Worms in children

Helminths or worms are parasites that feed on the host's body and release toxins that affect internal organs and systems. The most common groups are roundworms and roundworms, which are most often found in the bodies of young children, interacting with the external environment in the most hygienic ways. Worms interfere with the assimilation of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, as they borrow them for their life, and the intoxication of the products they release damages the liver, gastrointestinal tract and, in difficult cases without timely intervention, muscles, lungs. , eyes, brain.

Ways of infection with worms:

• contact with the earth and water, which contain parasite eggs (the sandbox and the puddle are no exception);
• the use of products that have not been properly processed: plant foods, meat and fish can contain worm eggs;
• neglect of hygiene;
• transmission of worms from mother to child during childbirth;
• regular contact with animals, especially street animals or those that go outside;
• visiting a room with insects;
• contact with already infected children;
• low immunity;
• moving to another country, associated with stress on the body and incomplete acclimatization.

Depending on the causes of the disease, it is not difficult to develop a minimal prevention system: teach the child to wash his hands regularly, feed him only properly processed foods, and ensure sanitary control at home. However, no one canceled contact with the street animals and licking the swing, the result is intestinal damage from parasites. Not all helminths are immediately active; they can be in the body in "sleep" mode for years, so regular check-ups, especially for children, are extremely important.

Classification of parasites

The different types of worms do not affect the body in the same way, and have their own characteristics both in the development cycle and in appearance and damage. There are three most common groups of worms: nematodes, cestodoses, trematodes.

The first group are the primary cavity worms. They live in soil and water, so it is easy to get infected with them in the sandbox and, in general, when walking. This group includes the most common pinworms and roundworms, and this also includes hookworms, trichinella, rishta. Depending on which parasite caused the infection, ascariasis, enterobiasis, whipworm, etc. are isolated.

Cestodoses are tapeworms that can live both in the intestines (tapeworms are the most common variant) and in organs (as a rule, larvae of tapeworms, echinococci, alveococci live there). According to which of these types of worms is found in children, echinococcosis, taeniasis, hymenolepiasis, etc. are distinguished.

And the last of the three popular groups is the trematoses caused by trematodes. These are several types of flatworms: schistosome, feline / liver fluke, leukochloridium. They cause opisthorchiasis (transmitted with fish of the Cyprinidae family) and fascioliasis (they suffer from the liver and biliary system, infection through plants or with water).

Symptoms

There are many symptoms, and private manifestations depend on which eggs of which helminths have entered the body. Next, we will talk about the common symptoms of all parasitic infections, and then enterobiasis, ascariasis and 5 more types of infections.

Common symptoms:

• increased irritability, restless sleep, decreased perseverance and attention, frequent temper tantrums and anger;
• increased appetite associated with active weight loss;
• digestive system symptoms: diarrhea, constipation, nausea, pain in the right hypochondrium;
• dizziness and headache;
• food allergy;
• flow from the nose;
• reproductive system diseases and infections;
• brittle nails / hair;

Enterobiasis is helminthiasis, in which pinworms infect the body. The larvae emerge from the eggs in 4-6 hours, in 2-4 weeks they become adults - grayish or white round worms 5-10 mm long. They settle in the cecum and appendix and lay eggs outside the anus; at night, female pinworms come into the air for this purpose. This reproductive mechanism leads to severe itching at night, hence the restless sleep, tossing and screaming.

Additional special symptoms:

• night urination;
• grinding your teeth;

Ascariasis is a helminthiasis, in which the body is colonized by intestinal worms. These worms are already more important: the average length of an adult is 25-30 cm. Larvae and eggs enter the body with insufficiently disinfected fresh fruits and vegetables. The development period takes place in the intestines, after which they pass into the lymphatic and blood vessels, and with the flow of blood and lymph they settle throughout the body: in the liver, heart and lungs. They then enter the oral cavity and are swallowed again. From this point on, adult roundworms begin to develop. This takes about 3 months.

How to suspect the presence of worms in children:

• the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes are enlarged;
• the temperature rises, sometimes up to 38 degrees;
• discomfort and weakness appear;
• respiratory pathologies develop: pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchial asthma;
• pressure drops;
• symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract appear: constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, pain in the form of contractions;
• fear of light;
• nightmares at night;
• dry cough: phlegm with an orange tinge and splashes of blood.

Rearing pinworms is more difficult than pinworms, as the female lays nearly 250, 000 eggs every day. In no case should she rely on folk methods or buy the first remedy available in a pharmacy; be sure to contact a specialist.

These are not all worms in children that are colonized in the body. In total, there are more than 300 types of helminths in the world, and 70 of them are found only in our country. In addition to the two types listed, 5 more types are becoming generalized:

• trichocephalosis: characterized by a delay in both physical and intellectual development, but in general it is almost asymptomatic;
• opisthorchiasis - the temperature rises, the nodes of the lymphatic system increase, skin rashes appear;
• hymenolepiasis - the main consequence is rhinitis;
• toxocariasis - has many symptoms that distinguish it from other helminthiases: keratitis, choking cough, ophthalmitis, chorioretinitis, facial swelling;
• Broad tapeworm: characterized by anemia, intestinal disorders, pain in the abdomen.

