Children's body is easily affected by parasites as children have lower immunity. In addition, a child's body cannot produce a special digestive enzyme that can destroy worm larvae; a person acquires this ability with age.
It is impossible to visually notice worm eggs, their size is microscopic, but they are present almost everywhere. The danger of infection arises in 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 by stray animals as bathrooms, represent a great danger. If we take into account the baby's body's weak natural defense against helminthic infestations, then it is not difficult to see how high the chances are of parasites affecting the child's intestines. Here are the main ways worms enter a child's body:
- through dirty hands;
- after contact with animals;
- through undercooked meat and fish;
- insects are also often a source of helminth infestation, as they carry worm eggs on their legs;
- unwashed vegetables and fruits;
- through dirty water that is accidentally swallowed when 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 parents' efforts. The fact is that helminths periodically crawl through the child's anus, laying eggs nearby, which causes severe itching in the baby. The child itches and the eggs of the small worms, in turn, end up under the nails, where they easily enter the mouth, and then go down the gastrointestinal tract, ending up again in the intestine. After two weeks, the larvae transform into adults, who are also capable of laying eggs.
Worm infestation in children, symptoms
There are around 300 types of parasites that can infect the human body, however, worms and roundworms are most 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 facial skin, dark circles.
- Restless sleep; Sometimes a child may grind their 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 feels itchy 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.
- The 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, which manifests itself in the appearance of allergic reactions, urticaria and atopic dermatitis.
- Increased body temperature for no 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 needs so much, which often leads to vitamin deficiency and a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
Folk remedies against worms
It is certain that folk remedies are the most suitable for treating helminthic infestations in children; symptoms regress quickly. However, before using them, it is necessary to consult a doctor, since the child's body is very vulnerable not only to the action of parasites, but also to the inept use of medications, even popular ones. Here are the most popular folk anthelmintic remedies:
- Garlic enema. Garlic is an antiseptic given to humans by nature; It is also applicable against worms. A glass of cow's milk is mixed with a head of chopped garlic, the mixture is boiled, then cooled and filtered through a double layer of gauze. In the evening, the child is given an enema with the milk received, a third of the medicine received is taken 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 diseases. To prepare the decoction, take a tablespoon of dried chamomile herb and 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 treatment is 5 days.
- Onion medicine. Chop a small onion, add milk and boil the resulting mixture, let it cool and filter. The resulting product is given to the baby for three days in a row, 100 ml.
Simple folk recipes that will help cure a child from worms, watch the video:
Causes of helminthiasis
Almost 400 species of helminths can parasitize the human body, 70 of which are the most common in our country. As a rule, these are roundworms and tapeworms. Diseases caused by the penetration of worms (feline or liver flukes) are often detected.
The disease develops when parasite eggs or larvae enter the stomach. During the period of development from egg to sexually mature individual, tapeworms can switch between several hosts. You can also become infected by eating meat (beef, pork, game), unfiltered water, unwashed vegetables and fruits.
Helminths parasitize organisms of mammals, fish, molluscs and amphibians. To avoid infection, you need to avoid eating them raw and not buying smoked or salted fish of unknown origin.
Worm symptoms
Various types of worms can parasitize the digestive tract, respiratory organs, lymph nodes, bone and muscle tissues. Its 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 rule out helminthiasis if you have the following symptoms in an adult:
- Temperature increase. It can rise sharply up to 38°C and decrease briefly after taking anti-inflammatory and antipyretic medications. 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 at night.
- Frequent colds or respiratory illnesses - when infected with helminths, immunity decreases.
- Loss or increase in appetite, sudden loss of body weight.
- Bronchospasms, cough, shortness of breath, other respiratory disorders, pale skin and mucous membranes.
- Itchy rash.
- Insomnia, frequent headaches, anxiety, irritability, depression.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Inflammation, enlarged 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.
Diagnosis
Infection with certain types of helminths presents a characteristic clinical picture. When a patient contacts a doctor for the first time, he or she can guess the diagnosis. Eggs and other traces of the vital activity of roundworms, pinworms and other roundworms that parasitize the intestines are detected during fecal examination. Sometimes 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 examinations.
If helminthiasis is suspected in adults and children, the following 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 surveys several times at intervals of 3-4 days.
- General clinical blood test. It does not indicate 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. It provides detailed information on protein metabolism, identifies abnormal losses or increased protein synthesis and allows you to 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 helminth infection.
- Urinalysis, blood test with glomerular filtration. They provide the doctor with information about the condition of the kidneys and the possibility of them being 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 appropriate treatment. Do not refuse the exam. The more accurately the doctor determines the cause of health problems, the faster he can help.
Which doctors should I contact?
If you suspect a helminth infection, 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 with anthelmintic drugs. The doctor determines the dosage depending on the age, weight, degree of parasite damage, type and location of the patient. To get rid of most worms, simply take the medicine 1 to 3 times. Along with anthelmintic medications, vitamin and mineral complexes are often prescribed to strengthen the immune system.
In case of severe intoxication, 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 for damage caused by helminths to organs and tissues. A large number of roundworms sometimes leads to obstruction of the intestines and bile ducts. Its buildup is surgically removed. The decision on the need for surgical treatment is made by the doctor after a complete examination. The complexity and duration of the operation depend 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, causeless fatigue, decreased immunity, the disease can lead to serious complications.
If parasites enter the lungs and the patient does not consult a doctor with complaints of coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, pneumonia or even bronchial asthma may occur.
