Anyone can be infected with parasites, but children are particularly affected and the risk is particularly high in summer. There are several types of worms, but all of them have a negative impact on health. Parents should know what worms are in children - we will consider the symptoms and treatment of a disease such as helminthiasis below.
Types of worms in humans
There are 12, 000 worms on our planet (they are also called helminths). They live in soil, food and animals, while about 200 varieties can live in the human body. Parasites must always have a host and often choose children for their habitat. When a child gets to know the world, he tastes everything that comes his way, so he is constantly at risk.
The most common types of worms in children are roundworms or roundworms. These include:
- Nematodecause ascariasis. Helminths are large and can reach a length of 40 cm. They parasitize in the gastrointestinal tract and small intestine.
- pinwormscause enterobiasis. The worms are small (less than 1 cm long) and whitish-yellow in color. Such helminths live in children in the cecum or small intestine. Their life cycle is up to 4 weeks.
- Cestodosis- These are flat worms that parasitize in the intestines and various organs. Helminths cause diseases such as teniosis, echinococcosis, hymenolepiasis, teniarinhoz and diphyllobothriasis.
- Trematodosisthey are flat worms or flukes. These include cat fluke, paradoxical leukochloridium, schistosome. Parasites cause diseases such as fascioliasis and opisthorchiasis.
Ways of worm infection
According to official medical statistics, worms in children under the age of 2 and preschoolers attending educational institutions occur in 80% of cases. These official figures are recorded in those children who have undergone laboratory tests. Helminths use all ways to enter the human body. The most common routes of infection are:
- dirty hands or contact with infected animals;
- lightly washed fruit or vegetables;
- raw water;
- poorly processed fish or meat.
How to understand that the child has worms?
To answer the question of what are worms in children (symptoms and treatment are determined by the type of helminths), it is necessary to know how the infection occurred and which internal organ the parasites entered. Most often they do not manifest themselves in any way, and the disease proceeds in a latent form, so the doctor cannot always determine its presence. Helminths live in the human body for years and even decades, they adapt to the most adverse conditions.
Common signs of worms in babies can be the following:
- nausea in the morning;
- anal itching;
- headache;
- bruxism - is the grinding of teeth in a dream;
- abundant salivation at night;
- dizziness;
- nasal polyps;
- inflammation of the genital organs;
- periodic pain around the navel;
- sheep feces, diarrhea, or constipation;
- loss of appetite;
- paleness of the skin.
If you find more than five of the symptoms listed in your baby, then a helminth invasion is worth suggesting. Each person can be a carrier of various helminths that parasitize in the body and lead to intoxication and serious diseases. With the activation of parasites, the signs can change. When you suspect worms in babies, symptoms can also appear in outward signs:
- "chicks" (rashes) on the thighs or forearms;
- bruises and dark circles;
- early caries;
- lack of body weight;
- brittleness of nails and hair;
- growth disturbance;
- allergic reactions.
Worms in babies can affect the nervous system:
- children become irritable;
- concentration of attention decreases;
- perseverance is lost;
- sleep is disturbed.
What do worms look like in a baby's stool?
Most often, young parents are interested in the question of how to detect worms in the feces of a child. In fact, only large worms can be seen in the feces of children. Parasites leave the body in clots, in which there are only a few individuals. If you see foreign inclusions, it is better to contact a specialist and do tests to exclude the presence of parasites.
Testing for worms in children
When parents suspect the presence of worms in children, the symptoms and treatment depend on the stage of the disease. To determine the diagnosis, it is necessary to take the child to a gastroenterologist or pediatrician. The doctor conducts an initial examination and prescribes an examination, which includes:
- enzyme immunoassay - helps to recognize the type of worm and its presence, for this the blood is taken from the child from a vein on an empty stomach;
- a blood test for helminths in a child - the main indicators are: the number of eosinophils, the presence of anemia and a color indicator;
- scraping, smear for enterobiasis - taken from the anus;
- a general analysis of feces for eggs and dysbacteriosis is carried out in 3 stages, since some types of worms do not lay eggs regularly;
- computed tomography, x-ray or ultrasound examination - are performed to detect the presence of worms in the human body.
The child has worms: what to do?
After the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes the treatment of worms in children, drugs must be strictly agreed with the doctor), talks about folk methods and products that should be used for quick recovery. Parents should know that it is impossible to give drugs to children on their own, because this can lead to irreversible consequences and thus worsen the condition of the child.
If you do not know how to get rid of worms in children, contact a specialist who will write to you at different stages of therapy. They include:
- body preparation - in this case, sorbents and antihistamines are prescribed;
- anthelmintic therapy - traditional drugs for parasites, which can be in the form of tablets, suppositories or suspensions;
- cleansing of the body - enemas, choleretic or sorbent drugs.
Treatment of worms in children is carried out at home, if there are no complications in the form of infectious lesions. All the time the child has to follow a special diet. After the first course of therapy, the child is re-examined and tested. If they again show the presence of parasites in the body, drugs are prescribed again.
Worm tablets for children
Currently, there are several drugs that help get rid of worms. They are available in tablets and are intended for children. Before use, consultation with a specialist is required.
Suspension from worms for children
If your child is still small and does not know how to drink pills, then specially designed suspensions are suitable for him.
Folk remedies for worms in children
With the help of traditional medicine, it is impossible to completely get rid of parasites, but it is possible to increase immunity and speed up treatment. A remedy for worms for children should be taken carefully and only with the permission of a doctor. The most popular products are:
- garlic;
- pumpkin seeds;
- carrot juice;
- vegetable oil;
- infusions of celandine and wormwood or tansy.
Prevention of worms in children
All parents should know that deworming tablets for children can be given for prevention to create a special microflora in which helminths simply cannot exist.
In order not to get infected with parasites, you must:
- Respect the rules of personal hygiene.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and walking.
- Fight the flies.
- Keep pacifiers and toys clean.
- Iron clothes and linen.
- Handle food with care.
Depending on the age of the baby, there is a difference in the prevention of worms in babies, drugs begin to be given only from 6 months.