Symptoms that signal worms in children. Do not delay your treatment!

Most often, worms appear in preschool and elementary age children. Where do worms come from? The main cause of helminth infestation in children is improper hygiene. Young children do not always wash their hands, they like to put their fingers in their mouths, bite their nails and eat unwashed fruits and vegetables. The development of helminthic invasion occurs if a person has weakened immunity. The immune system in children is just being formed, it is not able to withstand a large number of foreign agents. Signs of worms in children resemble symptoms of poisoning or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Why are worms dangerous to a child's body? They damage internal organs, absorb nutrients, cause inflammation. Toxins secreted by helminths adversely affect the baby's nervous system. You can remove worms with the help of traditional and traditional medicine.

Types of helminthiasis in children

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

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

1. Roundworms - the largest class of human parasites, includes roundworms, roundworms, downworms, trichinella.
2. Tapeworms - class includes bovine and porcine tapeworm (tapeworm), echinococcus.
3. Trematodes are digestive flux, these include schistosomes, opisthorchis, fluxes (liver and cat).

In addition, parasitic diseases are caused by protozoa (protists) - unicellular organisms; in the human intestine Giardia or amoeba parasitize.

Diseases caused by parasites in children have different degrees of risk, but have similar symptoms. The vast majority of roundworms parasitize the gastrointestinal tract, are found in the contents of the duodenum, in the feces. The food source for worms is digested food (most often carbohydrates), sometimes blood. Helminthiasis in children has symptoms similar to an eating disorder or gastrointestinal disease.

The most common types of helminthiasis in children

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

1. Enterobiasis (infection of worms).
2. Ascariasis (invasion of ascaris).
3. Giardiasis (invasion of giardias).

Red worms live only in the intestines. Migratory larvae of roundworms enter the respiratory tract, liver and heart. Giardia often causes diseases of the liver and gallbladder, although they are unable to survive within these organs. Are these contagious diseases?

Enterobiasis is transmitted from person to person by shaking hands, contact with household items used by the patient.

Ascariasis and giardiasis, under certain conditions, can also be transmitted from baby to other family members.

Enterobiasis

The main cause of infection with breast worms are dirty hands. Also, parasite eggs can enter the baby's body when they eat poorly washed fruit. Signs of worm infection appear after 3-4 weeks from the date of infection. A characteristic sign of enterobiasis is itching in the anal area, which appears during sleep. Unpleasant sensations are caused by the movement of female worms, which crawl to lay eggs. With a strong invasion, you can see worms in the feces of a child with the naked eye.

When the baby scratches the anus and then the hands are put in the mouth (which often happens with young children), re-infection occurs. Therefore, during the helminthiasis treatment period, children should be monitored in order to wash their hands regularly and eat only well-processed foods.

Askariaza

Infection with roundworms occurs through unwashed products, insufficiently thermally processed meat, through contact with animals. The parasites enter the baby's body in the form of eggs and larvae. Eggs develop in the intestines, the larvae begin to migrate through the blood and lymphatic ducts. They reach the liver, the right ventricle of the heart, the lungs. These organs are regularly and abundantly supplied with oxygen, which is so necessary for the larvae to grow into adults. From the lungs, the larvae will enter the bronchi, trachea, cough and be swallowed with saliva in the stomach. The cycle of movements continues until the larva grows.

With worms in children, in addition to the typical symptoms, an intense cough may appear. Helminthiasis in children is detected using a coprogram and specific blood tests.

Giardiasis

Giardiasis in a child develops when more than 10 cysts enter the body. Cysts are immobile, resistant to environmental conditions, the form of existence of lamblia from which under favorable conditions develop individuals capable of reproduction. Moving protists can only live in conditions that are created only 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, multiplies by longitudinal division of the cell in half.
3. Some parasites pass into the colon, where they can only exist in the form of cysts.
4. During the act of defecation, cysts come out, entering the external environment.

Giardia cysts can be found in water, vegetables, fruits, meat, household surfaces. They are very persistent, are difficult to destroy with conventional 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. Worm infection in children can occur in acute or latent form. If the parasite population is small, then the baby may not feel any discomfort.

