methods of treating them and preventive measures.
Types of helminths
There are more than 300 types of worms. All can be divided into three groups:
- Nematodes (pinworms, roundworms, whipworms).
- Tapeworms (beef tapeworm, pork tapeworm).
- Fluke worms (cat and Siberian leeches).
Most often, children have worms that belong 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 breed at high speed - the female can 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 contagious after a few hours.
- Vlasoglavs are roundworms with thin front ends that allow them to penetrate the intestinal wall. At the same time, whipworms become saturated with its blood and poison the remaining organs with their excretions. The secretions are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported around the body.
Important! Sometimes parents don't even have a clue that helminths have taken root in their child's body. In the chronic stage, the disease can be asymptomatic.
Experienced doctors say that with a thorough examination, worms can be found even in an externally healthy child.
How children get infected
The opinion that infection with worms occurs through inadequate childcare will be fundamentally wrong. Cases of helminth infestation are not uncommon among the wealthiest and most well-groomed children. The main source of infection is dirty hands. An active child gets to know the world around them and spends a lot of time outdoors, in the garden, in the playground and in the sandpit. These are places with significant accumulation of worm eggs. Often there are infections from animals that children like to play with.
Unwashed vegetables and fruits are another danger. Especially those species whose fruits come into contact with the ground, such as strawberries, should not be eaten unwashed.
Important! You shouldn't believe that peeled fruits (bananas, tangerines, oranges) are completely safe. They should be washed just as thoroughly as other fruits before consumption.
You can get infected with worms by eating fresh cow or goat milk. If the animal was 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 the toilet. Bad habits of biting nails, sucking fingers, biting the tip of a pen or pencil are by no means harmless, as it seems at first glance, since children's hands are not always clean enough. It is absolutely unacceptable for a child to pet or handle stray cats or dogs.
Common symptoms
All signs of the 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 from the general manifestations of worm lesions:
- Stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea);
- frequent dizziness, nausea, bad breath;
- severe weight loss due to the fact that parasites absorb most of the nutrients from food;
- dermatological diseases (rash, papillomas, diathesis, brittle nails);
- Disorders of the nervous system (mood, tears, poor sleep and chronic fatigue in the child);
- low hemoglobin levels;
- Disorders of immunity that lead to common viral diseases;
- low resistance to respiratory diseases (sinusitis, nasal polyps, polyps);
- allergic reaction.
Important! The usual prophylactic vaccination can be a signal of the presence of parasites. In the case of severe allergic reactions, a visit to the parasitologist is necessary!
Signs of pinworm infestation
Caring parents want to know what worms look like in a child's feces. Usually pinworms in a pot or near a child's anus are only seen in advanced cases. As a rule, they can rarely be seen with the naked eye. However, an observant mother will always look out for the following symptoms:
- Itching of the anus;
- Abdominal pain, especially around the navel;
- drooling, nausea;
- Anxiety in a child who wakes up often or fidgets in their sleep;
- Grinding teeth while sleeping (no definitive medical evidence).
When a child itches in the anus, especially at night, it leads to the introduction of parasites on the hands, and later on the skin all over the body. Inflammatory diseases of the skin are possible as a result. Combing the anus is also dangerous in that it contributes to re-infection with pinworms if the child puts food, toys, or their mouths without washing their hands.
Young girls are at increased risk of pinworms invading the external genitals, where the females crawl out of the anus. This infection is accompanied by urinary incontinence and excessive discharge from the genitals. Inadequate treatment can lead to a noticeable delay in the child's growth and physical development.
Symptoms of damage to roundworms and whipworms
Unlike pinworms, which are common in temperate climates, roundworms prefer warm, moist air. Ascaris infection is suspected if a child without a respiratory disease has a dry cough that worsens at night. This is because parasites move all over the body. Other symptoms include a rash, fever, pale skin, and dark circles under the eyes. With a severe form of the disease, inflammation of the gallbladder, nerve disorders, and epileptic seizures are possible.
Whipworm infection is usually sluggish or asymptomatic, but bloody diarrhea, anemia, and delayed physical development can occur.
Diagnosis of helminthiasis
A series of tests and studies are necessary if a child is suspected of being infected. Diagnostic methods determine the type of parasite. The child must pass:
- analysis of feces on eggs from worms - you need to take it with a break of several days;
- Analysis for dysbiosis - establishes the difference between the indicator of E. coli and the norm;
- a general blood test to determine the level of iron in the body;
- Scraping for pinworms.
Important! A single analysis for the presence of helminths in the feces in many cases does not reveal any parasites in the child's body. Re-examining the feces is very important.
Since pinworms and roundworms die quickly outside the human body, it is recommended that a stool analysis for the presence of helminths be carried out as soon as possible after a bowel movement. Scraping for pinworms must be done at least once a year. It is mandatory when a child enters a kindergarten, school or hospital.
To exclude the risk of parasites invading other internal organs, ultrasound, endoscopic examinations and computed tomography are performed.
Features of the disease with worms in an infant
Usually, worm infection occurs in children after 1 year. This is a time of active knowledge of the world, when the baby loves to study and try the objects around him. However, cases of infection with helminths are also found in infants. Such diseases are considered a very serious problem that causes enormous damage to the still defenseless organism.
One of the main causes of the disease is infection with helminths while still in the womb. If the expectant mother is a carrier of worms, their larvae can get into the fetus via the placenta during pregnancy. Infection can occur during the baby's passage through the mother's birth canal. So the baby, hardly born, is already a worm carrier.
