Worms (helminths) are one of those problems faced by parents all over the world. This is a really serious problem that needs to be addressed quickly. Worms are worms of the group of parasites. They parasitize the human body and disrupt the functioning of organs and systems. Most often, children have pinworms and roundworms.
Whenever helminthiasis symptoms appear, immediately consult a doctor for effective therapy.
Causes of worm infection in children.
Due to their mobility and natural curiosity, children often come into contact with the world around them and everything that inhabits it. The list of common causes of infection is quite impressive.
Contact with contaminated surfaces
The worms and their eggs can survive up to two weeks without eating.
The most common places where a child can become infected with worms are:
- dirt on the playground or outdoors that contains worms or eggs;
- contact with animals or contact with their droppings, infected with worms.
Eating food or water contaminated with worms.
It is very important to wash vegetables and fruits well before eating them, as they contain worm eggs.
Raw or undercooked foods also carry a risk of worm infestation. Contaminated water is a very common source of pollution.
Contact way
Worms are transmitted to humans from humans. Pinworms generally spread this way, so there is a very high risk of helminth infection in groups of children.
Insect bites
Mosquitoes are often carriers of the infection.
The presence of worms in the mother.
It is possible to infect a child even during pregnancy, when the infection occurs in the uterus. Helminth larvae enter the bloodstream of the fetus through the placenta or during labor through the birth canal. The parasite eggs reach the child from the surface of the nipple, toys and other objects.
Worm infestations are more common in children than in adults. Worms in children under one year of age are not as common as in children aged 1, 5 to 3 years, who actively explore the world, taste various objects, and become infected much more often.
Helminthiases are dangerous at any age. Worms in a one-year-old child are a special case, because the baby's body has not yet matured, the immune system is weak, and the presence of worms in children can cause frequent acute respiratory diseases, a tendency to allergies and diseases. of internal organs.
The presence of worms in babies is a great health problem, since worms feed on the substances necessary for the growth and full development of the baby.
Symptoms of worms in children
The signs of worms in children depend on the habitat and activity of the worms in the child's body. The most common worms (pinworms in babies, pinworms, tapeworms) live in the intestines, but some of certain parasites can move from one organ to another. For example, pinworms first enter the stomach, and from there, blood enters the lungs or liver. There they grow for three weeks, then re-enter the intestines or stomach.
Pinworms often inhabit the anus and cause intense itching. In girls, they can be found on the genitals and cause vulvovaginitis.
Opisthorchis parasites often live in the liver and pancreas. The echinococcus can affect muscles and bones, the chains even penetrate the brain. Also, some types of helminths are found in the respiratory organs and cause a persistent cough.
How to understand that a child has worms?
Depending on the location of the worms in children, the following signs of the presence of worms may appear in the child:
- Constipation.Large worms can block the lumen of the intestine, causing poor stool flow. Constipation can last more than 2 days.
- Diarrhea.Some parasites secrete a special substance that stimulates the body to excrete undigested food particles and large amounts of water.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.Helminths can cause inflammation in the intestines. This causes poor absorption of nutrients and irregular bowel movements.
- Flatulence.Some types of helminths cause fermentation processes in the small intestine, this causes excessive gas formation. If you don't get rid of the worms in time, flatulence can last for months.
- Pain in joints, muscles.This happens when parasites invade a joint or the thickness of muscle tissue and destroy it.
- Allergy.The waste products of worms can activate special cells in the body that are responsible for allergic reactions.
- Worms can cause skin diseases.Acne, urticaria, papillomas and diathesis appear. Sometimes worm infection leads to increased brittleness of hair and nails.
- Anemia.Some types of worms can adhere to the intestinal walls and receive from them not only nutrients, but also blood. Due to this, the child develops anemia, which is diagnosed with a clinical blood test.
- Change in body weightAs a general rule, as a result of worm infection, body weight drops dramatically, as worms absorb more nutrients than enter the body with food. Having a helminth infection often causes loss of appetite due to toxins entering the bloodstream. But often the child experiences an increase in body weight; this is a defensive reaction to the spread of worms.
