Children's bodies are quite easily affected by parasites, since children have weaker immunity. Additionally, a child's body cannot produce a special digestive enzyme capable of destroying worm larvae; a person acquires this ability with age.
It is impossible to notice worm eggs visually, their size is microscopic, but they are present almost everywhere. The danger of infection arises during the period when the child begins to understand the world by feeling various objects. In addition, the baby strives not only to touch objects, but sometimes to taste them. Sandboxes in yards, which are often used as toilets by street animals, pose a great danger. If we take into account the weak natural defense of the baby's body against helminthic infestations, it is not difficult to understand how high the risks of parasites affecting the child's intestines are. Here are the main ways worms enter a child's body:
- by unwashed hands;
- after contact with animals;
- through poorly cooked meats and fish;
- insects are also often a source of helminthic infestation, as they carry worm eggs on their legs;
- unwashed fruits and vegetables;
- by dirty water accidentally swallowed while swimming in an open body of water.
An important factor is the ability of worms to be a source of reinfection of the child, despite all the efforts of the parents. The fact is that helminths periodically crawl into the child's anus, laying eggs in the immediate vicinity, which causes severe itching in the baby. The child itches and the small worm eggs in turn end up under his nails, from where they easily enter the mouth, then travel down the gastrointestinal tract to end up in the intestines again. After two weeks, the larvae transform into adults, also capable of laying eggs.
Worm infestation in children, symptoms
There are about 300 types of parasites that can infect the human body, but pinworms and roundworms are more often diagnosed in children. Both types of worms affect the small intestine; the symptoms of damage caused by both types of parasites are quite similar:
- Loss of appetite, pale facial skin, dark circles under the eyes.
- Agitated sleep ; sometimes the child may grind his teeth while sleeping.
- Headaches, dizziness, lethargy and weakness appear.
- Sometimes worms are present in a child's stool and can be seen with the naked eye.
- The baby experiences itching in the genital area and anus.
- There is a disorder in the digestive system, constipation can be replaced by diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea are observed.
- General indicators of the blood count may change, namely a decrease in hemoglobin and an increase in the level of eosinophils and ESR.
- The vital activity of worms becomes the cause of general poisoning of the body, manifested by the appearance of allergic reactions, urticaria and atopic dermatitis.
- Increased body temperature without good reason.
- Constant itching can cause inflammation of the genital mucosa.
- Worms not only poison the child's body with the products of their vital activity, but also actively consume vitamins and minerals, nutrients that the child's body so needs, which often leads to vitamin deficiencyand a decrease in hemoglobin levels in the blood.
Folk remedies for worms
Certainly, folk remedies are the most suitable for treating helminthic infestations in children; the symptoms disappear fairly quickly. However, before using them, you must definitely consult a doctor, because the child's body is very vulnerable not only to the action of parasites, but also to the improper use of even traditional medications. Here are the most popular folk anthelmintic remedies:
- Garlic enema. Garlic is an antiseptic given by nature to man; it is also applicable against worms. A glass of cow's milk is mixed with a chopped head of garlic, the mixture is boiled, then cooled and filtered through a double layer of gauze. At night, the child is given an enema from the milk received, a third of the medicine received is taken for this and the child is treated in this way for at least a week.
- Chamomile decoction. Another natural antiseptic used to treat a wide variety of illnesses. To prepare the decoction, take a tablespoon of dry chamomile herb and pour boiling water over it, cool and give the child to drink throughout the day instead of water ortea. The duration of treatment is 5 days.
- Onion remedy. Chop a small onion, add the milk and boil the resulting mixture, then let cool and filter. The product obtained is administered to the baby for three consecutive days, 100 ml.
Simple folk recipes that will help cure a child of worms, watch the video:
Causes of helminthiasis
Almost 400 species of helminths can parasitize the human body, of which 70 are the most common in our country. As a rule, these are roundworms and tapeworms. Diseases caused by penetrating flukes (feline or liver flukes) are often detected.
The disease develops when eggs or larvae of parasites enter the stomach. During the period of development from egg to sexually mature individual, tapeworms can change multiple hosts. You can also become infected by eating meat (beef, pork, game), unfiltered water, dirty vegetables and fruits.
Helminths parasitize the organisms of mammals, fish, molluscs and amphibians. To avoid infection, avoid eating them raw and do not buy smoked or salted fish of unknown origin.
