Symptoms of worms in children. Do not delay your treatment!

Worms are often seen in preschool and primary school children. Where do worms come from? The main cause of helminthic infestation in children is poor hygiene. Young children always wash their hands, put their fingers in their mouths, bite their nails, and eat unwashed fruits and vegetables. The development of helminthic invasion occurs when a person's immunity is weakened. In children, the immune system is newly formed and can not cope with a large number of foreign agents. In children, the symptoms of worms are similar to the symptoms of poisoning or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Why are worms dangerous for a child's body? They damage internal organs, absorb nutrients and cause inflammation. Toxins secreted by helminths have a negative effect on the baby's nervous system. You can remove worms with the help of traditional and non-traditional medicine.

Types of helminthiasis in children

Helminths are very common in children, especially in preschool age. The risk of infection is always high. A child can get an infection in kindergarten, on the playground, in contact with animals. Also, children often neglect to wash their hands before using the toilet after eating.

What are worms? Worms are a large group of parasitic worms. It can live in the intestines, liver, respiratory tract, and some can affect the heart and brain. The main types of worms in children:

1. Roundworms - the most common class of human parasites, include pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, trichinella.
2. Tapeworms - the class includes cattle and pork tapeworm (tapeworm), exinococcus.
3. Trematodes are digenetic depletions, which include schistosomes, opisthorchias, flukes (liver and feline).

In addition, parasitic diseases are caused by protozoa (protists) - single-celled organisms that parasitize Giardia or amoebae in the human intestine.

Diseases caused by parasites in children have different degrees of danger, but have similar symptoms. The vast majority of roundworms are parasitized in the gastrointestinal tract, in the duodenum, in the feces. The source of nutrition for worms is digested food (mostly carbohydrates), sometimes blood. In children, helminthiasis has symptoms similar to eating disorders or gastrointestinal diseases.

The most common types of helminthiasis in children

Children are more prone to worm infections than adults. The most common helminthiasis in children:

1. Enterobiasis (pinworm infection).
2. Ascariasis (ascaridosis).
3. Giardiasis (giardia invasion).

Pinworms live only in the intestines. Migrating roundworm larvae enter the respiratory tract, liver and heart. Giardia often causes liver and gallbladder disease, although they cannot live inside these organs. Are these diseases contagious?

Enterobiasis is transmitted from person to person through handshakes and contact with household items used by the patient.

Ascariasis and giardiasis can be passed from a baby to other family members under certain conditions.

Enterobiasis

The main cause of pinworm infection is dirty hands. Also, parasitic eggs can enter the baby's body when eating poorly washed fruit. Signs of worm infection appear 3-4 weeks after the date of infection. A characteristic symptom of enterobiosis is itching in the anal area seen during sleep. Unpleasant sensations are caused by the movement of female worms crawling to lay eggs. With a strong occupation, you can see the worms in a child's feces with the naked eye.

Re-infection occurs when the baby scratches the anus and then the hands enter the mouth (this often happens in young children). Therefore, during the treatment of helminthiasis, children should be supervised to wash their hands regularly and eat only well-processed foods.

ascariasis

Infection with roundworms occurs when in contact with unwashed products, insufficiently heat-treated meat, animals. Parasites enter the baby's body in the form of eggs and larvae. Eggs develop in the intestines, and larvae begin to migrate through the blood and lymph ducts. They reach the liver, the right ventricle of the heart, and the lungs. These organs are supplied with oxygen regularly and abundantly, which is essential for the larvae to develop into adults. From the lungs, the larvae enter the bronchi, trachea, and are absorbed into the stomach by coughing and saliva. The cycle of movements continues until the larva grows.

In children, in addition to the typical symptoms, a severe cough may appear with worms. Helminthiasis in children is detected using a coprogram and special blood tests.

Giardiasis

In children, giardiasis develops when more than 10 cysts enter the body. Cysts are immobile, resistant to environmental conditions, and are a form of lamblia in which individuals develop the ability to reproduce under favorable conditions. Movable protists can survive only in conditions that occur in the human small intestine.

Stages of development of Giardia invasion in humans:

1. Cysts from the oral cavity enter the stomach and then the duodenum. The protective capsule is destroyed, two Giardia are released.
2. Giardia eats simple carbohydrates and divides the cell in half by longitudinal division.
3. Some of the parasites pass into the large intestine, where they can exist only in the form of cysts.
4. During the act of defecation, cysts enter the external environment.

Giardia cysts can be found in water, vegetables, fruits, meat, and household surfaces. They are very durable, it is difficult to destroy them with ordinary detergents. The risk of human-to-human transmission is low.

Typical symptoms of helminthiasis in children

The first signs of worms appear 2-4 weeks after infection. In children, worm infections can be acute or latent. If the parasite population is small, then the baby may not feel any discomfort.

The main symptoms of worms in children:

1. Pain of various localization and intensity in the abdominal cavity manifests itself with seizures.
2. Fecal disorders, diarrhea and constipation.
3. Nausea, vomiting.
4. Reduced or, conversely, a cruel appetite.
5. Intestinal dysbacteriosis.
6. Energy loss, dizziness.
7. Sleep disorders.
8. Dermatitis.
9. Pale skin, blue circles under the eyes.
10. Girls may develop urinary incontinence.

Dermatitis (rash, redness, itching) is the result of an allergic reaction to toxins released by helminths. Harmful substances also affect the condition of the nervous system. Children look tired, nervous and capricious.

Acute infection in children is accompanied by symptoms of helminths - fever, vomiting, diarrhea.

