Worms (helminths) are one such problem that parents all over the world face. This is a very serious problem that must be dealt with quickly. Worms are worms from 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 symptoms of helminthiasis appear, seek immediate medical attention for effective treatment.
Causes of worm infection in children
Due to their natural mobility and curiosity, children often come into contact with the world around them and all that inhabit it. The list of common causes of infection is quite impressive.
Contact with contaminated surfaces
Worms and their eggs can survive for up to two weeks without food.
The most common places where a child can get infected with worms are:
- soil in or outside the playground that contains worms or eggs;
- contact with animals or contact with their faeces infected with worms.
Consuming food or water contaminated with worms
It is very important to wash vegetables and fruits well before eating, as they contain worm eggs.
Raw or undercooked foods also carry a risk of worm infestation. Contaminated water is a very common source of contamination.
Contact way
Worms are transmitted to humans from humans. Pinworms are usually 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 womb. Helminth larvae enter the fetal bloodstream through the placenta or during childbirth through the birth canal. 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 old are not as common as in children from 1, 5 to 3 years old, who actively explore the world, taste various objects and become infected much more often.
Helminthiasis are dangerous at any age. Worms in a one-year-old child are a special case, since 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 toallergies and diseases of internal organs.
The presence of worms in babies is a big health problem, as the worms feed on the substances necessary for the full growth and development of the baby.
Symptoms of worms in children
Signs of worms in children depend on the habitat and activity of the worms in the child's body. The most common worms - roundworms in babies, pinworms, tapeworms - live in the intestines, but some of some parasites can move from organ to organ. For example, roundworms first enter the stomach and, together with the blood, enter the lungs or liver. There they grow for three weeks, then enter the intestines or stomach.
Pinworms often inhabit the anus, causing severe itching. In girls, they can be found in the genitals, causing vulvovaginitis.
Opisthorchis parasites often live in the liver and pancreas. Echinococcus can affect muscles and bones, the chains even enter the brain. Also, some types of helminths are found in the respiratory organs, causing 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 in children may appear:
- Constipation.The large worms can block the lumen of the intestine, resulting in impaired 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 of the intestines. This causes malabsorption of nutrients and irregular bowel movements.
- Flatulence.Some types of helminths cause fermentation processes in the small intestine, which leads to excessive gas formation. If you don't get rid of the worms in time, gas can last for months.
- Pain in the joints, muscles.It happens when parasites invade a joint or thick muscle tissue and destroy it.
- Allergy.Worm waste can activate special cells in the body that are responsible for causing allergic reactions.
- Worms can cause skin diseases.Acne, urticaria, papillomas and diathesis appear. Sometimes infection with worms leads to increased fragility of the hair and nails.
- Anemia.Some types of worms are able to adhere to the intestinal walls and receive not only nutrients from them, but also blood. Due to this, the child develops anemia, which is diagnosed by a clinical blood test.
- Change in body weight.As a rule, as a result of infection with worms, body weight decreases sharply, as worms absorb more of the nutrients that 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 behaves sullen and irritable. Depression can develop in schoolchildren and adolescents against the background of helminthiasis.
- Sleep disturbances.When a child wakes up every night, it may indicate a process of infection. At night, some types of worms leave the body through the anus, which is accompanied by severe itching that prevents the baby from sleeping.
- Jaundice.More common with tapeworm infections.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome.The child is constantly weak and quickly fatigued due to the lack of nutrients in the body. Memory problems develop, emotional stress and drowsiness develop.
- Immunity disorders.Due to helminthiasis, a child often develops diseases of viral origin, 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 worm larvae attack the lungs. With worms, children develop a cough, and their body temperature rises. Bronchial asthma is an extremely dangerous complication of invading worms.
Many symptoms of worms in children greatly complicate the diagnosis. Therefore, parents should remember the usual preventive examinations, including tests to determine the presence of pinworms and roundworms.
Common types of worms in children
- Pinwormscause itching around the anus, painful urination.
- Ascaris.With ascariasis, diarrhea is observed, worms are visible to the naked eye in the stool of the child. Fever and dry cough are detected within 4 to 16 days of contact with roundworm eggs.
- Hookworm.The child develops a cough, wheezing appears. With severe infection, anemia and chronic fatigue develop.
- Tapeworms.They enter the body with contaminated food and water. Swallowed worms come out of the baby's intestines, forming cysts in the tissues and organs of the body.
How to identify worms in a child?
Abdominal pain, lethargy, and diarrhea can be symptoms of other illnesses. To make sure that they are signs of helminthiasis, it is necessary to perform some tests for worms in children:
1. Blood test for worms in children.
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 their ability to reproduce.
In order to diagnose worms, a general blood test is done, which allows you to identify anemia or signs of inflammation in the body.
2. The exact result is obtained using a histological coprogram
It consists of a microscopic examination of the feces. Thanks to this study, it is possible to clearly identify the parts of the worm's body, their eggs. As a result, helminthiasis are diagnosed, as well as the type of worms.
