There are many parasitic forms that invade and live in the human body. Infection with worms in children is one of the most common diseases. Usually their severity is underestimated. They deprive babies of nutrients from food, cause allergies, intoxicating intoxication, weaken immunity and damage abdominal organs.
According to statistics, more than half of the population is infected with parasites, and significantly more in children. The early stages of the disease proceed without symptoms - in a latent form. Worms in children, the symptoms and treatment of which parents should learn and understand, sometimes live in a person for many years, do not manifest themselves in anything and are activated only with a decrease in immunity.
Spread of worms
Diseases that provoke the lower worms are called helminthiasis. Nobody is immune to this; it is often the infected people who are responsible for the appearance of worms. The climate has the greatest influence on the degree of their distribution. They feel most comfortable in hot tropical countries. The number of parasites also depends on the socio-economic level: In underdeveloped regions with little hygiene and medicine, a particularly large number of people suffer from worm infestation.
It is generally accepted that helminthiasis is a disease characteristic of lower social classes, who live in unsanitary conditions and have frequent contact with land or animals - carriers of invasions. However, the statistics refute this statement: In affluent European countries, the study found worms in a third of patients.
2 million cases of infection are diagnosed annually, and the number of 20 million is based on sales of anthelmintics. 80% of them are children. Helminths are viable and fertile; a female lays 200, 000 eggs a day.
Types of worms
There are a large number of worms - more than 300, 70 of them are typical of our region, the rest are brought by travelers from exotic countries. All types of parasites adapted to the human body fall into three broad categories:
- Nematodes from the class of roundworms most commonly seen in babies (these include pinworms, whipworms, trichinella, roundworms);
- to (flat) worms classified as cestodes (including tapeworms, tapeworms, echinococci);
- against trematodes or leech parasites, which live and multiply in the intestine, but can be passed on to various human organs via the bloodstream. Usually the intestines, liver, and gallbladder are most infected, besides the stomach, but the worms reach muscle tissue, lungs, even the brain and heart.
In the first place in terms of prevalence are pinworms, which have a round diameter and tiny parameters - no more than 6 mm. They are localized in the lower part of the large intestine. More than 24, 000 species of nematodes are known. The female can lay 150, 000 eggs per day. Their systematic movement and reproduction of the intestines abroad is the main reason for the risk of secondary infection with enterobiasis.
Ascaris infestation, which ranks second in prevalence, is inherent in preschoolers and younger school children. Adult worms look ominous: they can grow to a size of 30 cm, and the female lays around 100, 000 eggs per day. The larvae enter the body through unwashed hands, dirty food, and water. They are transmitted to all parts of the child's body via the bloodstream and settle there. This type of helminthiasis is quite dangerous for an unformed child's body. Ascariasis is often the cause of an allergic reaction in children.
Trichinella is not as common in children. They are the causative agents of trichinosis, which is characterized by the lightning-fast transmission of eggs through the body and which damages muscle tissue. The consequences of trichinosis are peritonitis, intestinal bleeding.
Sources and methods of invasion
Prevention of infection with helminths in children is possible if you understand the information about the transmission of worms. In reality there are several ways of entering the human body. Most of it gets to a person through contact household or the food route.
Many believe that strict adherence to the principles of personal hygiene protects against helminthiasis. Unfortunately, this opinion is wrong. Children are at the greatest risk of infection because of their close contact with the perpetrators. Each of the sources of invasion has its own characteristics:
- in the contact household route, the larvae enter the body through infected people, through things, from animals;
- in the food method, the culprits are unwashed palms, water of dubious purity, infected food supplies;
- with the route of transmission, worms get from blood-sucking insects;
- with active (percutaneous) - the testicles of the worms overcome the connective tissue or skin from the soil or from reservoirs during the bathing process. Sometimes the larvae in the air get into the airways along with the dust particles.
Despite the diversity of worms, they infect children in much the same way. Eggs, larvae, parts of the body or a whole parasite, if it gets to a person, begins to feed and multiply, their number increases intensely without therapy. An infected person's health deteriorates, he becomes the culprit in transmitting the invasion to others.
The eggs of the most common helminths - roundworms, pinworms, covered with a sticky capsule, firmly adhere to the surface and are held there. It will spread early enough. On the palms of the hands and fingers, eggs accumulate under the nails, from where they are transferred to everyday things that a person uses. All family members and the immediate environment become infected.
Certain types of worms can penetrate the placenta and infect the fetus in utero. Infected from a mother with enterobiasis, possibly during childbirth. A nursing child can become infected from sick relatives, although the disease is not transmitted through breast milk. There are also non-standard cases of transmission of worm eggs from an infected person: sexual contact or kissing, and contraception is useless in this case.
It is impossible to completely protect yourself from helminthiasis: your larvae live everywhere. However, there is an opportunity to reduce the risk of disease for those who follow hygiene rules, consume heat-treated foods, and regularly undergo preventive treatment for worms.
Identification of helminths
Infection with parasites occurs most often in the warm season, because babies vigorously explore their surroundings, spend the whole day outside, in the sandpit, splash around in reservoirs, feast on berries and fruits straight from the branches without worrying about hand washingmust and fruits.