Symptoms of worms
Different types of worms can parasitize the digestive tract, respiratory organs, lymph nodes, bone and muscle tissue. Their vital activity affects the host's body in different ways. They can produce toxins, provoke the development of inflammatory processes, allergic reactions, anemia, metabolic disorders and have a traumatic effect on organs and tissues.
You should contact the clinic to identify or exclude helminthiasis if you have the following symptoms in an adult:
- Temperature increase. It can rise suddenly to 38°C and decrease briefly after taking anti-inflammatories and antipyretics. Sometimes the temperature remains high for 2 to 3 months.
- Dull or cutting pain in the stomach, frequent bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation), nausea.
- Itching in the anal region, worse in the evening.
- Frequent colds or respiratory diseases - when infected with helminths, immunity decreases.
- Loss or increase in appetite, sudden weight loss.
- Bronchospasm, cough, shortness of breath, other respiratory problems, pallor of the skin and mucous membranes.
- Itching.
- Insomnia, frequent headaches, anxiety, irritability, depression.
- Pain in joints and muscles.
- Inflammation, enlargement of lymph nodes.
- Edema.
In the absence of adequate treatment, helminths can provoke the development of chronic pancreatitis, hepatitis, cholecystocholangitis, cause irreversible tissue changes and even lead to death.
Diagnostic
Infection with certain types of helminths gives a characteristic clinical picture. When a patient first contacts a doctor, they can guess the diagnosis. Eggs and other traces of the vital activity of roundworms, pinworms and other roundworms that parasitize the intestines are detected when examining the stool. Sometimes the worms are visible on ultrasound. But some small parasites are very difficult to identify. The diagnosis is made based on a combination of symptoms and results of instrumental and laboratory tests.
If helminthiasis is suspected in adults and children, the following measures should be taken:
- Stool analysis. Allows you to accurately detect the presence of common parasites in the body. However, some of them only lay eggs at certain stages of their life cycle, so it is recommended to carry out inspections several times at intervals of 3-4 days.
- General clinical blood test. Does not indicate the presence of larvae, eggs, adults, but provides a lot of information on the intensity of the inflammatory process, the number of leukocytes, etc.
- Biochemical analysis. Provides detailed information on protein metabolism, identifies abnormal loss or increased protein synthesis, and helps exclude or suspect infection with certain helminths.
- Analysis of liver function indicators (bilirubin, pancreatic alpha-amylase, alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT). Diagnosis of the liver and pancreas suggests infection with helminths.
- Urine analysis, blood test with glomerular filtration. They inform the doctor about the condition of the kidneys and the possibility that they are damaged by parasites.
Studies of bile, sputum and duodenal contents may also be prescribed.
To clarify the location of parasites and assess the extent of damage, ultrasound diagnostics may be prescribed. If the presence of helminths in the brain or eyes is suspected, a CT scan is performed. To diagnose helminths in the lungs, x-rays are taken, and in the stomach and intestines, endoscopy.
A comprehensive examination allows you to quickly and accurately determine the causes of the disease and prescribe adequate treatment. Do not refuse the exam. The more accurately the doctor determines the cause of poor health, the sooner he can help.
Which doctors should I contact?
If you suspect helminth infection, you should contact a therapist who will conduct an initial examination and prescribe laboratory and instrumental tests. After the examination, the therapist will prescribe treatment or refer you to a specialist doctor.
Treatment
With timely diagnosis, helminthiasis can be easily eliminated using anthelmintic drugs. The doctor determines the dosage based on the patient's age, weight, degree of parasitic damage, their type and location. To get rid of most worms, it is enough to take the medicine 1-3 times. In addition to anthelmintic drugs, vitamin and mineral complexes are often prescribed to strengthen the immune system.
In case of severe poisoning, allergic reactions, infection against the background of serious chronic diseases, hospitalization may be required. Doctors will not only rid the human body of parasites, but also carry out detoxification therapy and vitamin therapy.
Surgical treatment is necessary in case of helminth damage to organs and tissues. A large number of roundworms sometimes leads to obstruction of the intestines and bile ducts. Their accumulation is surgically removed. The decision on the need for surgical treatment is made by the doctor after a thorough examination. The complexity and duration of the operation depends on the location of the parasites, their size and quantity.
Complications
Heartworm infections caused by common types of parasites can be treated with medications prescribed by your doctor. But if you do not pay attention to alarming symptoms, deterioration of health, weakness, unnecessary fatigue, decreased immunity, the disease can lead to serious complications.
If parasites enter the lungs and the patient does not seek medical attention, complaints of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, pneumonia or even bronchial asthma may develop.