Babies can show symptoms after a few weeks of life if they receive worm eggs and larvae from their mother, for example during childbirth. As a general rule, the symptomatology manifests itself in the form of lack of weight gain, profuse salivation, skin rash, paleness, blue under the eyes, and constipation. The child is constantly worried, screams, sleeps and eats badly. The screaming can be unbearable and the child will turn blue in the process.

Worms are often the cause of the development of lung pathologies and are diagnosed by ultrasound or radiography. Parasites, in particular the echinococcus tapeworm, can damage not only the respiratory system, but can also reach the brain and heart. In the areas of development of helminths in the lungs, scars, adhesions appear, the shape of the lungs begins to change. Such changes provoke a wide range of diseases: asthma, fibrosis, bronchitis, pleurisy, emphysema, etc. When tapeworms enter the lungs, echinococcosis forms, when the parasite develops into a cyst.

Symptoms will largely depend on which helminth has entered the body, but the child's concern and the presence of the general symptoms above should alert parents. If you have signs of worms, make an appointment with your pediatrician or gastroenterologist for testing in a timely manner.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of worms in children is carried out in different ways: depending on the worms with which the child is infected, the habitat, the location of the eggs and the toxins found in the body will be different.

For diagnosis can be assigned:

• blood test - shows anemia, hemoglobin and eosinophil levels;
• analysis of parasites - in 99% of cases it helps to detect helminthiasis, and in most cases 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 be sure of the presence of worms, this diagnosis needs to be done 3 times, which takes time;
• smear: especially effective for pinworm infection, as their eggs are outside the anus;
• stool analysis for dysbiosis;
• if there is a suspicion of infection of the internal organs, and not only the gastrointestinal tract - CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound.

Diagnosis allows you to accurately identify the type of parasite and prescribe a specific treatment. The doctor prescribes medications, diet, additional support procedures, provides recommendations on care and hygiene.

In some cases, parents pay more attention to helminthiasis and are constantly worried about their child's infection. This leads to regular "preventive" courses of serious anthelmintic drugs, which do not bring any benefit to the baby's body. If the child does not lose weight, feels fine, eats well, has a healthy complexion, and does not have itchy anus, he is most likely healthy. If you want to be convinced 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 cleaning. Throughout the treatment, it is necessary to carry out a restorative prophylaxis and a careful observation of hygiene to avoid reinfections or infections of any of the family members. Some types of worms, such as tapeworms or echinococcus, can only be removed surgically.

The preparatory stage involves the intake of sorbents that absorb toxins and cleanse the body. They are followed by antihistamines, relieve general itching and prevent the development of allergic reactions to drugs.

Treatment of helminthiasis in children at the main stage consists of directly taking anthelmintic drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories or suspensions. Drugs are selected based on the type of helminths, individual indications and contraindications. Some anthelmintics work in 2 steps:

• the first course kills already developed individuals;
• the second course helps to cope with the larvae and eggs (designated 2 weeks after the first).

Purification is designed to rid 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, thick bread, fruits, vegetables, fish oil, nuts, especially walnuts, and peanuts to the diet.

In addition, vitamin complexes, iron, minerals, a special diet can be used to restore the body in case of serious injuries, which will increase hemoglobin, restore liver function, strengthen the body as a whole. The doctor describes the treatment plan in detail, avoiding the appearance of side effects. Control tests are mandatory. Self-medication or deviation from the plan is not allowed.

Consequences of untreated parasitic infections

Helminthiasis is fraught with serious dangers; Without treatment, everything can end in death or serious health problems. An infected child is a danger to the whole family and the environment, as it is the spread of the disease.

Complications of worms in children:

• inflammatory exacerbation of appendicitis;
• epileptic attacks;
• visual impairment of various kinds;
• allergic reactions with profuse runny nose;
• lagging behind their peers in development;
• genital infections, more common in girls: vulvovaginitis;
• various types of pulmonary manifestations, up to bronchial asthma;
• in difficult cases, damage to the brain and heart.

Prophylaxis

So that the treatment of worms in children is not necessary at all, it is necessary to actively participate in prevention, which consists of both daily precautions and hygiene procedures, as well as taking medications.

How to protect your baby from a parasitic infection:

• observe hygiene: regularly wash the child's hands, bathe him;
• regularly care for toys: wash and clean (after diagnosis, all toys must be disinfected);
• cut nails as often as possible, clean every day;
• iron clothes after washing;
• get rid of bad habits: thumb sucking, pens, nail biting;
• only give boiled water to drink and explain the reasons;
• avoid swimming in natural reservoirs;
• use repellants (insects often carry worm eggs), destroy all insects that enter the house;
• regularly check pets for parasites;
• Wash fruits and vegetables well, carry out sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish.

Some types of helminthiasis are difficult to cure, so we recommend prophylaxis to avoid infections. By contacting the clinic, parents will receive comprehensive advice on how to properly carry out prevention to avoid problems in the future.