In adults, before they can enter the body, worms have to overcome a number of obstacles: saliva in the mouth, acidic environment in the stomach, immune defense of the intestines. In children, protection is much weaker, which is why helminths overcome it more easily. Parents should be aware of signs of infestation in their children. Most of them know about such a difference as grinding teeth at night, although it is not the only indicator. How can you understand that a child has worms? You should pay attention to the symptoms.
Common symptoms of worms
The presence of helminths in the child's body poisons him with waste products, which is why one of the main symptoms of infection is considered to be increased fatigue, dizziness, refusal to eat and moods. The following general features are characteristic:
- allergic skin reaction - rashes, urticaria, eczema;
- digestive complications - alternating constipation and diarrhea, gas, nausea, pain in the navel;
- Decrease in protective immunity, repeated colds, the addition of a fungal infection;
- Manifestation of an allergic-toxic reaction to vaccination;
- decreased hemoglobin levels.
Parents should be particularly vigilant about the complex of these signs in a baby, for example, when acute respiratory infections or thrush are difficult to cure. In such cases it is logical to assume a helminth invasion.
In addition to the general symptoms of worm infection, there are individual signs of the presence of a particular parasite in a child.
Ascaris symptoms
The main symptom of ascariasis in children is a dry cough with worms in children, combined with a rash, and two weeks later - the manifestation of general indicators of intoxication, pain in the abdominal cavity. A striking signal is the variability of the nervous and psychological well-being of the child.
Pinworm Symptoms
Pinworm infection is declared as drying out of the oral cavity. Infected children complain of irritation in the anal area, especially at night. The child scratches this surface, which is tainted with inflammation. In girls, these symptoms are complemented by enuresis and vulvovaginitis. Appetite changes, bowel movements are disturbed, the baby coughs, does not sleep well, his nervous system is disturbed.
Manifestation of signs of other worms
Trichocephalosis is common in temperate, subtropical climates: whipworms prefer moisture. The signs are not entirely typical: the pain resembles attacks of appendicitis, the baby often has an urge to defecate, and symptoms of colitis are seen. The result can be rectal prolapse and severe anemia.
Hookworms are lovers of moisture, heat, they also prefer subtropical, tropical climatic regions, especially the Krasnodar Territory. A symptom is a rash where the parasite enters the skin. Complicated by severe anemia.
Dogs are carriers of toxocariasis and the disease is spreading everywhere. The symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain;
- decreased eyesight;
- Disturbance of the nervous system;
- allergic reaction.
It can be complicated by bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma.
Echinococcosis is multiplying everywhere - on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. For a long time it runs latently, the symptoms are nervous disorders, headache. Serious consequences are disorders of the brain, lungs, liver, heart and kidneys. Helminthic invasion in children, the symptoms of which are life-threatening to the child, is treated surgically.
Trematodoses (opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis) are widespread on the seashore; in river basins the main source of infection is thermally untreated fish. The symptoms of the disease are characterized by jaundice, muscle pain, fever, and an allergic rash. The disease is exacerbated by ulcerative gastroduodenitis, cirrhosis of the liver, purulent cholangitis, peritonitis, chronic hepatitis.
The symptoms of helminthiasis in childhood are polymorphic, the signs are suitable for many diseases, so it is difficult to use only the clinical picture for diagnosis. More real results are obtained through laboratory testing - an analysis on the eggs of worms, which must be repeated several times.
Age characteristics of the disease
Worms in an infant
Usually helminths are found in one and a half or two year old preschoolers. Babies rarely become infected with parasites from an infected mother - during intrauterine development, at the time of birth, during feeding. This usually happens after 6 months, with the start of supplementary feeding, the active crawling movement. The child does not miss a single microbe, bacteria, parasite. It is much more difficult to spot helminths in infants than in children of any other age. Symptoms and signs of worms in children are manifested:
- Fear of the child, sleep disorders;
- constant fatigue, lethargy, general weakness;
- Irritation and inflammation in the anal area, and in girls - around the genitals;
- Digestive disorders: constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, gas, colic;
- Dizziness related to poisoning of the body;
- Weight loss, refusal to eat, although there are exceptions;
- Paleness, whitening of the skin,
- Shadows under the eyes;
- Rashes on the body, mainly on the thighs;
- insignificant temperature rise;
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- regular cough, regardless of respiratory diseases.
Such symptoms in an infant can indicate not only helminth invasion, but many other diseases as well. Therefore, in order to confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to repeatedly conduct a stool examination at certain intervals.
Symptoms of worms in children as young as 2 years old are mostly similar to the usual worm signs. The smuggling of larvae and developing worms into the child's body can cause great damage to health, since the defenses of babies are only just beginning to form and the child cannot withstand unwanted attackers. The risk is increased by the fact that children are willing to try everything without knowing the principles of hygiene. Regardless of the type of worms, the manifestations of helminthiasis in two-year-olds are similar. The:
- Skin rash;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- profuse salivation at night while sleeping;
- a sudden increase or decrease in appetite, accompanied by a decrease in body weight;
- unexpected nausea, bowel dysfunction.
