Worms (helminths) are one of the problems faced by parents all over the world. This is a really serious issue that needs to be resolved quickly. Worms are worms from the parasite group. They parasitize the human body and disrupt the functioning of organs and systems. More often than not, children have worms and roundworms.
Whenever symptoms of helminthiasis appear, consult a physician immediately for effective therapy.
Causes of Worm Infection in Children
Due to their natural mobility and 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 for up to two weeks without food.
The most common places where a child can become infected with worms are:
- playground or outdoor soil that contains worms or eggs;
- contact with animals or contact with their droppings, 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 earthworm eggs.
Raw or undercooked foods are also at risk of worm infestation. Contaminated water is a very common source of contamination.
form of contact
Worms are transmitted to humans by humans. Pinworms 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 during pregnancy, when the infection occurs in the uterus. Helminth larvae enter the bloodstream to the fetus through the placenta or during delivery through the birth canal. Parasite eggs reach the child through the surface of the nipple, toys and other objects.
Worm infestations are more common in children than adults. Worms in children under one year are not as common as in children aged 1, 5 to 3 years, who actively explore the world, taste various objects and are infected much more often.
Helminthiases are dangerous at any age. Worms in a one-year-old 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 illnesses, tendency to allergies, and internal organ diseases.
The presence of worms in babies is a major health problem, as the worms feed on substances necessary for the baby's full growth and development.
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 - baby roundworms, tapeworms, tapeworms - live in the intestine, but some of certain parasites can move from one organ to another. For example, roundworms enter the stomach first, and from there, with the blood, enter the lungs or liver. There, they grow for three weeks, then reenter the intestine or stomach.
Pinworms often inhabit the anus, causing intense itching. In girls, they can be found in Organs genitals, causing vulvovaginitis.
Opisthorchi parasites usually live in the liver and pancreas. The echinococci can affect muscles and bones, even currents penetrate the brain. Also, some types of helminths are found in Organs respiratory organs, causing a persistent cough.
How to understand that a child has worms?
According to the location of the worms in children, the following signs of the presence of worms in the child may appear:
- Constipation.Large worms can block the lumen of the intestine, which causes decreased stool flow. Constipation can last longer 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, which cause 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 the parasites invade a joint or thick muscle tissue and destroy it.
- Allergy.The waste products of the worms can activate special cells in the body that are responsible for the occurrence of allergic reactions.
- Worms can cause skin diseases.Acne, urticaria, papillomas and diathesis appear. Sometimes, worm infection leads to increased hair and nail brittleness.
- Anemia.Some types of worms are able to adhere to the intestinal walls and receive not only nutrients but also blood from them. Because of this, the child develops anemia, which is diagnosed in a clinical blood test.
- Change in body weight. As a rule of thumb, as a result of worm infection, body weight decreases dramatically 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.
- Disorders of the nervous system.The child has a temperamental and irritable behavior. Depression can develop in school-age children and adolescents in the context of helminthiasis.
- Sleep disorders.When a child wakes up every night, it can indicate an infection process. At night, some types of worms leave the body through the anus, which is accompanied by severe itching, which prevents the baby from sleeping.
- Jaundice.More common with tapeworm infections.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome.The child is constantly weak and tired quickly due to lack of nutrients in the body. Memory problems develop, emotional stress and drowsiness develop.
- Disorders of immunity.Due to helminthiasis, the child often develops viral diseases, an allergic reaction to common foods appears. In the intestine, dysbiosis, colitis often develop on the face - skin rash, diathesis and herpes.
- Breathing 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 worm invasion.
Numerous symptoms of worms in children significantly complicate the diagnosis. Therefore, parents should remember the usual preventive tests, including tests to determine the presence of pinworms and spider monkeys.
Common Types of Worms in Children
- earthwormscause itching around the anus, pain when urinating.
- Ascaris.With ascariasis, diarrhea is observed, worms are visible in the child's stool with the naked eye. Fever and dry cough are detected within 4 to 16 days after contact with roundworm eggs.
- Ankylostoma.The child develops a cough, wheezing appears. In cases of severe infection, anemia and chronic fatigue develop.
- Tapeworms.They enter the body with contaminated food and water. Swallowed worms leave 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 be sure they are signs of helminthiasis, it is necessary to perform some tests for worms in children:
1. Blood test for 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 reproduction capacity.
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 obtained using a 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 worms are suspected to be present in the lungs, an X-ray test is prescribed. In addition, a sputum test is performed. A CT scan or ultrasound is performed to identify parasites in the liver, brain, or kidneys.