Parasites in the organs of the digestive system can cause cirrhosis, liver abscess, hepatitis, intestinal cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (ascites), and peritonitis. They also often cause the development of chronic kidney disease, meningoencephalitis and vision loss. Some cestodes (tapeworms) are over a meter long and the small roundworms can form dense balls. This disrupts the normal functioning of the body, leading to severe poisoning and severe allergic reactions. Without urgent medical attention, death is possible.
Classification of parasites
Different types of worms affect the body differently and have their own characteristics both in the development cycle and in the appearance and damage caused. There are three most common groups of worms: nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes.
The first group is that of protocavitary worms. They live in soil and water, so they can easily become infected in the sandbox and on a walk in general. It is this group that includes the most common pinworms and roundworms, as well as hookworms, trichinella and guinea worms. Depending on the parasite causing the infection, ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, etc. are distinguished.
Cestodoses are tapeworms that can live both in the intestines (the most common variant is tapeworm) and in organs (usually the larvae of tapeworms, echinococci and alveococci live there). Depending on which of these types of worms are found in children, echinococcosis, taeniasis, hymenolepiasis, etc. are distinguished.
And the last of the three popular groups is trematoses caused by trematodes. There are several types of tapeworms: schistosome, cat/liver fluke, leucochloridium. They cause opisthorchiasis (transmitted by fish of the carp family) and fasciolosis (the liver and biliary system suffer, infection by plants or water).
Symptoms
There are many symptoms, and individual manifestations depend on which helminth eggs have entered the body. We will then talk about the general symptoms of all parasitic infections, then enterobiasis, ascariasis and 5 other types of infections.
- increased irritability, restless sleep, decreased perseverance and attention, frequent tantrums and anger;
- increased appetite associated with active weight loss;
- symptoms of the digestive system - diarrhea, constipation, nausea, pain in the right hypochondrium;
- dizziness and headache;
- food allergy;
- runny nose;
- diseases and infections of the reproductive system;
- brittle nails/hair;
Enterobiasis is a helminthiasis in which the body becomes infected with pinworms. The larvae emerge from the eggs in 4-6 hours and become adults in 2-4 weeks - grayish or white roundworms 5-10 mm long. They settle in the cecum and appendix and lay eggs outside the anus. At night, female pinworms come out into the air for this purpose. This reproductive mechanism leads to severe itching at night, resulting in restless sleep, turning movements and screaming.
Additional special symptoms:
- nighttime urination;
- grinding of teeth;
Ascariasis is a helminthiasis in which the body is colonized by roundworms. These worms are already larger - the average length of an adult is 25-30 cm. Larvae and eggs enter the body with insufficiently disinfected fresh fruits and vegetables. The period of development takes place in the intestines, after which they pass into the lymphatic and blood vessels and, together with blood and lymphatic flow, they are distributed throughout the body - to the liver, heart and lungs. They then enter the oral cavity and are re-swallowed. From this point, adult roundworms begin to develop. It takes around 3 months.
How to suspect the presence of worms in children:
- the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes enlarge;
- the temperature rises, sometimes up to 38 degrees;
- discomfort and weakness appear;
- respiratory pathologies develop - pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchial asthma;
- pressure drops;
- Gastrointestinal symptoms appear - constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, pain in the form of contractions;
- fear of light;
- nightmares at night;
- dry cough - sputum with an orange tint and bloody spots.
It is more difficult to breed roundworms than pinworms, as the female lays nearly 250, 000 eggs each day. In no case should you rely on traditional methods or buy the first remedy that you come across at the pharmacy - be sure to contact a specialist.
Infants may experience symptoms after just a few weeks of life if they received worm eggs and larvae from their mothers, for example during childbirth. Typically, symptoms appear in the form of lack of weight gain, excessive drooling, rash, paleness, blueness under the eyes, and constipation. The child is constantly worried, screams, sleeps and eats poorly. The cries can be unbearable and the baby will turn blue in the process.
Worms are often the cause of the development of pulmonary pathologies and are diagnosed by ultrasound or x-ray. Parasites, especially the Echinococcus tapeworm, can not only damage the respiratory system, but also travel to the brain and heart. In areas where helminths develop in the lungs, scarring and adhesions appear and the shape of the lungs begins to change. Such changes cause a wide range of diseases - asthma, fibrosis, bronchitis, pleurisy, emphysema, etc. When a tapeworm enters the lungs, echinococcosis forms when the parasite grows in the form of a cyst.
