Children's bodies are quite easily affected by parasites, because children have lower immunity. In addition, children's bodies cannot produce special digestive enzymes that can destroy worm larvae; one acquires this ability with age.
It is impossible to visually see worm eggs; its size is microscopic, but it is found almost everywhere. The danger of infection arises during the period when children begin to understand the world by feeling various objects. In addition, babies strive not only to touch objects, but sometimes to feel them. The sandbox in the yard, which is often used by street animals as a toilet, poses a great danger. If we take into account the weak natural defense of the baby's body against helminthic attacks, then it is not difficult to realize how high the probability of parasites affecting the intestine of the child is. Here are the main ways worms enter a child's body:
- through unwashed hands;
- after contact with animals;
- through undercooked meat and fish;
- insects are also often a source of helminthic attacks, because they carry worm eggs on their legs;
- unwashed vegetables and fruits;
- through dirty water accidentally swallowed while swimming in open water.
An important factor is the ability of worms to become a source of re-infection of children, despite all the efforts of parents. The fact is that helminths periodically crawl through the child's anus, lay eggs nearby, which cause severe itching in the baby. The child itches, and the eggs of small worms, in turn, end up under his nails, from where they easily enter the mouth, and then move to the gastrointestinal tract, ending up again in the intestines. After two weeks, the larvae grow into adults, which are also capable of laying eggs.
Worm infestation in children, symptoms
There are about 300 types of parasites that can infect the human body, however, pinworms and roundworms are more often diagnosed in children. Both types of worms affect the small intestine; Symptoms of damage to both types of parasites are quite similar:
- Loss of appetite, pale skin, dark circles under the eyes.
- Restless sleep; Sometimes children may grind their teeth while sleeping.
- Headache, dizziness, lethargy and weakness appear.
- Sometimes worms are found in the stool of children and can be seen with the naked eye.
- Babies experience itching in the genitals and anus.
- There are disturbances in the digestive system, constipation can be replaced by diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea are observed.
- General blood count indicators may change, namely a decrease in hemoglobin and an increase in the level of eosinophils and ESR.
- The important activity of worms is the cause of general poisoning of the body, which is shown in the form of allergic reactions, urticaria, and atopic dermatitis.
- Body temperature rises for no good reason.
- Persistent 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 are very necessary for the child's body, which often leads to vitamin deficiency and a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
Folk remedies against worms
Admittedly, folk remedies are the most suitable for treating helminthic attacks in children; symptoms subside quickly. However, before using it, 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 use of inefficient drugs, even folk remedies. Here are the most popular folk anthelmintic drugs:
- Garlic enema. Garlic is an antiseptic given to humans by nature; it can also be used against worms. A glass of cow's milk is mixed with one head of chopped garlic, the mixture is boiled, then cooled and filtered through two layers of gauze. At night, the child is given an enema from the received milk, a third of the received medicine is taken for him, and the child is treated in this way for at least a week.
- Decoction of chamomile. Another natural antiseptic that is used to treat various types of diseases. To prepare a decoction, take a spoonful of dried chamomile herb and pour boiling water over it, let it cool, and give the child to drink throughout the day instead of water or tea. The treatment period is 5 days.
- Onion medicine. Cut small onions, add milk and boil the resulting mixture, then cool and strain. The resulting product is given to the baby for three consecutive days, 100 ml.
A simple folk recipe that will help cure worms, watch the video:
Causes of helminthiasis
Almost 400 species of helminths can parasitize the human body; 70 of them are the most common in our country. As a rule, these are roundworms and tapeworms. Diseases caused by the penetration of flukes (feline or liver flukes) are often detected.
The disease develops when the eggs or larvae of the parasite enter the stomach. During the period of development from eggs to sexually mature individuals, tapeworms can change several hosts. You can also get infected by eating meat (beef, pork, game), unfiltered water, dirty vegetables and fruits.
Helminths are parasites of mammalian organisms, fish, molluscs, and amphibians. To avoid infection, you should avoid eating it raw and do not buy smoked or salted fish of unknown origin.
Symptoms of worms
Various types of worms can become parasites in the digestive tract, respiratory organs, lymph nodes, bones and muscle tissue. Their vital activities affect the host body in different ways. They can produce toxins, trigger 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 rule out helminthiasis if you have the following symptoms in adults:
- Temperature rise. It can rise sharply to 38°C and decrease shortly after taking anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs. Sometimes the temperature remains high for 2-3 months.
- Dull or cutting abdominal pain, frequent bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation), nausea.
- Itching in the anal area, 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 disorders, pale skin and mucous membranes.
- Itchy rash.
- Insomnia, frequent headaches, anxiety, irritability, depression.
- Pain in joints and muscles.
- Inflammation, enlarged lymph nodes.
- Edema.
In the absence of adequate treatment, helminths can trigger the development of chronic pancreatitis, hepatitis, cholecystocholangitis, causing irreversible changes in tissues and even leading to death.
