Worms (helminths) are one of those problems faced by parents all over the world. This is a very serious problem that needs to be addressed quickly. Worms are worms from the group of parasites. They parasitize the human body and disrupt the functioning of organs and systems. More often, children have pinworms and roundworms.
Whenever symptoms of helminthiasis appear, immediately consult a doctor for effective therapy.
Causes of worm infection in children
Thanks to their natural mobility and curiosity, children often come into contact with the world around them and with 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 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 excrement, infected with worms.
Consumption of worm-contaminated food or water
It is very important to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating, as they contain worm eggs.
Raw or undercooked food also carries the risk of worm infestation. Contaminated water is a very common source of contamination.
Contact way
Worms are transmitted to humans by humans. Pinworms usually spread this way, so there is a very high risk of helminth infection in children's groups.
Insect bites
Mosquitoes are often carriers of the infection.
The presence of worms in the mother
It is possible to infect a baby even during pregnancy, when the infection occurs in the womb. Helminth larvae enter the bloodstream of the fetus through the placenta or during childbirth through the birth canal. Parasite eggs come to the baby 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 between the ages of 1, 5 and 3, 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 baby are a special case, because the baby's body has not yet matured, the immune system is weak, and the presence of worms in babies can cause frequent acute respiratory diseases, a tendency to allergies and diseases of the internal organs .
The presence of worms in babies is a major health problem, as the worms feed on the substances necessary for the growth and full development of the baby.
Symptoms of worms in children
Signs of worms in babies depend on the habitat and activity of the worms in the baby's body. The most common worms - roundworms in children, pinworms, tapeworms - live in the intestines, but some of some parasites can move from one organ to another. For example, roundworms first enter the stomach, and from it with blood enter the lungs or liver. There they grow for three weeks, then re-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 penetrate 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?
Based on 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, causing impaired fecal flow. Constipation can last for 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 malabsorption of nutrients and irregular bowel movements.
- Flatulence.Some types of helminths provoke 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 the joints, muscles.This happens when parasites invade a joint or the thickness of muscle tissue and destroy it.
- Allergy.Waste products from 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 are able to adhere to the intestinal walls and receive from them not only nutrients, but also blood. Because of this, the child develops anemia, which is diagnosed with a clinical blood test.
- Change in body weight.As a rule, due to worm infection, body weight decreases dramatically, as worms absorb more nutrients that enter the body with food. Having a helminth infection often causes loss of appetite due to the entry of toxins into 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 moody and irritable behavior. Depression can develop in schoolchildren and adolescents against the background of helminthiasis.
- Sleep disorders.When a baby wakes up every night, this could 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 gets tired quickly due to a lack of nutrients in the body. Memory problems develop, emotional stress and sleepiness develop.
- Immune disorders.Due to helminthiasis, a child often develops diseases of viral genesis, an allergic reaction to ordinary foods appears. In the intestine often develop dysbiosis, colitis, on the face: rashes, diathesis and herpes.
- Respiratory problems.They occur when the worm larvae attack the lungs. With worms, babies 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 to determine the presence of pinworms and roundworms.
Common types of worms in children
- pinwormscause itching around the anus, painful urination.
- Ascari.With ascariasis, diarrhea is observed, worms are visible in the child's feces with the naked eye. Fever and dry cough are detected within 4-16 days of contact with roundworm eggs.
- hookworm.The child develops a cough, wheezing appears. In case of severe infection, anemia and chronic fatigue develop.
- Tapeworms.They enter the body with contaminated food and water. The swallowed worms exit 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 diseases. To make sure they are signs of helminthiasis, you need to do some tests for worms in children:
1. Blood test for worms in children.
An enzyme immunoassay is prescribed for worms. As a result of the study, special antibodies and antigens are identified, which indicate 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 obtained using a histological coprogram
It consists of the microscopic examination of feces. Thanks to this study, it is possible to clearly identify the parts of the worm's body, their eggs. As a result, helminthiasis and the type of worms are diagnosed.