The symptoms will largely depend on which helminth has entered the body, but the child's anxiety and the presence of the above general symptoms should alert parents. If signs of worms appear, make an appointment with a pediatrician or gastroenterologist to get tested as soon as possible.
Diagnostic
Diagnosis of worms in children is carried out in different ways - depending on which worms the child is infected with, the habitat, location of eggs and toxins found in the body will be different.
To make a diagnosis, the following may be prescribed:
- blood test - shows levels of anemia, hemoglobin and eosinophils;
- analysis for parasites - in 99% of cases it helps to detect helminthiasis, and in most cases to accurately determine the type (biomaterial for research - blood from a vein);
- stool examination - there may be no eggs in the stool, even if there is an infection, to ensure the presence of worms, this diagnosis must be carried out 3 times, which takes time;
- smear - especially effective in cases of pinworm infection, since their eggs are located just outside the anus;
- stool analysis for dysbacteriosis;
- if there is suspicion of infection of internal organs, and not only the gastrointestinal tract - CT scan, x-ray, ultrasound.
Diagnosis allows you to accurately identify the type of parasite and prescribe specific treatment. The doctor prescribes medications, diet, additional supportive procedures and gives recommendations for care and hygiene.
In some cases, parents pay increased attention to helminthiasis and are constantly afraid of infecting their child. This leads to regular "preventive" courses of serious anthelmintic drugs, which do not bring any benefit to the baby’s body. If your child is not losing weight, feels good, eats well, has a healthy complexion, and does not have itching in the anal area, he is probably healthy. If you want to be sure, it is better to get tested than to take a useless course.
Treatment
The course of treatment for worms in children includes several stages - preparation, therapy and cleaning. During the entire treatment, it is necessary to take general preventive measures and scrupulously observe hygiene to avoid reinfection or infection of any of the family members. Some types of worms, such as tapeworms and echinococcus, can only be removed surgically.
The preparatory stage involves taking various sorbents that absorb toxins and cleanse the body. They are followed by antihistamines, they relieve general itching and prevent the development of allergic reactions to drugs.
Treatment of helminthiasis in children in the main stage involves directly taking anthelmintic drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories or suspensions. Medicines are selected depending on the type of helminths, individual indications and contraindications. Some anthelmintics act in 2 doses:
- the first course kills already developed individuals;
- the second course helps to cope with larvae and eggs (prescribed 2 weeks after the first).
Cleansing is designed to rid the body of the remains of dead parasites; at this stage, sorbents, enemas and choleretic drugs are used. You can help your baby by adding raw carrots, dairy products, coarse bread, fruits, vegetables, fish oil, nuts, especially walnuts and peanuts to his diet.
Additionally, to restore the body in case of serious damage, vitamin complexes, iron, minerals and a special diet can be used, which will increase hemoglobin, restore liver function and strengthen the body as a whole. The doctor describes the treatment plan in detail, avoiding side effects. Control tests are necessary. Self-medication and deviations from the plan are not allowed.
Consequences of untreated parasitic infestations
Helminthiasis represents a serious danger: without treatment, it can lead to death or serious health problems. An infected child poses a danger to the entire family and their environment because they spread the disease.
Complications of worms in children:
- inflammatory exacerbation of appendicitis;
- epileptic seizures;
- visual impairment of several types;
- allergic reactions with profuse runny nose;
- developmental delay relative to peers;
- sexually transmitted infections, the most common among girls, are vulvovaginitis;
- various types of pulmonary manifestations, including bronchial asthma;
- in difficult cases - brain and heart damage.
Prevention
To ensure that treatment of worms in children is not necessary at all, it is necessary to actively engage in prevention, which includes both daily precautions and hygiene procedures, as well as takingdrugs.
How to protect your baby from parasitic infections:
- Maintain hygiene – wash your child’s hands regularly and bathe them;
- maintain toys regularly - washing and cleaning (after diagnosis, all toys must be disinfected);
- cut your nails as often as possible, clean them every day;
- iron clothes after washing them;
- get rid of bad habits - sucking fingers, pens, biting nails;
- give only boiled water to drink and explain the reasons;
- avoid swimming in natural bodies of water;
- use repellents (insects often carry worm eggs), destroy all insects that enter the house;
- check your pets regularly for parasites;
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, carry out sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish.
Some types of helminthiasis are difficult to cure, so we recommend preventive measures to avoid infection. By contacting the clinic, parents will receive comprehensive advice on how to properly carry out prevention in order to avoid problems in the future.