Diagnostics
Infection with certain types of helminths gives a characteristic clinical picture. When patients first contact the doctor, they can guess the diagnosis. Eggs and other traces of important activity of roundworms, pinworms and other roundworms that are intestinal parasites are detected during stool examination. Sometimes worms are visible on ultrasound. But some small parasites are very difficult to identify. Diagnosis is based on a combination of symptoms and the results of instrumental and laboratory tests.
If helminthiasis is suspected in adults and children, the following must 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 survey several times at 3-4 day intervals.
- General clinical blood tests. Does not show the presence of larvae, eggs, adults, but provides a lot of information about the intensity of the inflammatory process, the number of leukocytes, etc.
- Biochemical analysis. Provides detailed information about protein metabolism, identifies abnormal loss or increased protein synthesis, and allows one to exclude or suspect infection with certain helminths.
- Analysis for indicators of liver function (bilirubin, pancreatic alpha-amylase, alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT). Diagnosis of the liver and pancreas suggests infection with helminths.
- Urinalysis, blood test with glomerular filtration. They provide information to 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 localization of parasites and assess the extent of damage, ultrasound diagnostics can be prescribed. If the presence of helminths in the brain or eyes is suspected, a computed tomography scan is performed. To diagnose helminths in the lungs, X-rays are taken, and in the stomach and intestines - endoscopy.
A comprehensive examination makes it possible to quickly and accurately determine the cause of the disease and prescribe adequate treatment. Do not refuse the exam. The more accurately the doctor determines the cause of poor health, the faster he can help.
Which doctor should I contact?
If you suspect a helminth infection, you should contact a therapist who will conduct a preliminary 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 with anthelmintic drugs. The doctor determines the dose depending on the patient's age, weight, degree of parasite damage, their type and location. To get rid of most worms, it is enough to take the medicine 1-3 times. Along with anthelmintic drugs, vitamin and mineral complexes are often prescribed to strengthen the immune system.
In cases of severe intoxication, allergic reactions, infections against the background of severe chronic diseases, hospitalization in a hospital may be required. The doctor will not only cleanse the human body of parasites, but will also carry out detoxification therapy and vitamin therapy.
Surgical treatment is required for helminth damage to organs and tissues. Large numbers of roundworms sometimes lead to intestinal and bile duct obstruction. Their accumulation is removed surgically. 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 parasite, its 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, health deterioration, weakness, tiredness for no reason, decreased immunity, this disease can lead to serious complications.
If the parasite enters the lungs, and the patient does not see a doctor with complaints of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, pneumonia or bronchial asthma may develop.
Parasites found in the organs of the digestive system can cause cirrhosis, liver abscess, hepatitis, colon cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), and peritonitis. They also often trigger the development of chronic kidney disease, meningoencephalitis, and vision loss. Some cestodes (tapeworms) grow more than 1 meter long, and small roundworms can form dense balls. This disrupts the normal functioning of the body, leading to severe hangovers and severe allergic reactions. Without immediate medical attention, death is possible.
Classification of parasites
Different types of worms affect the body differently, and have their own characteristics 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 protocavitary worms. They live in soil and water, so they are easily infected in the sandbox and during general walks. This group includes the most common pinworms and roundworms, and also includes hookworms, trichinella, and guinea worms. Depending on which parasite causes the infection, ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, etc. distinguished.
Cestodoses are tapeworms that can live in the intestine (the most common variant is tapeworms) and in organs (usually tapeworm larvae, echinococci, and alveococci live there). According to which of these types of worms are found in children, echinococcosis, taeniasis, hymenolepiasis, etc. are distinguished.
And the last of the three popular groups are trematodes caused by trematodes. These are several types of flatworms - schistosome, cat/liver fluke, leukochloridium. They cause opisthorchiasis (infected by fish of the carp family) and fascioliasis (liver and biliary system suffer, infection through plants or water).
symptoms
There are many symptoms, and individual manifestations depend on which helminth eggs have entered the body. Next, we will talk about general symptoms for all parasitic infections, and then about enterobiasis, ascariasis and 5 other types of infections.
- increased irritability, restless sleep, decreased endurance and attention, frequent hysteria and anger;
- increased appetite associated with active weight loss;
- symptoms from the digestive system - diarrhea, constipation, nausea, pain in the right hypochondrium;
- dizziness and headache;
- food allergies;
- nasal discharge;
- diseases and infections of the reproductive system;
- brittle nails/hair;
Enterobiasis is a helminthiasis in which the body is infected by pinworms. Larvae emerge from eggs in 4-6 hours, in 2-4 weeks they become adults - gray 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 - hence the restless sleep, tossing and turning, and screaming.
Additional special symptoms:
- nocturnal urination;
- grinding teeth;
Ascariasis is a type of helminthiasis in which the body is colonized by roundworms. These worms are already larger - the average adult length is 25-30 cm. Larvae and eggs enter the body with fresh fruits and vegetables that are not sufficiently disinfected. The period of development occurs in the intestines, after which they enter the lymphatic and blood vessels, and with the flow of blood and lymph they are distributed throughout the body - in the liver, heart, lungs. They then enter the oral cavity and are swallowed again. From this moment, adult roundworms begin to develop. This takes about 3 months.