- Nervous system disorders.The child has a moody and irritable behavior. Depression can develop in schoolchildren and adolescents in the context of helminthiasis.
- Sleep disorders.When a child wakes up every night, this may indicate an infection process. At night, some types of worms leave the body through the anus, which is accompanied by a strong itch, which prevents the baby from sleeping.
- Jaundice.More common with tapeworm infections.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.The child is constantly weak and quickly tires due to a lack of nutrients in the body. Memory problems, emotional stress and drowsiness develop.
- Immunity disorders.Due to helminthiasis, a child often develops diseases of viral genesis, an allergic reaction to ordinary foods appears. In the intestine, dysbiosis, colitis often develop, on the face - rashes, diathesis and herpes.
- Respiratory problems.They occur when maggot larvae attack the lungs. With worms, children develop a cough and their body temperature rises. Bronchial asthma is an extremely dangerous complication of worm invasion.
Numerous symptoms of worms in children significantly complicate the diagnosis. Therefore, parents should remember the usual preventive examinations, including tests for the presence of pinworms and roundworms.
Common types of worms in children
- Pinwormscause itching around the anus, pain when urinating.
- Ascaris.With ascariasis, diarrhea is observed, worms are visible in the feces of the child with the naked eye. Fever and dry cough are detected between 4 and 16 days after contact with pinworm eggs.
- Hookworm.The child develops a cough, wheezing appears. In severe infection, anemia and chronic fatigue develop.
- You had.They enter the body with contaminated food and water. Ingested worms leave the baby's intestines and form cysts in the body's tissues and organs.
How to identify worms in a child?
Abdominal pain, lethargy, and diarrhea can be symptoms of other illnesses. To make sure they are signs of helminthiasis, some tests for worms in children need to be done:
1. Blood tests to detect worms in children.
An enzyme immunoassay for worms is prescribed. As a result of the study, special antibodies and antigens are identified, indicating the presence of worms in the body. This analysis will show the type of worms present, their number and the ability to reproduce.
To diagnose worms, a general blood test is performed, which allows you to identify anemia or signs of inflammation in the body.
2. The exact result is achieved by histological coprogram
It consists of the microscopic examination of the stool. Thanks to this study, it is possible to clearly identify the parts of the worm's body, its eggs. As a result, helminthiasis is diagnosed, as well as the type of worms.
3. X-rays and other diagnostic measures
When there is suspicion of the presence of worms in the lungs, an X-ray examination is prescribed. In addition, a sputum test is performed. A CT scan or ultrasound is done to identify parasites in the liver, brain, or kidneys.
How to get rid of worms in children?
To effectively treat worms in a child, contact a parasitologist and follow his or her recommendations.
Self-medication with antiparasitic drugs for children is unacceptable because they are quite toxic. Remember also that the invasion of different types of worms requires individualized treatments that are structured according to the life cycle of the worm. When calculating the dose, the specialist must take into account the age and body weight of the patient.
Your doctor may prescribe a medicine for worms, which is available as a syrup for young children or as a tablet for older children.
Antiparasitic tablets for children usually kill the worms without harming the owner, in this case the child. The treatment period is usually short and lasts no more than a few days. Sometimes one dose is enough to remove the worm crumbs.
But many drugs are ineffective against maggot larvae and eggs. In addition, there is a fairly large threat of repeated autoinfection with pinworms in young children. Therefore, after 2-3 weeks, the course of treatment should be repeated.
If a child has worms, in parallel with etiotropic drugs, a specialist may recommend a choleretic drug if the worms are suspected of living in the gallbladder. Laxatives are often prescribed to quickly eliminate helminths and sorbents to absorb toxins. Antihistamines can reduce the manifestation of allergies and improve the health of the little patient.
Treating helminthiasis in babies is very difficult. Most medicines for worms are not used in children under the age of two, because they are very toxic and have many side effects. The damage to the body caused by the consumption of such drugs can be significant even with the slightest excess of doses. Therefore, self-treatment of helminthiasis in children of the year is absolutely prohibited.
With any suspicion of worms in a baby, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will determine the degree of infection and develop a treatment regimen that works in this case. In some situations, the doctor may even suggest delaying treatment for a short time to allow the child to grow.
