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 pinworms and roundworms, they are most often found in the body of young children, interacting with the external environment in not the most hygienic ways. Worms interfere with the assimilation of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, since they borrow them for their life, and intoxication from 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 land and water, which contain eggs of parasites (sandpit and puddle are no exception);
• the use of products that have not undergone proper processing - plant foods, meat, fish may contain eggs of worms;
• 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 of the body and incomplete acclimatization.

Based on the causes of the disease, it is not difficult to develop a system of minimal prevention - to teach the child to wash his hands regularly, feed him only correctly processed foods, and ensure sanitary control in the house. Nevertheless, no one canceled contact with street animals and licking the swing, the result is intestinal damage by parasites. Not all helminths are immediately actively manifested - they can be in the body in a "sleeping" mode for years, so regular checks, especially for children, are extremely important.

Parasite classification

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 caused. There are three most common groups of worms - nematodes, cestodoses, trematodes.

The first group is the primary cavity worms. They live in soil and water, so it is easy to get infected with them in the sandpit and in general on a walk. 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, trichocephalosis, etc. are isolated.

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

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

Symptoms

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

Common symptoms:

• increased irritability, restless sleep, decreased perseverance and attentiveness, frequent 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;
• diseases and infections of the reproductive system;
• brittle nails / hair;

Enterobiasis is helminthiasis, in which pinworms infect the body. The larvae emerge from the 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 pinworms go out into the air for this purpose. This reproduction mechanism leads to severe itching at night - hence restless sleep, tossing and turning, screaming.

Additional special symptoms:

• nighttime urination;
• grinding teeth;

Ascariasis is helminthiasis, in which the body is colonized by roundworms. These worms are already more significant - the average length of an adult is 25-30 cm. The 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 they settle throughout the body - in the liver, heart, lungs. They then enter the oral cavity and are re-swallowed. From this moment, adult roundworms begin to develop. This takes approximately 3 months.

How to suspect the presence of worms in children:

• the liver, spleen, lymph nodes are enlarged;
• the temperature rises, sometimes up to 38 degrees;
• malaise and weakness appear;
• respiratory pathologies develop - pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchial asthma;
• pressure drops;
• symptoms from 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 bloody splashes.

Breeding roundworms is more difficult than pinworms, since the female lays almost 250 thousand eggs every day. In no case should you rely on folk methods or buy the first available remedy in a pharmacy - be sure to contact a specialist.

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

• trichocephalosis - characterized by a lag 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;
• wide tapeworm - characterized by anemia, intestinal disorders, pain in the abdomen.

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

Worms are often the cause of the development of pulmonary pathologies and are diagnosed using ultrasound or X-ray. Parasites, in particular, tapeworm echinococcus, can damage not only the respiratory system, but also move further to 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 the tapeworm enters the lungs, echinococcosis is formed, when the parasite develops in the form of a cyst.

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

Diagnostics

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

For the diagnosis can be assigned:

• blood test - shows anemia, hemoglobin and eosinophil levels;
• analysis for 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);
• examination of feces - there may not be eggs in the feces, even if there is an infection, to be sure of the presence of worms, this diagnosis should be carried out 3 times, which takes time;
• smear - especially effective for infection with pinworms, since their eggs are found just outside the anus;
• analysis of feces for dysbiosis;
• if there is a suspicion of infection of internal organs, and not just the gastrointestinal tract - CT, X-ray, ultrasound.

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

In some cases, parents pay increased attention to helminthiasis and are constantly worried about the infection of their child. This leads to regular "preventive" courses of serious anthelmintic drugs, which do not bring any benefits to the baby's body. If the child does not lose weight, feels good, eats well, has a healthy complexion, and does not have itching in the anus, he is most likely healthy. If you want to be convinced of this, it is better to get tested 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 restorative prophylaxis and carefully observe hygiene in order to avoid re-infection or infection of one of the family members. Some types of worms, such as tapeworm 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, they relieve general itching and prevent the development of allergic reactions to drugs.

Treatment of helminthiasis in children at the main stage is directly taking 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 steps:

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

Purification is designed to rid the body of the remnants of dead parasites, at this stage sorbents, enemas, 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.

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

Consequences of untreated parasitic infections

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

Complications of worms in children:

• inflammatory exacerbation of appendicitis;
• epileptic seizures;
• visual impairment of several types;
• allergic reactions with profuse nasal discharge;
• lagging behind peers in development;
• genital infections, most common in girls - vulvovaginitis;
• various kinds 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 required at all, it is necessary to actively engage in prevention, which consists both in daily precautions and hygiene procedures, and in taking medications.

How to protect your baby from parasitic infection:

• observe hygiene - regularly wash the hands of the child, bathe him;
• regularly take care of toys - washing and cleaning (after the diagnosis is made, all toys must be disinfected);
• cut nails as often as possible, clean every day;
• ironing the laundry after washing;
• get rid of bad habits - sucking fingers, pens, biting nails;
• give only boiled water to drink and explain the reasons;
• avoid swimming in natural reservoirs;
• use repellents (insects often carry the eggs of worms), destroy all insects that enter the house;
• regularly check pets for parasites;
• wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, carry out sufficient heat treatment of meat and fish.

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