The main symptoms of worms in children:

1. Abdominal pain with different localization and intensity, manifested by crisis.
2. Stool disorders, diarrhea and constipation.
3. Nausea, vomiting.
4. Reduced appetite or, conversely, brutal.
5. Intestinal dysbacteriosis.
6. Loss of energy, dizziness.
7. Sleep disorders.
8. Dermatitis.
9. Pale skin, blue circles under the eyes.
10. Girls may have urinary incontinence.

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

Acute infection is associated with symptoms of helminths in children - fever, vomiting, diarrhea.

Tests for helminths in children

How to identify worms in a child? Worm infections in children are difficult to determine from the clinical picture. The symptoms of different helminthiases are similar to each other. Worm detection is performed with the help of time-tested methods as well as new methods of laboratory diagnosis.

1. Histological analysis of feces allows you to check for the presence of helminth eggs in the feces.
2. Microscopic examination of scratches from the anus (helps recognize enterobiasis).
3. Duodenal content analysis. In the duodenal contents, worms or protozoa can be found.
4. General blood test with leukocyte formula. Indirect signs of the presence of worms are an increased level of eosinophils and anemia.
5. Serological tests for antibodies to helminth antigens.
6. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.

PCR is the most reliable and sensitive method for diagnosing helminthic invasions. Blood, feces, scratches are suitable for analysis. The study determines the presence of foreign DNA in a biological sample. The efficiency of the histological coprogram is lower 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 invasion. Usually, helminthiasis is treated conservatively (without surgery), but an operation is performed to remove the 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. Body recovery after illness and treatment. It is necessary to normalize the functioning of the nervous system, to increase immunity, to get rid of intestinal dysbacteriosis.

Usually the treatment period lasts about three months. Before starting therapy, you need to determine exactly if the child has worms. Treatment is prescribed and checked by a doctor.

Drug therapy of helminthiasis in children

An integrated approach will help to completely cure any type of helminthiasis without harming the body. You can treat worms in a child using certain medications:

1. Anthelmintic drugs. They include antiparasitic drugs that vary in spectrum and principle of action. Named depending on the type of occupation. It will be more convenient for the baby to take the medicine in the form of a suspension.
2. Sorbents. Bind toxins, accelerate the elimination of worms from the body. Only strictly prescribed doses of sorbents can be taken, otherwise serious digestive disorders may occur.
3. Antiallergic agents. Helps relieve the symptoms of allergies to helminth waste products.
4. Hepatoprotectors. Schedule during the recovery period. Helps normalize liver function.
5. enzymatic preparations. Restoration of normal digestion.

In the treatment of enterobiasis, enemas are also prescribed to the patient. If the baby has a tendency to constipation, the doctor will prescribe laxatives for children. It is important to ensure regular bowel movements so that parasites and toxins are eliminated from the body. It is impossible to take any medication in an uncontrolled manner, as there is a possibility of side effects.

Traditional medicine for worms

Traditional medicine is not desirable to use for the treatment of helminthiasis in children. They do not kill worms and do not help remove them from the body. Folk remedies can be used only in combination with drug treatment.

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

1. Pumpkin seeds. Contains ingredients that interfere with the normal functioning of worms, remove toxins. Peeled seeds (100 g) are crushed and poured with olive oil (100 ml). The tincture is given to the child before meals (three hours) for three days. The treatment is repeated after 2 days. Pumpkin seeds can be boiled in milk (15 seeds in 1 cup). The medicine is given to the baby to drink before lunch.

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

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

Folk remedies are contraindicated in children with peptic ulcer, gastritis, pancreatitis, a tendency to allergies. And, of course, before you start testing "grandma's recipes" on a child, first consult a pediatrician and a parasitologist, otherwise the result of such therapy may be more unpredictable.

Dietary supplements and homeopathy for worms

The Internet is full of advertisements for biologically active additives (BAAs) and homeopathic remedies, which, according to the manufacturers, will completely remove the worms. The reviews for the funds are extremely positive.

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

Homeopathic remedies consist of a complex of natural extracts. They also do not have a detrimental effect on worms. But they can boost immunity, restore metabolism. In many countries today it is forbidden to give homeopathic medicines because of their ineffectiveness.

Prevention of helminthiasis in children

Preventing the onset of helminthiasis in children involves simple measures:

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

Drug prophylaxis should be performed if cases of infection have been reported in a kindergarten or school, one of the family members or a pet has been caught by the infection.

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