3. X-rays and other diagnostic measures
When the presence of worms in the lungs is suspected, 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 her advice.
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 personalized treatments and 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, available in the form of a syrup for young children or in tablets for older children.
Deworming pads for children usually kill worms without harming the owner, in this case the child. The treatment period is generally short and lasts no more than a few days. Sometimes just one dose is enough to rid the crumbs of worms.
But many drugs are ineffective against worm larvae and eggs. In addition, there is a rather large threat of repeated self-infection with pinworms in young children. Therefore, after 2 - 3 weeks, the treatment course must be repeated.
If a child has worms, in parallel with etiotropic drugs, a specialist may recommend a choleretic drug if it is suspected that the worms live 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.
Treatment of helminthiasis in infants is very difficult. Almost all worm drugs are not used for children under two years old, because they are very toxic and have many side effects. The damage to the body caused by the consumption of these drugs can be significant even with the slightest excess dose. Therefore, self-treatment of helminthiasis in children of the year is absolutely not allowed.
With any suspicion of worms 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 also suggest delaying treatment for a short time so that the baby grows.
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 the baby free from worms. It is recommended to use baby worm pills every six months for prophylaxis. Talk to your doctor about what to give your baby for worm prevention, the specialist will determine the dosage and frequency of preventive deworming.
Folk remedies for worms for children
Along with medications, the treatment of worms in children with folk remedies will help relieve the discomfort due to worms in the body. A natural remedy for worms won't necessarily get rid of the worms in your baby, but it will help treat and prevent infection.
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 kill and rid the body of parasites. Eating three raw garlic cloves on an empty stomach will help with complex deworming.
- Papaya- the best remedy for health. Unripe papaya has an enzyme called papain, which acts as an anthelmintic agent to kill worms in the gut. Additionally, papaya seeds are used to expel worms from the stomach. Grind the papaya seeds and mix a tablespoon of the mixture into warm milk or water. Ask your child to drink the drink in the morning for three consecutive days. Combine a tablespoon of raw papaya and a tablespoon of honey in milk or warm water. Drinking this drink on an empty stomach helps to ward off intestinal worms.
- Pumpkin seedshelps expel intestinal parasites. The seeds contain cucurbitacin, which paralyzes parasites and makes it difficult for them to survive in the body. Offer your child a spoonful 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 the baby when the liquid has cooled.
- Chinese bitter gourd.Although slightly acidic, 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.
- 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 the elimination of all types of intestinal worms. You need a glass of warm water mixed with a spoonful of turmeric, give the baby from the worms once a day for five days.
- coconutit has strong anti-parasitic properties, which make it effective in treating worms. You can use fruit or oil to kill worms. Ask your child to eat a tablespoon of ground coconut every day for breakfast. He continues to use this home remedy for a week. Concentrated coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides which help remove worms from the baby's body. Taking four to six teaspoons of coconut oil every morning for a week will boost immunity and prevent recurrence of worm infestations.
- Carnationdestroys 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 the fight against nematodes. 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 has anti-parasitic properties and can destroy various intestinal worms. Combine the powdered leaves with the warm milk and honey. Offer to your child twice a week.
Traditional home remedies can help relieve the infection, but they 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 be infected with worms. While worms can be eliminated by deworming, it is best to prevent infection as much as possible.
Hygiene is key here. Teach your kids basic hygiene habits and educate them about how worms get into their bodies and make them sick.
Prevention of worms involves the following actions:
- Do not give raw water to children 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 vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries that the child and other family members eat.
- It is important to treat meat, fish and poultry carefully.
- Do not offer your child dry, salty, or raw foods that have not been cooked.
- It is necessary to take a shower after swimming in the water. Do not allow pets to lick your child's hands or face as their tongue may contain worm eggs.
- Hands must be washed well after any contact with animals.
These precautions do not rule out the possibility of helminth infection, but they minimize it.