Children's bodies are quite easily affected by parasites because children's immunity is lower. In addition, the child's body cannot produce a special digestive enzyme that can destroy the worm larvae; one acquires this ability with age.
Worm eggs cannot be visually noticed, their size is microscopic, but they are present almost everywhere. The risk of infection arises during the period when the child begins to understand the world by touching different objects. In addition, the baby not only seeks to touch objects, but sometimes also to taste them. Yard sandpits, which are often used by street animals as toilets, are a big danger. If we take into account the weak natural defenses of the baby's body against helminthic infections, it is not difficult to understand how likely the parasites are to infect the child's intestines. Here are the main ways worms enter the child's body:
- with unwashed hands;
- after contact with animals;
- through poorly cooked meat and fish;
- insects are also often a source of worm infection, as they carry worm eggs on their legs;
- unwashed vegetables and fruits;
- through dirty water accidentally ingested while swimming in open water.
An important factor is the ability of worms to be a source of re-infection of the child, despite all the efforts of the parents. The fact is that helminths sometimes crawl through the child's anus, laying eggs in its immediate vicinity, which causes severe itching in the baby. The child itches, and the tiny worm eggs get under his fingernails, from where they easily enter the mouth, then travel down the gastrointestinal tract and end up in the intestines again. After two weeks, the larvae grow into adults capable of laying eggs.
Worm infection in children, symptoms
There are about 300 types of parasites that can infect the human body, but fungal and roundworms are more often diagnosed in children. Both types of worms affect the small intestine; The symptoms of both types of parasite damage are quite similar:
- Loss of appetite, pale complexion, dark circles under the eyes.
- Restless sleep, sometimes the child may grind his teeth in his sleep.
- Headache, dizziness, lethargy and weakness appear.
- Sometimes the worms are present in the child's stool and can be seen with the naked eye.
- The baby experiences itching in the genital area and anus.
- There is a disturbance 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 is the cause of general poisoning of the body, which manifests itself in the appearance of allergic reactions, hives and atopic dermatitis.
- Increased body temperature for no good reason.
- Constant itching can cause inflammation in the mucous membrane of the genitals.
- 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 needs so much, which often leads to a lack of vitamins and a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
Folk remedies against worms
There is no doubt that folk remedies are the most suitable for the treatment of worm infections in children, the symptoms subside rather quickly. However, be sure to consult your doctor before using it, because the child's body is very sensitive not only to the effects of parasites, but also to the inappropriate use of medicines, even folk medicines. Here are the most popular folk anthelmintic drugs:
- Garlic enema. Garlic is a natural disinfectant that can also be used against worms. A glass of cow's milk is mixed with a head of finely chopped garlic, the mixture is boiled, then cooled and filtered through double cheesecloth. At night, the child is given an enema from the milk received, for this they take a third of the medicine received, and the child is treated in this way for at least a week.
- Chamomile decoction. Another natural antiseptic that is used to treat many diseases. To prepare the decoction, take a tablespoon of dry chamomile, pour boiling water over it, let it cool, and give it to the child to drink throughout the day instead of water or tea. The duration of the treatment is 5 days.
- Onion remedy. Cut an onion into small pieces, add milk and boil the resulting mixture, then cool and filter. The resulting product is given to the baby on three consecutive days, 100 ml.
Simple folk recipes that will help to cure a child of worms, watch the video:
Causes of helminthiasis
Almost 400 species of worms can parasitize the human body, of which 70 are the most common in Hungary. Usually these are roundworms and tapeworms. Diseases caused by the invasion of flukes (cat fluke or liver fluke) are often detected.
The disease develops when the eggs or larvae of the parasites 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, and dirty vegetables and fruits.
Helminths are parasites in the bodies of mammals, fish, molluscs and amphibians. In order 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 parasitize the digestive system, respiratory organs, lymph nodes, bone and muscle tissues. Their vital activity affects the host in different ways. They can produce toxins, cause inflammatory processes, allergic reactions, anemia, metabolic disorders, and have a traumatic effect on organs and tissues.
