Parasites, established in the human body, strive to gain access to vitamins and nutrients, while releasing toxins.Symptoms of parasitic infestations are not always specific;they can be confused with the manifestation of other diseases.
Common signs in this case: weakness, excessive fatigue, loss or increase in appetite, attacks of intense hunger, muscle pain and digestive disorders.
Other manifestations of the presence of worms will be various allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes, itchy dermatoses, eczema, decreased hemoglobin levels, immune defense, increased incidence of viral and bacterial diseases, causeless anxiety, nervous system disorders and sleep disturbances.When a child is sick, they may develop the following symptoms:
- weight loss;
- delay in the rate of intellectual and physical development;
- headache attacks.
If the above symptoms are detected, you cannot start self-treatment: this is dangerous for health, and it is also possible that the disease is not related to worms.
Enterobiosis
The cause of this disease will be pinworms - small white worms.They are called the most common helminthic infections in many developed countries of the world.Very often, helminths are diagnosed in children of preschool and primary school age.
Pinworms live in the human large intestine.When the patient sleeps, the female parasite leaves him through the anus and begins to lay eggs on the skin near the anus.After a few hours, the worms may become capable of infecting another person.
Eggs can be kept on underwear, bedding, clothing and toys for up to 14 days.If a person does not follow the rules of personal hygiene, he can easily become infected with pinworms.
The main symptoms of enterobiasis are itching near the anus, usually occurring in the evening and night.When the infestation is weak, the patient may not notice its signs;with an increase in the number of parasites, the itching becomes so painful that the patient can scratch the skin until bleeding, and the affected areas are painful and inflamed.
In young children, the characteristic manifestations of enterobiosis will be:
- sleep disturbances;
- low mood;
- irritability;
- enuresis.
If no treatment is undertaken, the symptoms will worsen.
Ascariasis
Ascaris is a roundworm reaching 15 to 40 cm in length.The female parasite lays its eggs in the intestinal lumen, from where they enter the environment and soil, and are excreted in the feces.Infection is facilitated by consumption of contaminated fruits, vegetables and drinking water.This disease is more common in children aged 5 to 10.
From the time of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms, it usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.Initially, ascariasis presents itself in the form of an allergic disease.
In preschool children, the acute phase will begin with an increase in body temperature up to 37-37.5 degrees, skin rashes, stool disturbances, abdominal pain and nausea.
When the parasitic infestation becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pain around the navel;
- his appetite diminishes;
- stools become unstable and there is sometimes constipation.
Antiparasitic and symptomatic treatment is indicated.
Giardiasis
Giardia worms are protozoa;on the front side of their body is a suction disc that helps hold the walls of the intestinal epithelium.The parasite has no mouth;it feeds on dissolved nutrients.The incubation period of the disease lasts from 7 to 20 days.
The parasitic infestation begins acutely;a person has liquid stools with an unpleasant odor and traces of fat.After that, pain in the abdominal cavity occurs, belching appears, appetite decreases, and vomiting and nausea may occur from time to time.
The initial phase lasts up to 7 days;in many cases, all symptoms of the invasion disappear spontaneously after 1 to 4 weeks.
When a blastocyst invasion is detected, it can cause discoloration of the stool and the appearance of streaks of blood and mucus.Symptomatic treatment is also necessary.
Toxocariasis
Toxocara are large dioecious helminths reaching 18 cm in length.The average length of their life cycle is 4 months and the maximum is six months.Dogs, most often puppies, are the main source of infection.A person will get sick after:
- direct contact with a sick animal;
- enter the mouth of the earth containing parasite eggs.
Children are susceptible to infection when playing with a dog or in the sand, and adults following household contact with a contagious animal (dog breeders, veterinarians, utility workers).Another common cause of toxocariasis is eating raw or poorly processed meat.
Such parasitic infestations can develop suddenly or after a temporary illness.Signs of invasion in this case: increased body temperature, itchy rashes, significant enlargement of lymph nodes.
Mild fever with prolonged invasion may persist for several months.If the stage of the disease is acute, the person experiences symptoms of bronchitis, pneumonia and severe asthma attacks.
Signs of infection in a sick child: weakness of the body, fatigue, sleep disturbances and unusual excessive nervousness.If there is no adequate and timely treatment, toxocariasis becomes the cause of serious and dangerous complications:
- hepatitis;
- retinal damage;
- pathologies of the nervous system;
- allergic reactions.
When treatment is carried out correctly, the prognosis is always favorable.
Prevention methods
The main ways to prevent parasitic infestations will be:
- scrupulous observance of the rules of personal hygiene;
- drink only boiled water, well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- eat fresh meat, sufficiently fried and cooked.
It is equally important to teach the child not to eat food that has fallen on the floor, not to put dirty objects in his mouth, and it is also necessary to timely deworm animals.Doctors also recommend not allowing children to play in open sandboxes, as these places often serve as toilets for cats and dogs.
You should know that there are certain medicinal plants that can increase the body's resistance to helminthic infestations, neutralize toxins and eliminate signs of the disease.These plants include black walnut, wormwood, grapefruit, pumpkin seeds and cloves.This treatment is accessible to everyone, it has a general strengthening effect and does not cause adverse effects in the body.