Tests for helminths in children

How to identify worms in a child? Worm infestations in children are difficult to diagnose clinically. The symptoms of different helminthiases are similar. Detection of worms is carried out with the help of both time-tested and new methods of laboratory diagnosis.

1. Histological analysis of feces allows to check for the presence of helminth eggs in the feces.
2. Microscopic examination of debris from the anus (helps to recognize enterobiosis).
3. Analysis of the composition of the duodenum. Worms or protozoa can be found in the duodenum.
4. General blood test with leukocyte formula. Indirect signs of the presence of worms are an increase in eosinophils and anemia.
5. Serological tests for antibodies to helminth antigens.
6. Analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

PCR is the most reliable and sensitive method in the diagnosis of helminthic invasions. Blood, feces, crumbs are suitable for analysis. The study determined the presence of foreign DNA in the biological sample. The effectiveness of the histological coprogram is less than that of PCR and ELISA.

Principles of treatment of helminthic invasions

How to get rid of worms in children? The method of treatment depends on the type and degree of helminthic infestation. Usually, helminthiasis is treated conservatively (without surgery), but surgery is performed to remove echinococcal cysts.

Treatment of worms in children consists of several stages:

1. Preparing the body for treatment.
2. In fact therapy, taking anthelmintic drugs.
3. Recovery of the body after illness and medication. It is necessary to normalize the work of the nervous system, increase immunity, get rid of intestinal dysbacteriosis.

The treatment usually takes about three months. Before starting therapy, you need to determine exactly if the child has worms. Treatment is prescribed and supervised by a doctor.

Drug treatment of helminthiasis in children

An integrated approach will help to completely cure all kinds of helminthiasis without harming the body. You can treat worms in a child with certain drugs:

1. Anthelmintic drugs. These include antiparasitic drugs that differ in spectrum and principle of action. It is determined depending on the type of occupation. It will be more convenient for the baby to take the drug in the form of a suspension.
2. Sorbents. Close toxins, accelerate the removal of worms from the body. Only strictly prescribed doses of sorbents can be taken, otherwise serious digestive disorders may occur.
3. Antiallergic agents. Help eliminate the symptoms of allergies to helminth waste products.
4. Hepatoprotectors. Set a recovery period. Helps normalize liver function
5. enzyme preparations. Restore normal digestion.

In the treatment of enterobiasis, enemas are also prescribed to the patient. If the baby is prone to constipation, the doctor will prescribe baby laxatives. It is important to have regular bowel movements to remove parasites and toxins from the body. It is impossible to take any medication unsupervised, because there is a possibility of side effects.

Traditional medicine for worms

It is undesirable to use traditional medicine to treat helminthiasis in children. They do not kill worms and do not help to remove them from the body. Folk remedies can be used only in combination with drug therapy.

How to remove worms from a child by folk methods? Here are some of the most common recipes:

1. Pumpkin seeds. It contains components that interfere with the normal functioning of worms and produce toxins. Peeled seeds (100 g) are crushed and poured with olive oil (100 ml). Tincture is given to the child three days before meals (three hours). The treatment is repeated after 2 days. Pumpkin seeds can be boiled in milk (15 seeds in 1 cup). The remedy is given to the baby to drink before dinner.

2. Garlic mixture. A few cloves of garlic (2-3) should be rubbed with a fine grater, mixed with a small amount of water until smooth. For a small child, garlic gruel is mixed with a spoonful of milk or orange juice and given to drink before bedtime.
3. Onions in oil. Chop 100 grams of onions, cover with a teaspoon of salt, pour 50 ml of sunflower or olive oil. The mixture is given to the baby for five consecutive days before bedtime.

Beetroot juice, exinacea tincture will help boost the child's immunity. Restore the nervous system - chamomile tea. Chamomile is also used for enemas for enterobiasis.

Folk remedies are contraindicated in children with gastric ulcer, gastritis, pancreatitis, prone to allergies. Of course, before you start trying "grandmother's recipes" on a child, first consult a pediatrician and parasitologist, otherwise the results of such therapy may be the most unexpected.

Homeopathy for dietary supplements and worms

According to the manufacturers, the Internet is full of advertisements for biologically active supplements (BAA) and homeopathic remedies that will completely eliminate worms. Feedback on the fund is extremely positive.

Why can't dietary supplements be used to treat worms in a child? Biologically active food supplements help to normalize metabolism, increase the body's resistance, improve the functioning of internal organs, but do not get rid of parasites. They can only be used in conjunction with traditional medicines.

Homeopathic medicines contain a complex of natural extracts. They also have no harmful effects on worms. However, they can increase immunity and restore metabolism. Today, homeopathic medicines are banned in many countries due to their ineffectiveness.

Prevention of helminthiasis in children

Prevention of the appearance of helminthiasis in children includes simple measures:

1. Hygiene. Parents should ensure that the child regularly washes his hands, takes a bath or shower, does not bite his nails, and does not put toys in his mouth.
2. Adequate heat treatment of meat and fish.
3. Regular scraping for enterobiasis (this procedure is performed in kindergarten).
4. Healthy sleep, adherence to a daily routine.
5. Balanced diet.
6. Vitamin intake.

If an infection is reported in a kindergarten or school, or if a family member or pet is infected, medication should be used to prevent it.

Symptoms of helminths in children are easily confused with the manifestations of food poisoning, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Your doctor will tell you how to find out if a child has worms. Children can be treated for worms after an accurate diagnosis is made under the strict supervision of a specialist. Caring parents need to understand that the health of their young children is in their hands.