Contact the clinic to identify or rule out helminthiasis if the following symptoms appear in adults:
- Temperature rise. After taking anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs, it can rise sharply to 38°C and decrease for a short time. Sometimes the temperature remains high for 2-3 months.
- Dull or abdominal pain in the stomach, frequent bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation), nausea.
- Itching in the anal area, worsening in the evening.
- Frequent colds or respiratory diseases - immunity is reduced when infected with helminths.
- Loss or increase in appetite, sudden weight loss.
- Bronchospasm, cough, shortness of breath, other breathing disorders, pallor of the 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 proper treatment, helminths can cause the development of chronic pancreatitis, hepatitis, cholecystocholangitis, cause irreversible changes in the tissues, and even lead to death.
Diagnostics
Infection with certain types of helminths gives a characteristic clinical picture. When a patient first consults a doctor, they may guess the diagnosis. Eggs and other traces of the vital activity of roundworms, roundworms and other intestinal worms that parasitize the intestine are detected during the stool examination. Sometimes worms can be seen on ultrasound. However, some small parasites are very difficult to identify. The 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 should be done:
- Stool analysis. It enables accurate detection of the presence of common parasites in the body. However, some of them only lay eggs in certain stages of their life cycle, so multiple surveys at intervals of 3-4 days are recommended.
- General clinical blood test. It does not indicate the presence of larvae, eggs, or adults, but it gives a lot of information about the intensity of the inflammatory process, the number of leukocytes, etc.
- Biochemical analysis. It provides detailed information on protein metabolism, identifies abnormal loss or increased protein synthesis, and allows the exclusion or suspicion of infection with certain helminths.
- Analysis of liver function indicators (bilirubin, pancreatic alpha-amylase, alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT). Diagnosis of liver and pancreas indicates worm infection.
- Urinalysis, blood sampling with glomerular filtration. They provide information to the doctor about the condition of the kidneys and the possibility of damage by parasites.
Examination of the content of bile, sputum and duodenum may also be prescribed.
In order to clarify the localization of parasites and assess the extent of damage, ultrasound diagnostics can be prescribed. If the presence of intestinal worms in the brain or eyes is suspected, a computed tomography scan is performed. X-rays are taken to diagnose helminths in the lungs, and endoscopy is done in the stomach and intestines.
A comprehensive examination makes it possible to quickly and accurately determine the causes of the disease and to prescribe the appropriate treatment. Do not refuse the examination. The more precisely the doctor determines the cause of the poor state of health, the faster he can help.
Which doctor should I see?
If you suspect a helminth infection, you should contact a therapist who will conduct an initial examination and prescribe laboratory and instrumental tests. After the examination, the therapist prescribes treatment or refers you to a specialist.
Treatment
Diagnosed in time, helminthiasis can be easily eliminated with anthelmintic drugs. The doctor determines the dose depending on the patient's age, weight, extent, type and location of parasite damage. To get rid of most worms, it is enough to take the medicine 1-3 times. Together with anthelmintic drugs, vitamin and mineral complexes are often prescribed to strengthen the immune system.
Hospitalization may be necessary in case of severe poisoning, allergic reactions, or infection on the background of serious chronic diseases. Doctors not only rid the human body of parasites, but also perform detoxification therapy and vitamin therapy.
Surgical treatment is required in case of intestinal worm damage to organs and tissues. Large numbers of roundworms sometimes lead to blockage of the intestines and bile ducts. Their accumulation is surgically removed. The doctor decides on the need for surgical treatment after a comprehensive examination. The complexity and duration of the operation depends on the location, size and quantity of the parasites.
Complications
Heartworm infections caused by common parasites can be treated with medications prescribed by a doctor. But if you do not pay attention to alarming symptoms, deterioration of health, weakness, fatigue for no reason, reduced immunity, the disease can lead to serious complications.
If parasites enter the lungs and the patient does not consult a doctor with cough complaints, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, pneumonia or even bronchial asthma may develop.
