Helminth infection is one of the most common childhood diseases. According to official statistics, more than 20 million people are affected by helminth infestations, 80% of which 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, the methods of their treatment and preventive measures.
Types of helminths
There are more than 3 hundred types of worms. All of them can be divided into three groups:
- Roundworms (pinworms, roundworms, whipworms).
- Tapeworm (bovine tapeworm, swine tapeworm).
- Sparrow worms (cat and Siberian fluke).
Most often, children have worms belonging to the first group. Between them:
- Nematodes are long worms with pointed ends. The color can be different: from pink to yellow. Adults parasitize the small intestine. Nematodes reproduce at high speed: the female is able to lay up to 240 thousand eggs per day;
- Pinworms - belong to round and small worms. 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 round worms with thin anterior ends, with which they are able to pierce the intestinal wall. At the same time, whipworms are saturated with his blood and poison the rest of the organs with their waste. Secretions are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body.
Important! Sometimes parents do not even suspect that helminths have settled in their baby's body. In the chronic stage, the disease can be asymptomatic.
Experienced doctors claim that with a thorough examination, worms can be found even in an outwardly healthy child.
How children become infected
Fundamentally wrong will be the view that worm infection results from insufficient childcare. Cases of helminth infestation 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 considerable accumulation of worm eggs. There are frequent cases of infection from animals that children love to play with.
Unwashed fruits and vegetables are another danger. Especially those species whose fruits are in contact with the ground, such as strawberries, should not be eaten unwashed.
Important! You shouldn't think that peeled fruit (bananas, tangerines, oranges) are absolutely safe. Before eating, they should be thoroughly washed like other fruits.
You can get infected with worms by eating fresh cow or goat milk. If the animal has been kept in conditions that do not meet hygienic standards, it is not surprising that parasites have established themselves in its milk. Another cause of worms can be meat and fish that have not been properly cooked.
Infection cannot be avoided if the baby has not developed hand hygiene habits before meals and after bathing. Bad habits of nail biting, finger sucking, biting the tip of a pen or pencil are by no means harmless, as it seems at first glance, as 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 the manifestation of worm infection can be divided into general and specific, which are characteristic of some types of parasites. The presence of general intoxication in the children's body can be judged by the general manifestations of worm lesions:
- stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea);
- frequent dizziness, nausea, bad breath;
- sharp 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 (moody mood, crying, poor sleep and chronic fatigue of the child);
- low hemoglobin levels;
- immunity disorders, 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 sign of the presence of parasites. If it is accompanied by severe allergic reactions, a visit to a parasitologist is required!
Signs of pinworm infestation
Caring parents want to know what worms look like in a baby's stool. Usually pinworms in a pot or near a baby'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:
- itching of the anus;
- pain in the abdomen, especially around the navel;
- drooling, nausea;
- anxiety of a child who wakes up often or fidgets in his sleep;
- teeth grinding while sleeping (no definitive medical evidence).
If a baby itches in the anus, especially at night, this leads the parasites to reach the hands and later the skin of the whole body. As a result, inflammatory skin diseases are possible. Combing the anus is also dangerous as it contributes to pinworm reinfection when the baby, without washing his hands, takes food, toys or throws them into his mouth.
Girls have a higher risk of pinworms entering the external genitalia, where females crawl from the anus. This infection is accompanied by urinary incontinence and heavy discharge from the genitals. Lack of proper treatment can lead to a significant delay in the growth and physical development of the baby.
Symptoms of damage to roundworms and whipworms
Unlike pinworms common in temperate climates, nematodes prefer warm, humid air. Ascaris infection is suspected when a child, in the absence of a respiratory disease, begins to suffer from a dry cough, which intensifies during the night. This is due to the fact that parasites move throughout the body. Other symptoms include a rash on the body, fever, pale skin, and dark circles. With a severe form of the disease, inflammation of the gallbladder, nervous disorders and epileptic seizures are possible.
Whipworm infection is usually slow or asymptomatic, but bloody diarrhea, anemia, and delayed physical development can occur.
Helminthiasis diagnostics
If a child is suspected of being infected, a series of tests and studies should be carried out. Diagnostic methods will determine the type of parasite. The child must overcome:
- analysis of feces for worm eggs - you need to take it with a break of several days;
- analysis for dysbiosis - establishes the difference between the indicator of E. coli from the norm;
- a general blood test to determine the level of iron in the body;
- scrape for pinworms.
Important! A single analysis for the presence of helminths in the feces in many cases does not detect parasites in the child's body. Stool re-examination is of great importance.
Since pinworms and roundworms die quickly outside the human body, it is recommended to perform stool analysis for the presence of helminths as soon as possible after a bowel movement. Scraping for pinworms should be done at least once a year. It is mandatory when a child enters a preschool, school or hospital.
In order to eliminate the risk of parasites entering other internal organs, ultrasound, endoscopic examinations and computed tomography are performed.
Features of the disease with worms in a child
Usually, worm infection in babies occurs after 1 year. This is a period of active knowledge of the world, when the child loves to study the objects that surround him, savoring them. However, cases of helminth infection are also found in newborns. 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 helminth infection while they are still in the womb. If the expectant mother herself is a carrier of worms, their 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, as soon as it is born, the child is already a carrier of worms.