There are also common signs: irritation in the anus, in girls - in the genital area, intoxication, fatigue, decreased immunity, disruption of nervous processes.
Symptoms of worms in children aged 3 years old are the same as the previous ones.
A major factor in child invasion between the ages of 3 and 5 is attendance at childcare facilities and exposure to worm-infected pets. Children who travel to exotic countries or relatives who have traveled from there become infected with less common helminthiasis pathogens. The rapid penetration of larvae, parasite eggs into the child's body is facilitated by:
- Lack of vitamins, useful elements;
- Lack of protein from food;
- Poor quality food;
- decreased immunity.
The symptoms of worms in children aged 5 years and older are similar. On the website of Dr. Komarovsky, you can see photo and video footage on the treatment and prevention of worms, as well as read patient reports.
Diagnosis of the disease
The appearance of the first symptoms suggestive of helminthic invasion signals the need for special studies. In clinical practice, enough attention is paid to the diagnosis of helminthiasis in preschool and elementary school children. The suspected diagnosis must be confirmed by laboratory examination techniques:
- a clinical blood test that aims to find antibodies against certain parasite pathogens;
- scratch for enterobiasis and analysis of feces, carried out three times to make a correct diagnosis;
- an analysis that assesses the intestinal flora.
During a general blood test, they look at the color indicator. The diagnosis is confirmed provided that its index is higher than the established one, the number of eosinophils is increased, but hemoglobin is reduced, and anemia is expressed. A blood test for an enzyme-linked parasite immunosorbent test is done on an empty stomach from a vein. The effect is almost one hundred percent unmistakable, reliable, it is even able to detect the type of worms that worms cause harm to the baby's body.
The analysis for helminth eggs and dysbacteriosis is based on a fecal study. Stool tests for worms don't always produce a result, which is why they are done repeatedly. To make the diagnosis in detail, a biological examination of sputum, bile, urinalysis and fecal coprogram is used. Opisthorchiasis is diagnosed by examining the contents of the intestines and duodenal intubation.
Other diagnostic techniques include ultrasound of the internal organs, X-rays, computed tomography, and MRI. They will help the specialist determine the presence of helminths in the internal organs. The combination of these studies makes it possible to confirm or deny the diagnosis of enterobiasis. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment of worms in children is started, the less the baby's health will suffer.
Healing invasions using the traditional method
The serious consequences of helminthiasis prompt us to deal responsibly with the treatment of the disease and turn to specialists - a parasitologist or pediatrician. The medical treatment consists of 3 phases.
The preparatory stage consists in the appointment of sorbents and antihistamines to cleanse the baby's body from toxic substances that have accumulated through the life cycle of parasites.
The anthelmintic therapy consists in the selection of drugs depending on age, type of pathogen, stage of the disease. As a rule, a single dose of the drug is prescribed in the form of a tablet or suspension. The course is repeated after 2 weeks.
Antihelminthics are very toxic, so care should be taken when prescribing as much as possible so as not to harm the child's health. Moderation in dosage is of the utmost importance. Self-medication is not recommended, the drugs should be prescribed by a doctor, who can sometimes prescribe a combination of drugs. It is recommended to carefully read the contraindications of the anthelmintic.
The cleansing regimen is carried out after using anthelmintics, when the parasites die, leaving the body with feces. At that moment there is a huge splash of toxic substances in the baby's body. Enemas are prescribed for cleaning, absorbers and choleretics are taken. Blood and stool tests must be carried out again after treatment is stopped. In the event of complications, the baby is registered for 3 years.
Home remedies
Herbal healers have a long history of rescuing parasitic worms. Mainstream medicine recognizes the benefits of some of these remedies. However, not all of them deliver a guaranteed result. It is advisable to coordinate the use with a doctor. The following folk recipes are considered the most effective:
- Use of pumpkin seeds;
- the use of hemp, pumpkin, linseed oil;
- Garlic enema supplemented with milk;
- with a soda enema;
- Carrot juice;
- Infusion of tansy: 3 tbsp. l. Tansy is poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for an hour, the infusion is given to the child to drink 1 liter of dessert. three times a day; overdose is unacceptable in order not to cause depression of the nervous system;
- Birch tar;
- Herbal teas, vermouth enemas.
Precautions
To protect a child from helminthic invasions, it is necessary to strictly follow certain rules:
- teach the baby to wash hands thoroughly before meals and after a walk;
- systematically shorten the nail plates;
- change the costume for the child more often;
- Keep household items, toys clean;
- it is undesirable to keep tetrapods indoors;
- teach not to put fingers or toys in your mouth for a walk;
- once a year for prophylaxis for the whole family in the form of medication.
Worm infestation is a serious problem. The disease is widespread around the world, and children are particularly susceptible to it. The disease can last for years and cause enormous damage to the baby's health. Worms in the course of their existence release toxins, which leads to the appearance of various diseases that cause a lot of discomfort and unpleasant sensations to the child. Therefore, parents should timely notice the symptoms and start treatment with the help of a specialist.