Parasites in the organs of the digestive system can cause liver cirrhosis, liver abscess, hepatitis, bowel cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites) and peritonitis. They also often provoke the development of chronic kidney diseases, meningoencephalitis and vision loss. Some cestodes (tapeworms) grow more than 1 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 immediate medical attention, death is possible.
Classification of parasites
Different types of worms affect the body in different ways and have their own characteristics both in the development cycle and in appearance and damage caused. There are three most common groups of worms: nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes.
The first group is the protocavitaris worms. They live in soil and water, so they can easily become infected in the sandbox and generally while walking. This group includes the most common roundworms and roundworms, as well as hookworms, trichinella and guinea worms. Depending on which parasite caused the infection, ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, etc. are distinguished.
Cestodes are tapeworms that can live in the intestines (tapeworms are the most common type) and organs (usually the larvae of tapeworms, echinococcus and alveococcus 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 is trematodes caused by trematodes. These are several types of flatworms - schistosoma, cat/liver fluke, leucochloridium. It is provoked by opisthorchiasis (spread from fish belonging to the carp family) and fascioliasis (the liver and biliary system suffer, infections through plants or water).
Symptoms
There are many symptoms, and individual manifestations depend on which helminth eggs have entered the body. Then we will talk about the general symptoms of all parasitic infections, then enterobiasis, ascariasis and 5 more types of infection.
- increased irritability, restless sleep, reduced endurance and attentiveness, frequent hysteria and anger;
- increased appetite with active weight loss;
- symptoms from the digestive system - diarrhea, constipation, nausea, pain in the right hypochondrium;
- dizziness and headache;
- food allergies;
- runny nose;
- diseases and infections of the reproductive system;
- brittle nails/hair;
Enterobiasis is a helminthiasis in which the body is infected with fungal infections. The larvae emerge from the eggs within 4-6 hours and become adults in 2-4 weeks - gray or white roundworms 5-10 mm long. They settle in the appendix and caecum and lay eggs outside the anus - at night, female pinworms are released into the air for this purpose. This reproductive mechanism causes severe itching at night - resulting in restless sleep, tossing and screaming.
Other special symptoms:
- nocturnal urination;
- teeth grinding;
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 improperly disinfected fresh fruits and vegetables. The development period takes place in the intestines, then they pass into the lymphatic system and blood vessels, and then they are distributed throughout the body by the flow of blood and lymph - in the liver, heart, lungs. They then enter the oral cavity and are swallowed again. From this moment, adult roundworms begin to develop. This will take about 3 months.
How to suspect the presence of worms in children:
- the liver, spleen, lymph nodes enlarge;
- the temperature rises, sometimes up to 38 degrees;
- malaise 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.
Roundworms are more difficult to breed than dumplings, as the female lays nearly 250, 000 eggs per day. In no case should you rely on traditional methods or buy the first drug you come across in the pharmacy - be sure to consult a specialist.
Babies can experience symptoms after only a few weeks if they have received the eggs and larvae of the worms from their mothers, for example during childbirth. The symptoms are usually manifested in the lack of weight gain, excessive salivation, rash, pallor, blueness under the eyes, and constipation. The child constantly worries, screams, sleeps and eats poorly. The screaming can be unbearable and the baby will turn blue in the process.
Worms often cause the development of lung pathologies and are diagnosed by ultrasound or X-ray. Parasites, especially the Echinococcus tapeworm, can not only damage the respiratory system, but also reach the brain and heart. In the areas where helminths develop in the lungs, scars and adhesions appear, and the shape of the lungs changes. Such changes provoke many diseases - asthma, fibrosis, bronchitis, pleurisy, emphysema, etc. When a tapeworm enters the lungs, echinococcosis is formed, when the parasite develops in the form of a cyst.
The symptoms largely depend on which helminth entered the body, but the anxiety of the child and the presence of the above general symptoms alert the parents. If signs of worms appear, make an appointment with a pediatrician or gastroenterologist so that the examination can be carried out in time.
