Parasites, having settled in the human body, strive to gain access to vitamins and nutrients, while releasing toxins.Symptoms of parasitic infestations are not always specific;can be confused with the manifestation of other diseases.
Common signs in this case: weakness, excessive fatigue, loss or increase in appetite, bouts 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, a decrease in hemoglobin levels, immune defense, an increased incidence of viral and bacterial diseases, causeless anxiety, nervous system disorders and sleep disorders.When a child is sick, he or she 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 to health, and there is also a possibility that the disease is not related to worms.
Enterobiasis
The cause of this disease will be pinworms - small white worms.They are considered the most common helminth infections in many developed countries of the world.Helminths are often diagnosed in children of preschool and primary school age.
Pinworms live in the human large intestine.When the patient sleeps, the female parasite leaves the patient 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 stored in 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 worms.
The main symptoms of enterobiasis are itching near the anus, usually occurring in the evening and at night.When the infestation is weak, the patient may not notice its signs;As the number of parasites increases, the itching becomes so painful that the patient may scratch their skin until it bleeds and the affected areas hurt and become inflamed.
In young children, the characteristic manifestations of enterobiasis will be:
- sleep disturbance;
- Bad mood;
- irritability;
- enuresis.
If treatment is not carried out, symptoms worsen.
Ascariasis
Ascaris is a round worm that reaches 15 to 40 cm in length.The female parasite lays eggs in the intestinal lumen, from where they enter the environment and soil, being excreted in feces.Infection is facilitated by ingestion of contaminated fruits, vegetables and drinking water.This disease is most common in children aged 5 to 10 years.
From the time of infection until the first symptoms appear, it usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.Initially, ascariasis occurs in the form of an allergic disease.
In preschoolers, the acute phase will begin with an increase in body temperature to 37-37.5 degrees, skin rashes, bowel movement disorders, abdominal pain and nausea.
When parasitic infestation becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pain around the navel;
- your appetite decreases;
- the stool becomes unstable and sometimes there is constipation.
Antiparasitic and symptomatic treatment is indicated.
Giardiasis
Giardia worms are protozoa;on the front of the body there is a suction disc that helps hold the walls of the intestinal epithelium.The parasite has no mouth;feeds on dissolved nutrients.The incubation period for the disease lasts from 7 to 20 days.
Parasitic infestation begins acutely;a person has watery stools with an unpleasant odor and traces of fat.After this, pain occurs in the abdominal cavity, 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 1-4 weeks.
When blastocyst invasion is detected, it can cause discoloration of the stool and the appearance of blood and mucus stains in it.Symptomatic treatment is also necessary.
Toxocariasis
Toxocara are large dioecious helminths, reaching 18 cm in length.The average length of its life cycle is 4 months and the maximum is six months.The main source of infection is dogs, usually puppies.A person will become sick after:
- direct contact with a sick animal;
- entering the mouth with dirt containing parasite eggs.
Children are susceptible to infection when playing with a dog or in the sand, and adults as a result of household contact with an infectious animal (dog breeders, veterinarians, utility workers).Another common cause of toxocariasis is eating raw or poorly processed meat.
These 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.
Low-grade 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: body weakness, 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;
- nervous system pathologies;
- allergic reactions.
When treatment is carried out correctly, the prognosis is always favorable.
Prevention methods
The main ways to prevent parasitic infestations will be:
- careful adherence to personal hygiene rules;
- 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 from the floor, not to put dirty objects in his mouth, and it is also necessary to deworm pets in a timely manner.Doctors also recommend not allowing children to play in open sandboxes, as these places often serve as bathrooms for dogs and cats.
You should know that there are some medicinal plants that can increase the body's resistance to helminth infestations, neutralize toxins and eliminate signs of the disease.These plants include black walnut, wormwood, grapefruit, pumpkin seeds, and cloves.This treatment is available to everyone, has a general strengthening effect and does not cause adverse reactions in the body.