How to suspect the presence of worms in children:
- enlarged liver, spleen, lymph nodes;
- temperature increases, sometimes up to 38 degrees;
- weakness and weakness appear;
- respiratory pathology develops - pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchial asthma;
- pressure drop;
- Gastrointestinal symptoms appear - constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, pain in the form of contractions;
- fear of light;
- nightmares at night;
- dry cough - sputum with orange color and bloody spots.
It is more difficult to breed roundworms than pinworms, because the female lays almost 250 thousand eggs per day. You should not rely on traditional methods or buy the first drug you find in the pharmacy - be sure to contact a specialist.
Babies may develop symptoms after only a few weeks of life if they have received worm eggs and larvae from their mother, for example during childbirth. As a rule, symptoms manifest themselves in the form of weight loss, excessive salivation, rashes, paleness, blue under the eyes, constipation. The child is constantly worried, screams, sleeps and eats badly. The screams are unbearable and the baby will turn blue in the process.
Worms are often the cause of the development of lung pathology and are diagnosed using ultrasound or x-ray. Parasites, especially Echinococcus tapeworms, can damage not only the respiratory system, but also travel further to the brain and heart. In the area where helminths develop in the lungs, scars and adhesions appear, and the shape of the lungs begins to change. Such changes give rise to various types of diseases - asthma, fibrosis, bronchitis, pleurisy, emphysema, etc. When the tapeworm enters the lungs, echinococcosis is formed, when the parasite develops in the form of a cyst.
Symptoms will 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 a timely test.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of worms in children is carried out in different ways - depending on what worms the child is infected with, the habitat, the location of the eggs, and the toxins found in the body will be different.
To make a diagnosis, the following may be prescribed:
- blood test - shows the level of anemia, hemoglobin and eosinophils;
- analysis for parasites - in 99% of cases it helps to detect helminthiasis, and in most cases it helps 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 needs to be carried out 3 times, which takes time;
- smear - especially effective in case of pinworm infection, because their eggs are found outside the anus;
- stool analysis for dysbacteriosis;
- if there is suspicion of infection of internal organs, and not just the gastrointestinal tract - CT, X-ray, ultrasound.
Diagnostics allows you to accurately identify the type of parasite and prescribe specific treatment. The doctor prescribes medication, diet, additional support procedures, and provides recommendations for care and hygiene.
In some cases, parents pay more attention to helminthiasis and are always worried about infecting their child. This leads to the usual "preventive" course of serious anthelmintic drugs, which do not bring any benefit to the baby's body. If your child is not losing weight, feels well, eats well, has healthy skin, and does not have itching in the anal area, he is likely healthy. If you want to be sure of this, it is better to take the test than to take unnecessary courses.
Treatment
The course of therapy for worms in children includes several stages - preparation, therapy and cleaning. During the entire treatment, it is necessary to carry out general preventive measures and carefully observe hygiene to avoid re-infection or infection of one of the family members. Some types of worms, such as tapeworms and echinococci, 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 at the primary stage is directly taking anthelmintic drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories or suspensions. Medicines are chosen depending on the type of helminth, individual indications and contraindications. Some anthelmintic drugs work in 2 doses:
- the first course kills the advanced individual;
- the second course helps to overcome larvae and eggs (set 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, wholemeal bread, fruits, vegetables, fish oil, nuts, especially walnuts and peanuts to the diet.
In addition, to restore the body in case of serious damage, a complex of vitamins, 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 explains the treatment plan in detail, avoiding side effects. Control tests are required. Self-medication and deviations from the plan are not allowed.
As a result of an untreated parasite attack
Helminthiasis poses a serious danger; without treatment, it can result in death or significant health problems. Infected children pose a danger to the whole family and the environment, because they spread the disease.
Complications of worms in children:
- exacerbation of inflammation of appendicitis;
- epileptic seizures;
- visual impairment of some kind;
- allergic reaction with copious nasal discharge;
- lagging behind peers;
- sexually transmitted infections, the most common in girls is vulvovaginitis;
- various types of pulmonary manifestations, including bronchial asthma;
- in severe cases - damage to the brain and heart.
Prevention
To ensure that the treatment of worms in children is not necessary at all, it is necessary to be actively involved in prevention, which consists of both daily precautions and hygiene procedures, as well as taking medicines.
How to protect your baby from parasitic infections:
- Maintain hygiene - regularly wash your child's hands and bathe him;
- always take care of toys - wash and clean (after diagnosis, all toys must be disinfected);
- cut your nails as often as possible, clean them every day;
- iron clothes after washing;
- get rid of bad habits - sucking fingers, pens, biting nails;
- give only boiled water to drink and explain why;
- avoid swimming in natural waters;
- use repellants (insects often carry worm eggs), destroy all insects that enter the house;
- regularly check pets for parasites;
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, do adequate heat treatment for meat and fish.
Some types of helminthiases are difficult to cure, so we recommend preventive measures to avoid infection. When contacting the clinic, parents will receive full advice on how to properly carry out prevention to avoid problems in the future.