3. X-rays and other diagnostic measures
If there is a suspicion of the presence of worms in the lungs, an x-ray examination is prescribed. In addition, a sputum test is performed. Computed tomography 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 their recommendations.
Self-medication with anti-worm drugs for children is unacceptable, since they are quite toxic. Also, remember that the invasion of different types of worms requires individualized treatments structured according to the life cycle of the worm. When calculating the dose, the specialist should take into account the age and body weight of the patient.
Your doctor may prescribe worm medicine, which is available as a syrup for toddlers or tablets for older children.
Children's deworming tablets usually kill worms without harming the owner, in this case the child. The treatment period is usually short and does not last more than a few days. Sometimes one dose is enough to rid the crumbs of the worms.
But many drugs are ineffective against the larvae and eggs of worms. In addition, there is a fairly significant threat of repeated self-infection with pinworms in young children. Therefore, after 2-3 weeks, the treatment should be repeated.
If a child has worms, along with etiotropic drugs, a specialist may recommend choleretic medication if it is suspected that the worms are living in the gallbladder. Laxatives are often prescribed to quickly flush out helminths and absorbents to absorb toxins. Antihistamines can reduce the manifestation of allergies and improve the health of the little patient.
The treatment of helminthiasis in infants is very difficult. Almost all worm medicines are not used for 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 dose. Therefore, self-treatment of helminthiasis in children of the year is absolutely not allowed.
If there is a suspicion of worms in an infant, 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 the treatment for a short time so that the child grows.
Do not rely on over the counter medications as they may not be suitable for toddlers and young children. Always consult your doctor and follow the dosage and treatment regimen to keep your child free from worms. It is recommended to use worm pills for children every six months for prophylaxis. Discuss with your doctor what to give your baby for the prevention of worms, the specialist will determine the dosage and frequency of the preventive deworming.
Folk remedies for worms for children
In addition to medication, treating worms in children with folk remedies will help relieve discomfort from worms in the body. A natural remedy for worms will not necessarily get rid of the worms in your child, but it will help treat and prevent the infection.
Consider folk remedies:
- Garlicis a natural deworming agent for children. It is known to be effective against parasitic worms. Raw garlic contains amino acids, sulfur, which will help kill and rid the body of parasites. Eating three cloves of raw garlic on an empty stomach will help with complex deworming.
- Papaya- the best medicine for health. Unripe papaya contains an enzyme called papain, which acts as an anthelmintic agent to kill worms in the intestines. Additionally, papaya seeds are used to expel stomach worms. Grind the papaya seeds and mix a tablespoon of the mixture in hot milk or water. Have your child drink the drink in the morning for three days in a row. Mix a tablespoon of raw papaya and a tablespoon of honey in hot milk or water. Drinking this drink on an empty stomach helps ward off intestinal worms.
- Pumpkin seedshelps expel intestinal parasites. The seeds contain cucurbitacin, which paralyzes the parasites and makes it difficult for them to survive in the body. Give your child a spoonful of pumpkin seeds with honey. Boil a spoonful of peeled and crushed pumpkin seeds in three glasses of water. Let the drink sit for half an hour. Offer to the child when the liquid has cooled.
- Chinese bitter gourd.Although slightly sour in taste, it is very effective in combating intestinal worms. Mix a cup of bitter gourd juice with water and honey and give your child twice a day.
- Carrotcontains vitamin A, which boosts immunity and allows the body to fight off intestinal worms before they have completely colonized the body. Eating carrots on an empty stomach will help neutralize persistent parasites in the body and prevent re-infection.
- Turmericis a natural antiseptic and helps in the elimination of all types of intestinal worms. You need a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a spoonful of turmeric, give the child worms once a day for five days.
- Coconuthas strong antiparasitic properties, which makes it effective in the treatment of worms. You can use fruit or oil to kill the worms. Have your child eat a tablespoon of ground coconut per day for breakfast. Keep using this home remedy for a week. Concentrated coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides that will help remove 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 reoccurring.
- Eyeletdestroys existing intestinal worms and their eggs and also prevents future infections. Add a teaspoon of cloves to a glass of hot water and let sit for 20 minutes. Drink this water three times a week to avoid contamination.
- Onion juicehelps fight against roundworms. Take the onion and chop it well, drain the juice from the onion mixture. Consume it in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Indian lilachas antiparasitic properties and can destroy various intestinal worms. Mix the powdered leaves in the hot milk and honey. Treat your child twice a week.
Traditional home remedies can help relieve the infection, but they cannot cure it completely. They are not a substitute for prescription drugs.
Prevention of worms in children
Children who play in mud, sand, grass, and other open spaces are more likely to be infected with worms. Although worms can be eliminated with deworming, it is best to prevent infection as much as possible.
Hygiene is essential here. Teach your children basic hygiene rules and explain to them how worms get into their bodies and make them sick.
Prevention of 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.
- It is also worth washing the vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries that the child and other family members eat.
- It is important to properly heat treat meat, fish and poultry.
- Do not offer your child dried, salty, or raw foods that have not been cooked.
- It is necessary to take a shower after swimming in the water. Do not let pets lick your child's hands or face as 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.