Diagnostics
Diagnosing worms in children is done in different ways - depending on what worms the child is infected with, the habitat, the location of the eggs and the toxins in the body can be different.
The following may be prescribed to establish a diagnosis:
- blood test - shows anemia, hemoglobin and eosinophil levels;
- analysis of parasites - helps to detect helminthiasis in 99% of cases, and in most cases helps to accurately determine the type (research biomaterial - blood from a vein);
- examination of feces - there may be no eggs in the feces, 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 the case of fungal infection, since the eggs are located directly outside the anus;
- stool analysis for dysbacteriosis;
- if there is a suspicion of infection of internal organs, and not only the gastrointestinal tract - CT, X-ray, ultrasound.
Diagnostics enables the precise identification of the type of parasite and the prescription of specific treatment. The doctor prescribes medicines, diet, additional support procedures, and gives recommendations regarding care and hygiene.
In some cases, parents pay extra attention to helminthiasis and are constantly worried about infecting their child. This leads to regular "preventive" treatment with serious deworming 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 facial skin and no itching in the anal area, then he is probably healthy. If he wantsto be sure of this, it is better to investigate than to attend an unnecessary course.
Treatment
The process of treating worms in children consists of several stages - preparation, therapy and cleaning. During the entire treatment, general preventive measures should be observed and hygiene should be carefully observed to avoid re-infection or re-infection of one of the family members. Some worms, such as tapeworms and echinococci, can only be removed surgically.
The preparatory stage involves the intake of various sorbents that absorb toxins and cleanse the body. These are followed by antihistamines, which relieve general itching and prevent the development of allergic reactions to drugs.
Treatment of helminthiasis in children in the main stage is the direct intake of anthelmintic drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories or suspensions. Medicines are selected depending on the type of helminth, individual indications and contraindications. Some anthelmintics work 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).
The purpose of cleansing is to rid the body of the remains of dead parasites; at this stage, sorbents, enemas and choleretic drugs are used. Adding raw carrots, dairy products, wholemeal bread, fruits, vegetables, fish oil, nuts, especially walnuts and peanuts to your baby's diet can help.
In addition, vitamin complexes, iron, minerals and a special diet can be used to restore the body in case of severe damage, which increases hemoglobin, restores liver function and strengthens the body as a whole. The doctor explains the treatment plan in detail, avoiding side effects. Control tests are required. Self-medication and deviation from the plan are not allowed.
Consequences of untreated parasitic infections
Helminthiasis is a serious threat and can lead to death or serious health problems if left untreated. An infected child poses a threat to the entire family and the environment, as it spreads the disease.
Complications of worms in children:
- inflammatory exacerbation of appendicitis;
- epileptic seizures;
- multiple visual impairments;
- allergic reactions with abundant runny nose;
- developmental lag compared to peers;
- sexually transmitted infections, vulvovaginitis being the most common in girls;
- various types of lung manifestations, including bronchial asthma;
- in severe cases - damage to the brain and heart.
Prevention
In order to ensure that there is no need at all to treat worms in children, it is necessary to actively participate in prevention, which consists of both daily precautions and hygienic procedures, as well as taking medications.
How to protect your baby from parasite infection:
- Maintain hygiene - regularly wash your child's hands and bathe him;
- regular care of toys - washing and cleaning (all toys must be disinfected after diagnosis);
- cut your nails as often as possible, clean them every day;
- iron the clothes after washing;
- get rid of bad habits - sucking fingers, feathers, nail biting;
- give only boiled water to drink and explain the reasons;
- avoid swimming in natural water;
- use repellents (insects often carry worm eggs), destroy all insects that enter the house;
- regularly check pets for parasites;
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, heat treat meat and fish properly.
Certain types of helminthiasis are difficult to cure, so we recommend preventive measures to avoid infection. When contacting the clinic, parents receive full advice on the correct implementation of prevention to avoid future problems.