Parasites, having settled in the human body, strive to gain access to vitamins and nutrients, while releasing toxins.The 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, severe hunger pangs, 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, disorders of the nervous system 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, self-treatment cannot be started - this is dangerous for 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 called the most common helminth infections in many developed countries of the world.Most often helminths are diagnosed in children of preschool and 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 stored on underwear, bedding, clothes 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, which usually occurs in the evening and at night.When the infestation is weak, the patient may not notice the signs;as the number of parasites increases, the itching becomes so painful that the patient may scratch his skin until it bleeds, and the affected areas become sore and inflamed.
In young children, the characteristic manifestations of enterobiasis will be:
- sleep disorders;
- bad mood;
- irritability;
- enuresis.
If treatment is not undertaken, symptoms worsen.
Ascariasis
Ascaris is a round worm that reaches 15-40 cm in length.The female parasite lays eggs in the intestinal lumen, from where they enter the environment and soil, excreted in feces.Infection is facilitated by consumption of contaminated fruits, vegetables and drinking water.This disease is more typical for children aged 5 to 10 years.
From the moment of infection until the first symptoms appear, usually about 2-3 weeks pass.Initially, ascariasis occurs in the form of an allergic disease.
In preschool children, the acute phase will begin with an increase in body temperature to 37-37.5 degrees, skin rashes, intestinal disorders, abdominal pain and nausea.
When the parasitic infestation becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pain around the navel;
- his appetite decreases;
- stools become unstable and constipation sometimes occurs.
Antiparasitic and symptomatic treatment is indicated.
Giardiasis
Giardia worms are protozoans;on the front of their body there 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.
Parasitic infestation begins acutely;a person experiences watery stools with an unpleasant odor and traces of fat.Subsequently, 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 1-4 weeks.
When a blastocyst invasion is detected, it can cause discoloration of the stool and the appearance of streaks of blood and mucus in it.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.The main source of infection is dogs, most often puppies.A person will get sick after:
- direct contact with a sick animal;
- enter soil containing parasite eggs into the mouth.
Children are susceptible to infection while playing with a dog or in the sand, and adults due to household contact with an infected animal (dog breeders, veterinarians, public service workers).Another common cause of toxocariasis is the consumption of 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 skin 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: 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;
- damage to the retina;
- pathologies of the nervous system;
- allergic reactions.
When treatment is performed correctly, the prognosis is always favorable.
Prevention methods
The main ways to prevent parasitic infestations will be:
- careful observance of personal hygiene rules;
- drink only boiled water, well washed fruits and vegetables;
- 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 timely deworm pets.Doctors also recommend not allowing children to play in open sandboxes, as such places often serve as toilets 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.