How to get rid of worms in children?
To effectively treat worms in children, contact a parasitologist and follow their recommendations.
Self-medication with anti-worm drugs for children is unacceptable because they are quite toxic. Also remember that the invasion of different types of worms requires individualized treatments, structured according to the worm's life cycle. 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 children or a tablet for older children.
Deworming pills for children generally kill the worms without harming the owner, in this case the child. The treatment period is usually short and lasts no longer than a few days. Sometimes a dose is enough to get rid of the worm crumbs.
But many drugs are ineffective against worm larvae and eggs. In addition, there is a very high threat of repeated self-infection by worms 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 medication if the worms are suspected to live in the gallbladder. Laxatives are often prescribed to quickly eliminate helminths and absorbents to absorb toxins. Antihistamines can reduce the appearance of allergies and improve the health of the young patient.
The treatment of helminthiasis in babies is very difficult. Almost all worm medications are not used by children under the age of two because they are very toxic and have many side effects. The damage to the organism caused by the consumption of these drugs can be significant even with the smallest excess of the dose. Therefore, self-treatment of helminthiasis in children of the year is absolutely prohibited.
If worms are suspected in a child, 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 postponing treatment for a short period of time for the child to grow up.
Do not rely on over-the-counter medications as they may not be suitable for babies and young children. Always visit your doctor and follow the dosage and treatment regimen to keep your child free of worms. It is recommended to use worm pills for children every six months for prophylaxis. Talk to your doctor about what to give your baby to prevent worms, the specialist will determine the dosage and frequency of preventive deworming.
Popular Remedies for Children's Worms
Along with medications, treating worms in children with folk remedies will help alleviate the discomfort caused by the worms in the body. A natural remedy for worms will not necessarily eliminate the worms in your child, but it will help to treat and prevent infections.
Consider folk remedies:
- Garlicis a natural anthelmintic agent for children. It is known to be effective against parasitic worms. Raw garlic contains amino acids, sulfur, which help to 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. Green papaya has an enzyme called papain, which acts as an anthelmintic agent to kill worms in the intestines. In addition, 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 drink in the morning for 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 in expelling intestinal parasites. The seeds contain cucurbitacin, which paralyzes pests and makes it difficult for them to survive in the body. Offer your child a spoonful of pumpkin seeds with honey. Boil a spoonful of peeled and crushed pumpkin seeds in three cups of water. Let the drink sit for half an hour. Offer it to the child when the liquid has cooled.
- Chinese bitter gourd.Although slightly sour in flavor, it is very effective in fighting intestinal worms. Mix a cup of bitter pumpkin juice with water and honey and give it to your child twice a day.
- Carrotcontains 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 also prevent reinfection.
- Turmericit is a natural antiseptic and helps in eliminating all types of intestinal worms. You need a glass of warm water mixed with a spoon of turmeric, give the worm child once a day for five days.
- Poopit 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 coconut powder daily with breakfast. Keep using this home remedy for a week. Concentrated coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides that 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 recurring.
- cloveit destroys existing intestinal worms and their eggs and also prevents future infections. Add a teaspoon of cloves to a glass of hot water and let it sit for 20 minutes. Drink this water three times a week to avoid contamination.
- onion juicehelps in fighting roundworms. Take the onion and chop well, drain the juice from the onion mixture. Consume in the morning on an empty stomach.
- indian lilacIt has antiparasitic properties and can destroy various intestinal worms. Combine powdered leaves in warm milk and honey. Offer your child twice a week.
Traditional home remedies can help alleviate the infection, but they cannot completely cure it. They are not a substitute for prescription drugs.
Prevention of Worms in Children
Children playing in mud, sand, grass and other open areas are more likely to become infected with worms. Although worms can be eliminated with deworming, it is best to prevent infection as much as possible.
Hygiene is critical here. Teach your children basic hygiene habits and educate them about how worms get into their bodies and make them sick.
Worm prevention involves the following actions:
- Do not give raw water from springs or wells to children. This water must be filtered and boiled before using.
- After contact with the ground, hands should be washed well 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 carry out a complete heat treatment of 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 children's hands or face as their tongues may contain worm eggs.
- Hands must be washed well after each contact with animals.
These precautions do not exclude the possibility of infection by helminths, but they minimize it.