The risk of helminth infection in an infant increases as the baby begins to crawl. If the house contains pets and basic hygiene rules are not followed, it is easy for a baby to collect all kinds of bacteria and parasites in his body.
An effective diagnosis is much more difficult in infancy than in a child from 1 year of age. Signs of helminthiasis in infants can include defecation disorders, inflammation around the anus and around the labia in girls, loss of appetite and weight loss, irritability and anxiety. Even with an insignificant likelihood of infection, you must show the child to a doctor and carry out the necessary tests.
Traditional treatments
In most cases, helminthiasis will take some time to treat. The child should be taken to a pediatrician, parasitologist, and pediatric gastroenterologist. The drug treatment takes place in three phases: a detoxification phase, an anthelmintic therapy and a subsequent cleansing and strengthening program.
Preparations for worms
Before using antiparasitic agents, children are prescribed sorbents for general cleansing of the body and antihistamines to relieve inflammation and manifestations of allergies. The intake of anthelmintic drugs follows.
Important! Preparations against worms are poisonous, so they may only be taken according to a doctor's prescription and in compliance with the prescribed dosage! Do not use strong prophylactic drugs!
When prescribing medication, it is important to consider the age of the child, the severity of the disease, and the risk of side effects.
Pill formulations can be given to older children who can already swallow the pill. It is not uncommon for a child to refuse to swallow or spit the pill. Do not crush or crush the pill. You can try giving it to your child while playing or eating. Medicines in the form of a medicinal suspension are more suitable for babies and one-year-old children. 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 parasites under the influence of the drug. To get rid of them, you can take activated charcoal. However, this should be done after 24 hours at the earliest, otherwise the effectiveness of the antihelminthic is reduced. In some cases, complex anti-parasitic courses that include several drugs can be prescribed. Antihelminthics have a number of contraindications. They are not prescribed to children with malignant tumors, certain blood diseases and liver dysfunction.
To get rid of severe itching in the anus, anesthetics are prescribed, which relieve the feeling of irritation and burning sensation. Zinc oxide in combination with beeswax or glycerine reduces itching and forms a protective film in the anal area.
Important! In addition to drug treatment, general house cleaning is required. To do this, you need to wash and carefully iron the bedding, process the child's things and toys, and destroy cockroaches and bedbugs in the house.
During treatment, special attention is paid to diet. Protein feed, fermented milk products are recommended. High fiber foods are beneficial for normal digestion and timely bowel movements. It is better to exclude sweets and baked goods from the diet.
How to remove parasites at home
Folk remedies are presented in many recipes that allow you to remove worms at home. Treatment with folk remedies will not only help get rid of worms, but also have a positive 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 continue to infect the child's body even after their death. 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 into the intestine. Before the procedure, the mixture is boiled and cooled to 36 degrees. Enemas with garlic water are also suitable for the little ones. 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 drive away worms, you can add garlic to the hot milk, pour the mixture into a saucepan and put the baby on it. The worms crawl out under the influence of the garlic fumes. During such a procedure, you need to be very careful not to burn the baby's skin.
Tansy
Tansy has earned a reputation as an excellent remedy for pinworms and roundworms due to its poisonous essential oils. They are successfully used to drive parasites out of the human body. The only restriction: a high dose, which is designed for adults, is required for successful treatment. When asked whether it is possible to give children tansy as an antihelminthic, there is no unequivocal answer. The remedy has a fairly long list of side effects: nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, convulsions.
Important! A decoction of tansy can only be prescribed to a child who is at least 10 years old and weighs at least 30 kg. It is dangerous for preschoolers to take tansy for worms.
pumpkin seed
This simple tool has been known since ancient times and was used by our ancestors. So loved by many, pumpkin seeds 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. To do this, the seeds are crushed, poured with boiling water and kept in a water bath. The resulting liquid is infused for 24 hours and, after straining, drunk.
onion
Pour boiling water over the chopped onion and let it 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 when it comes to treating worms. It has to be freshly squeezed in any case. Useful juices made from 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, linseed and cedar oils have anti-parasitic properties. They are completely harmless to babies. You can moisten a piece of cotton wool in oil and apply it to the child's anus at night. This action destroys the eggs of pinworms that the female lays while the child is sleeping.
Doctor on the treatment of worms
In his television speeches, the famous doctor states that only with the help of modern drugs can success in the treatment of worms be achieved. 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 what type of worms attacked the baby and which of the drugs will have the most effective effect on him. Of folk remedies, a well-known doctor advises pumpkin seeds and recommends a dose of 300 grams at a time. But the specialist considers the grinding of teeth in a dream as a sign of a helminthic invasion to be an idle fiction.
Helminth disease prevention
To minimize the likelihood of infection with parasites, preventive measures should be taken:
- Make sure the child washes their hands as often as possible, especially before meals and after the toilet;
- do not drink raw water;
- do not eat raw meat or fish;
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly;
- do not allow the child to touch stray dogs and cats with their hands, and regularly give anthelmintics to pets;
- wash the child's toys daily;
- cut short nails, under which parasite eggs usually accumulate;
- pay attention to personal hygiene and cleanliness of the house;
- antihelminth prophylaxis with the whole family in autumn and spring.
Compliance with all the rules is not an absolute guarantee of protection from parasites, but it significantly reduces the risk of infection and its serious consequences.