Do not rely on over-the-counter medications as they may not be suitable for toddlers and young children. Always visit your doctor and follow the dose and treatment regimen to keep your child worm-free. It is recommended to use worm pills for children every six months as a prophylaxis. Talk to your doctor about what to give your baby for the prevention of worms, the specialist will determine the dose and frequency of preventive deworming.
Folk remedies for worms for children
Along with medications, treating roundworms in children with home remedies will help alleviate the discomfort caused by worms in the body. A natural remedy for worms will not necessarily eliminate your child's worms, but it will help treat and prevent infections.
Consider home remedies:
- GarlicIt is a natural anthelmintic agent for children. It is known to be effective against parasitic worms. Raw garlic contains amino acids, sulfur, which will help kill and eliminate parasites from the body. Eating three raw garlic cloves on an empty stomach will help with complex deworming.
- Papaya- the best remedy for health. Green papaya has an enzyme called papain, which acts as an anthelmintic agent to kill worms in the intestines. Also, papaya seeds are used to expel stomach worms. Grind the papaya seeds and stir a tablespoon of the mixture into warm milk or water. Ask your child to drink the beverage in the morning, three days in a row. Combine a tablespoon of raw papaya and a tablespoon of honey in warm milk or water. Drinking this drink on an empty stomach helps to expel intestinal worms.
- Pumpkin seedsHelps to expel intestinal parasites. The seeds contain cucurbitacin, which paralyzes pests and makes it difficult for them to survive in the body. Offer your child a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds with honey. Boil a tablespoon of peeled and crushed pumpkin seeds in three glasses of water. Let the drink sit for half an hour. Offer it to the child when the liquid has cooled.
- Chinese bitter gourd.Although it has a slightly acidic taste, it is very effective in fighting intestinal worms. Mix a cup of bitter gourd juice with water and honey and feed your child twice a day.
- CarrotIt contains vitamin A, which boosts immunity and allows the body to fight off any intestinal worms before they have fully colonized the body. Eating carrots on an empty stomach will help neutralize persistent parasites in the body and will also prevent re-infection.
- TurmericIt is a natural antiseptic and helps in the elimination of all types of intestinal worms. You need a glass of warm water mixed with a tablespoon of turmeric, give the worm child once a day for five days.
- CoconutIt has strong antiparasitic properties, making it effective in treating worms. You can use fruit or oil to kill worms. Have your child eat a tablespoon of ground coconut every day with breakfast. Keep using this home remedy for a week. Concentrated coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides that will help eliminate worms from your baby's body. Taking four to six teaspoons of coconut oil every morning for a week will boost immunity and prevent worm infestations from coming back.
- Carnationdestroys existing roundworms and their eggs and also prevents future infections. Add a teaspoon of cloves to a glass of hot water and let it steep for 20 minutes. Drink this water three times a week to avoid contamination.
- Onion juicehelps in the fight against intestinal worms. Take the onion and chop it well, drain the juice from the onion mixture. Consume it in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Indian lilacit possesses antiparasitic properties and can destroy various intestinal worms. Combine the powdered leaves in warm milk and honey. Offer your child twice a week.
Traditional home remedies can help ease the infection, but cannot completely cure it. They are not a substitute for prescription drugs.
Prevention of worms in children.
Children who play in mud, sand, grass, and other open areas are more likely to become infected with worms. While worms can be removed with deworming, it is best to prevent infection as much as possible.
Hygiene is essential here. Teach your kids basic hygiene habits and how worms get into their bodies and make them sick.
Preventing worms involves the following actions:
- Do not give children raw water from springs or wells. This water must be filtered and boiled before use.
- After contact with the ground, hands should be washed thoroughly with soap.
- Vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries eaten by the child and other family members are also worth washing.
- It is important to thoroughly treat meat, fish, and poultry.
- Do not offer your child dry, salty, or raw foods that have not been cooked.
- It is necessary to shower after swimming in the water. Do not allow pets to lick your child's hands or face because their tongues may contain worm eggs.
- Hands should be washed thoroughly after each contact with animals.
These precautions do not exclude the possibility of helminth infection, but they minimize it.