Worms in children

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

Worm infection:

• in contact with soil and water, which contain parasite eggs (sand dunes and puddles are no exception);
• the use of products that do not undergo proper processing - plant foods, meat, fish may contain worm eggs;
• neglect of hygiene;
• transmission of worms from mother to child during childbirth;
• regular contact with animals, especially street animals, or those who go outside;
• visiting rooms with insects;
• contact with infected children;
• low immunity;
• moving to another country, associated with body stress and incomplete adjustment.

Based on the cause of the disease, it is not difficult to develop a minimum system of prevention - to teach the child to wash his hands regularly, give him only properly processed foods, and ensure hygiene control in the house. Nevertheless, no one cancels contact with street animals and licks the swing, the result of which is intestinal damage by parasites. Not all helminths are immediately actively manifested-they can be in the body in "sleep" mode for years, so regular checkups, especially for children, are very important.

Classification of parasites

Different types of worms do not affect the body in the same way, and have their own characteristics both in the developmental cycle and in appearance and damage. 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 sand pits and in general on walks. This group includes the most common cream worms and ringworms, and this also includes hookworms, trichinella, rishta. Depending on which parasite is causing the infection, ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichocephalosis, etc. exiled.

Cestodoses are tapeworms that can live in the intestine (the most common variant is tapeworm) and in organs (as a rule, tapeworm larvae, echinococci, alveococci live there). Consistent with the type of worms which are found in children, echinococcosis, teniasis, hymenolepiasis, etc. distinguished.

And the last of the three popular groups is trematose caused by trematodes. These are some types of flatworms - schistosome, cat / hepatic fluke, leukochloridium. They trigger opisthorchiasis (infectious with fish from the cyprinid family) and fascioliasis (the liver and bile system suffer, infection through plants or with water).

symptoms

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

Common symptoms:

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

Enterobiasis is helminthiasis, in which pin worms infect the body. Larvae emerge from eggs within 4-6 hours, in 2-4 weeks they become adults-gray or white ringworms 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 reproductive mechanism leads to severe itching at night - hence restless sleep, soaring and spinning, screaming.

Additional typical symptoms:

• night urination;
• grind teeth;

Ascariasis is helminthiasis, in which the body is colonized by ringworms. These worms are already more noticeable-the average adult length is 25-30 cm Larvae and eggs enter the body with fresh fruits and vegetables that are not sufficiently disinfected. The developmental period takes place in the intestines, after which they enter the lymph 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 swallowed again. From this point on, adult ringworms begin to develop. This took about 3 months.

How to suspect the presence of worms in children:

• liver, spleen, lymph nodes enlarged;
• temperature rises, sometimes up to 38 degrees;
• weaknesses and weaknesses emerge;
• progressive respiratory pathology - pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchial asthma;
• pressure drop;
• symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract appear - constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, pain in the form of contractions;
• fear of light;
• nightmares at night;
• tuberculosis - sputum with orange color and bloody splashes.

Reproduction of ringworms is more difficult than pinworms, as females lay nearly 250 thousand eggs per day. You should not rely on folk methods or buy the first drug available at the 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 species of helminths in the world, and 70 of them are found in our country alone. In addition to the two types listed, 5 other types are becoming more widespread:

• trichocephalosis - is characterized by retardation in both physical and intellectual development, but in general it is almost asymptomatic;
• opisthorchiasis - increased temperature, increased lymph nodes, skin rash appears;
• hymenolepiasis - the main consequence is rhinitis;
• toxocariasis - has many symptoms that distinguish it from other helminthiases: keratitis, choking cough, ophthalmitis, chorioretinitis, swelling of the face;
• tapeworm - characterized by anemia, intestinal disorders, pain in the abdomen.

Babies may show symptoms after a few weeks of life if they receive worm eggs and larvae from their mother, for example, during childbirth. As a rule, symptomatology manifests itself in the form of weight loss, profuse saliva, rash, pallor, blue under the eyes, and constipation. The child is constantly worried, screaming, sleeping and eating badly. The scream was unbearable, and the child would turn blue in the process.

Worms are often the cause of the development of lung pathology and are diagnosed using ultrasound or X-rays. Parasites, in particular, echinococcus tapeworms, can damage not only the respiratory system, but also move further into the brain and heart. In the area of development of helminths in the lungs, scars, adhesions appear, the shape of the lungs begins to change. Such changes give rise to various types of diseases - asthma, fibrosis, bronchitis, pleurisy, emphysema, etc. When tapeworms enter the lungs, echinococcosis forms, when the parasite develops in the form of cysts.

Symptoms will depend on which helminth has entered the body, but the child's concern 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 for timely testing.

Diagnostics

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

For diagnosis can be given:

• blood tests - show the level of anemia, hemoglobin and eosinophils;
• analysis for parasites - in 99% of cases it helps to detect helminthiasis, and in most cases - to determine the type accurately (biomaterial for research - blood from veins);
• stool examination - there may be no eggs in the stool, even if there is an infection, to confirm the presence of worms, this diagnosis should be carried out 3 times, which takes time;
• smear - especially effective for cream worm infections, because the eggs are found outside the anus;
• stool analysis for dysbiosis;
• if there is a suspicion of infection of internal organs, and not only the gastrointestinal tract - CT, X -ray, ultrasound.

Diagnostics allows you to accurately identify the type of parasite and prescribe specific treatments. Doctors prescribe medications, diet, additional supportive procedures, give recommendations on care and hygiene.

In some cases, parents pay more attention to helminthiasis and are always worried about their child’s infection. This leads to the usual course of "prevention" of serious anthelmintic drugs, which do not bring any benefit to the baby's body. If a child is not losing weight, feels healthy, eats well, has healthy skin, and has no itching in the anus, chances are he or she is healthy. If you want to be confident about this, it is better to get a test than to take an unnecessary course.

Treatment

The course of therapy for worms in children includes several stages - preparation, therapy and cleaning. During the entire treatment, it is necessary to carry out rehabilitation prophylaxis and observe hygiene carefully to prevent re -infection or infection of one of the family members. Some types of worms, such as tapeworms or echinococcus, can only be removed surgically.

The preparation 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 in the primary stage is to directly take anthelmintic drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories or suspensions. The drug chosen depends on the type of helminth, individual indications and contraindications. Some anthelmintics work in 2 steps:

• the first course kills an advanced individual;
• the second course helps to overcome the larvae and eggs (appointed 2 weeks after the first).

Purification is designed to cleanse the body from 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, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish oil, nuts, especially walnuts and peanuts into the diet.

In addition, a complex of vitamins, iron, minerals, special diets can be used to restore the body in the event of serious lesions, which will increase hemoglobin, restore liver function and strengthen the body as a whole. The doctor explains the treatment plan in detail, avoiding the occurrence of side effects. Control testing is mandatory. Self-medication and deviations from the plan are not allowed.

Consequences of untreated parasitic infections

Helminthiasis is fraught with serious dangers; without treatment, it can all end in death or significant health problems. Infected children are a danger to the whole family and the environment, as it is the spread of the disease.

Complications of worms in children:

• exacerbation of appendicitis;
• epileptic seizures;
• visual impairment of some kind;
• allergic reactions with copious nasal discharge;
• lagging behind peers in development;
• genital infections, the most 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 be actively involved in prevention, which consists of both daily precautions and hygiene procedures, and in taking medications.

How to protect your baby from parasitic infections:

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

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