Parasites found in the organs of the digestive system can cause cirrhosis, liver abscess, hepatitis, intestinal cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites) and peritonitis. They also often provoke the development of chronic kidney disease, meningoencephalitis and loss of vision. Some cestodes (tapeworms) grow to more than 1 meter in length, and 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, appearance and damage caused. There are three most common groups of worms: nematodes, cestodes and trematodes.
The first group is the protocavitary worms. They live in soil and water, so they can easily become infected in the sandbox and while walking in general. It is this group that includes the most common pinworms and roundworms, and also includes hookworms, trichinellas and Guinea worms. Depending on which parasite caused the infection, ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, etc. are distinguished.
Cestodoses are tapeworms that can live both in the intestines (the most common variant is tapeworms) and in organs (tapeworm larvae, echinococci and alveococci generally 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 trematoses caused by trematodes. These are several types of flatworms - schistosome, cat/liver fluke, leukochloride. They cause opisthorchiasis (transmitted by fish from the carp family) and fascioliasis (liver and biliary system, plant or water infection).
Symptoms
There are many symptoms, and individual manifestations depend on which helminth eggs have entered the body. Below we will talk about the general symptoms of all parasitic infections and then about enterobiasis, ascariasis and 5 other types of infections.
- increased irritability, restless sleep, decreased perseverance 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 with pinworms. Larvae emerge from eggs within 4-6 hours, in 2-4 weeks they become adults - grayish or white roundworms 5-10 mm long. They settle in the cecum and appendix and lay eggs outside the anus - at night female worms come out into the air for this purpose. This reproduction mechanism leads to intense itching at night - hence restless sleep, tossing and turning and screaming.
Additional special symptoms:
- nocturnal urination;
- Grinding 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, with the flow of blood and lymph, are distributed throughout the body - in the liver, heart, lungs. They then enter the oral cavity and are swallowed again. From this moment on, adult roundworms begin to develop. This takes approximately 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;
- 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 streaks of blood.
It is more difficult to breed roundworms than pinworms, as the female lays almost 250, 000 eggs every day. In no case should you trust traditional methods or buy the first medicine you find in the pharmacy - be sure to contact a specialist.
Babies may show symptoms after just a few weeks of life if they have received worm eggs and larvae from their mother, for example during birth. As a rule, symptoms manifest themselves in the form of lack of weight gain, excessive salivation, rash, pallor, blue eyes, constipation. The child is constantly worried, screams, sleeps and eats poorly. The screams can be unbearable and the baby will turn blue in the process.
Worms are often the cause of the development of lung pathologies and are diagnosed using ultrasound or x-ray. Parasites, in particular the Echinococcus tapeworm, can damage not only the respiratory system but also reach the brain and heart. In areas where helminths develop in the lungs, scars and adhesions appear, and the shape of the lungs begins to change. Such changes provoke a wide range of 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.
Symptoms will largely depend on which helminth 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 in a timely manner.
Diagnosis
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;
- parasite analysis - 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 must be made 3 times, which takes time;
- smear - especially effective in case of pinworm infection, since its eggs are found outside the anus;
- analysis of feces for dysbiosis;
- if there is a suspicion of infection of internal organs, and not just the gastrointestinal tract - computed tomography, 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 care and hygiene recommendations.
In some cases, parents pay more attention to helminthiasis and are constantly worried about infecting their children. This leads to regular "preventive" courses of serious anthelmintic medications, which do not bring any benefit to the baby's body. If your child isn't losing weight, feels well, eats well, has healthy skin, and doesn't feel itchy in the anal area, he's probably healthy. If you want to be sure of this, it is better to take the test than to take an unnecessary course.
Treatment
The course of therapy for worms in children includes several stages - preparation, therapy and cleansing. During the entire treatment, it is necessary to carry out general preventive measures and carefully observe hygiene to avoid reinfection or infection of one 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, relieve general itching and prevent the development of allergic reactions to medications.
Treatment of helminthiasis in children at the main stage consists in the direct administration 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 deal with larvae and eggs (prescribed 2 weeks after the first).
Cleansing is aimed at ridding 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 the diet.
Also, 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 deviation from the plan are not permitted.
Consequences of untreated parasitic infestations
Helminthiasis poses a serious danger; Without treatment, it can result in death or significant health problems. An infected child represents a danger to the entire family and the environment, as it spreads the disease.
Complications of worms in children:
- inflammatory exacerbation of appendicitis;
- epileptic seizures;
- visual impairment of various types;
- allergic reactions with abundant nasal discharge;
- developmental delay in relation to peers;
- sexually transmitted infections, the most common in girls is vulvovaginitis;
- various types of pulmonary manifestations, including bronchial asthma;
- in difficult cases - damage to the brain and heart.
Prevention
To ensure that treatment for worms in children is not necessary, it is necessary to actively engage in prevention, which consists of both daily care and hygiene procedures, and taking medications.
How to protect your baby from parasitic infections:
- Maintain hygiene – wash your child’s hands regularly and bathe him;
- regularly 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;
- ironing clothes after washing;
- get rid of bad habits - sucking fingers, pens, biting nails;
- give to drink only boiled water 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;
- regularly check pets for parasites;
- Wash fruits and vegetables well and carry out sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish.
Some types of helminthiasis are difficult to cure, so we recommend preventive measures to avoid infections. When contacting the clinic, parents will receive complete guidance on how to carry out prevention appropriately to avoid problems in the future.