The risk of helminth infection in a baby increases as the baby begins to crawl. If the house contains pets, then basic hygiene rules are not observed, so it is easy for a child to collect all kinds of bacteria and parasites in his body.
It is much more difficult to make an effective diagnosis in infancy than in a child from 1 year of age. Signs of helminthiasis in infants can be defecation disorders, inflammation around the anus and labia in girls, poor appetite and weight loss, irritability and anxiety. Even in the case of an insignificant probability of infection, it is necessary to show the child to a doctor and take the necessary tests.
Traditional treatments
In most cases, the treatment of helminthiasis takes some time. The child should be brought to a pediatrician, parasitologist and pediatric gastroenterologist. Drug treatment takes place in three stages: a period of eliminating toxins from the body, a course of anthelmintic therapy and a subsequent cleansing and strengthening program.
Prepare for worms
Before using antiparasitic agents, children are prescribed sorbents for general cleansing of the body and antihistamines to relieve inflammation and the manifestations of allergies. This is followed by taking anthelmintic drugs.
Important! Preparations for worms are toxic, so they can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor, observing the prescribed dosage! Do not use strong drugs for prophylaxis!
When prescribing drugs, it is necessary to take into account the age of the child, the severity of the disease and the risk of side effects.
The 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 pill. You can try giving it to your child during play or with food. For one-year-old infants and children, drugs in the form of a medicinal suspension are more suitable. Pesticide agents act 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 eliminate them, you can take activated carbon. But this should be done no earlier than 24 hours, otherwise the effect of the anthelmintic agent will be reduced. In some cases, complex antiparasitic courses may be prescribed, which include several drugs. Anthelmintic agents have a number of contraindications. They are not prescribed for children with malignant tumors, some blood diseases and liver dysfunctions.
To eliminate severe itching in the anus, anesthetics are prescribed that 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, it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning of the house. To do this, it is necessary to carefully wash and iron the bedding, process the baby's things and toys, and destroy the cockroaches and bedbugs in the house.
During treatment, special attention is paid to diet. Protein foods, fermented milk products are recommended. Foods rich in fiber are helpful 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 helps not only to get rid of worms, but also has a beneficial effect on the vital activity of the baby's organs. Consider the most effective traditional medicine.
enemas
With the help of an enema, helminth decay products can be excreted 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 aqueous solution is better absorbed in the intestine. 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 in the intestines. To avoid this, it is recommended that you drink plenty of fluids before setting up the enema.
To expel worms, you can add garlic to hot milk, pour the mixture into a saucepan and put the baby on it. Worms crawl out under the influence of garlic fumes. When carrying out such a procedure, you need to be very careful not to burn the baby's skin.
tansy
Tansy has earned a reputation as a great remedy for pinworms and roundworms thanks to its toxic essential oils. They are successfully used to expel parasites from the human body. The only caveat: A high dose, designed for adults, is required for treatment to be successful. When asked whether it is possible to give tansy to children as an anthelmintic agent, it is impossible to get a definitive answer. The remedy has a rather long list of side effects: nausea, vomiting, hypertension, convulsions.
Important! A decoction of tansy can be prescribed only to a child of 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, serve as an excellent remedy for pests. Instead of seeds, you can give pumpkin seed oil, which is sold in pharmacies. It takes half an hour before meals. For young children who do not yet know how to eat the seeds, you can cook pumpkin broth. For this, the seeds are crushed, poured with boiling water and kept in a water bath. The resulting liquid is infused for 24 hours and drunk after filtering.
Onion
Pour boiling water over the chopped onion and leave to infuse 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 definitely needs to be freshly squeezed. Useful juices 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 helminth therapy.
Natural vegetable oils
Hemp, flaxseed and cedar oil have anti-parasitic properties. They are completely safe for children. You can moisten a piece of cotton wool in the oil and apply it to the baby's anus overnight. With this action, pinworm eggs are destroyed, which the female lays during the baby's sleep.
Doctor on the treatment of worms
In his television speeches, the famous doctor notes that it is possible to achieve success in the treatment of worms only with the help of modern medicines. The doctor strongly advises parents not to self-medicate and consult a specialist in a timely manner.
In this case, it is important to determine which type of worms attacked the child and which of the drugs will have the most effective effect on him. From folk remedies, a well-known doctor recommends pumpkin seeds, recommending a dose of 300 grams at a time. But the gnashing of teeth in a dream as a sign of helminthic invasion, the specialist considers an idle fiction.
Prevention of helminth diseases
To minimize the likelihood of parasite infection, preventive measures should be followed:
- make sure that the child washes his hands as often as possible, especially before meals and after bathing;
- do not drink raw water;
- do not eat raw meat and fish;
- wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly;
- do not allow the child to touch stray dogs and cats with their hands and regularly give anthelmintic drugs to pets;
- wash the baby's toys every day;
- cut short nails, under which eggs of the parasite usually accumulate;
- observe personal hygiene and cleanliness of the house;
- in autumn 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.