Children are especially susceptible to various diseases, including parasitic ones. According to statistics, helminthic infestations are found in 70% of boys and girls of different ages. Not all parents check their child for parasites. Many generally do this only during a mandatory medical examination before entering the DDU. But in vain, tests for worms in children allow timely detection of infection and prevent complications. After all, parasites can live in any organ, gradually undermining health.
The most common parasites in children
In general medical practice, about 400 species of parasitic worms that are parasitic in the human body are registered. For most individuals, humans are an intermediate host, because, due to the nature of the life cycle, they reproduce outside the human body. Analysis for the presence of worms in children usually reveals the following helminths.
- Nematodes are roundworms that have the greatest distribution. These include: roundworms, pinworms, hookworms.
- Tapeworms are representatives of the class Cestoda. The most famous cystodes: bovine tapeworm, wide ribbon, dwarf tapeworm, echinococcus.
- Digenetic flukes or trematodes are the smallest flatworms: cat fluke, schistosome.
What is the danger of the presence of worms in the children's body?
Some types of parasites may not manifest themselves for quite a long time. Many parents think that if a regular visual examination of the feces of a child is not detected, then it is not worth worrying. This opinion is erroneous - most individuals "do not go outside" or because of too small size are not visible to the human eye. Meanwhile, they parasitize and cause serious harm to the health of the baby.
- Pinworms sharply reduce the baby's immunity, cause dyspeptic manifestations. In girls, helminths can provoke inflammatory diseases of the vagina, infection of the fallopian tubes.
- Roundworms cause intestinal obstruction, perforated inflammation of the peritoneum, focal inflammation of the lung tissue, liver damage, pancreatic disease.
- Cat fluke causes digestive upset, enlarged liver, lymph nodes.
- Dwarf tapeworm is the causative agent of hymenolepidosis. The clinic is extensive - from burping to CNS disorders.
Helminthiasis is a rather dangerous disease. Parasites can infect any organs and tissues. Different types of worms affect the body in different ways. What tests for worms in children depends on the condition of the child. Clinical manifestations indicate which organ is more susceptible to infection.
Signs of worms in a child
The main sign of the presence of helminths in children is a decrease in immunity. A child often has colds, an allergic reaction, intestinal upsets (diarrhea is sharply replaced by constipation).
Is it possible, and if so, how to determine worms in a child without analysis? Many parents ask this question. It is possible that worms may indicate certain symptoms, changes in the behavior of the child.
- The child is often naughty, irritable.
- High activity before bedtime.
- Increased appetite, unreasonably replaced by its absence.
- Pallor of the skin.
- Allergic manifestations in the form of rashes.
- Pain in the abdomen (mainly in the navel), head of unknown origin.
- Profuse salivation.
- Nasal congestion and persistent cough in the absence of colds.
When parasitic worms are damaged, the baby's liver can be disturbed by colic, indigestion, frequent and bitter burping. If the worms affect the brain, the child develops neurological diseases, accompanied by changes in the psyche. Such symptoms should alert parents and become an occasion to pass an analysis for worms.
Parasitic tests
There are several types of studies that help detect parasites in the body of a child. All of them are specific and are prescribed to confirm helminthiasis.
Parasitic diseases affect every second inhabitant of the planet. To prevent an epidemic, examinations of worms are mandatory upon admission to an educational institution, medical institution, or employment.
In general, in medical practice, tests are passed in three cases:
- As directed by a pediatrician or other specialist. In the direction the doctor may indicate a presumptive diagnosis, which requires confirmation or refutation.
- As a prevention of parasitic diseases. The analysis is given by the entire children's team when worms are detected in at least one child.
- For preventive purposes, the study is recommended 2 times a year.
Typically, the following methods are used to detect parasites in boys and girls:
- Analysis of feces for worms in children is the most common type of examination.
- Scraping on enterobiosis.
- Enzyme immunoassay.
All types of research can be done free of charge under the compulsory medical insurance policy.
Feces
One of the first tests for parasites that children undergo is tests for worm eggs. The biomaterial for the study is feces. The method allows you to identify roundworms or elements of various types of helminths, such as dwarf tapeworm, hepatic fluke, cat fluke, roundworms. These types of worms either live in the lumen of the colon, or lay their eggs there. When analyzing a baby's feces for helminth eggs, elements of tissue helminths are not detected. The term for the analysis: a day, in some laboratories up to three.
This biological material is also used to detect pinworms. These are roundworms, which are considered the most common causative agent of parasitic diseases in children.
In some cases, feces are studied on protozoa. The analysis is aimed at detecting cystic forms of amoeba and giardia. Organisms are parasites, but not worms. However, they destroy the baby’s immune system. A pediatrician can prescribe this type of analysis in conjunction with a study for worm eggs.
Enterobiosis scraping
The parasitic disease caused by pinworms is called enterobiosis. The disease is one of the most common helminthiases among boys and girls, often in organized groups. For analysis of the worm in children for enterobiosis take scraping. A smear imprint from the perianal region is examined under a microscope in order to identify pinworm eggs. The duration of laboratory diagnostics is 3 days.
Blood analysis
This type of study appeared relatively recently. A blood test for worms in children is called enzyme immunoassay. It detects class G immunoglobulins (antibodies) produced by the immune system against helminths. There are several types of analyzes.
- Anti-roundworm - a study allows you to detect antibodies to roundworms. Large (reach up to 40 cm) worms living in the small intestine.
- Anti-toxocara - antibodies to nematodes of the toxocara family. Worms cause severe recurrent diseases mainly in children from one to four years old. The carrier is animals (especially dogs).
- Anti-Trichinella - the detection of immunoglobulins to Enoplea class helminths. Cysts cause trichinosis, characterized by damage to muscle tissue.
- Anti-echinococcus - antibodies to tapeworms echinococcus class Cestodes. Most often, parasites affect the liver and lungs.
Rules for collecting biomaterial for research
It is not enough to know the name of the analysis for worms in children, you also need to have an idea of the rules of collection. The biomaterial for the tests is different, therefore, the preparation and fence are different.
- Feces for analysis are collected on their own. The fence is done in the morning on an empty stomach before water procedures. The biomaterial is placed in a special container and immediately sent to the laboratory. Excrement collected the day before, in most cases, gives a false negative result. 72 hours before the analysis, laxatives should be excluded, as well as drugs that affect intestinal motility.
- Scraping. A smear-imprint fence is best done in a laboratory setting. The availability of medical education for employees ensures the reliability of the results. The fence is done before morning defecation.
- A blood test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, only in laboratory conditions. Parents need to limit the physical activity of the child per day. Also, on the eve, spicy and salty foods should be excluded from the baby's diet. If the analysis is not given as directed by the pediatrician, it must be borne in mind that 10 days before the study, the use of drugs is highly not recommended. It would be better to get a doctor’s consultation beforehand and, if necessary, postpone the day of the test.
Additional diagnostics detecting parasites
In addition to the above tests for worms in children, there are other equally effective studies. Such tests are not specific and are usually prescribed during a comprehensive examination.
- Coprogram - analysis of feces, which allows to identify parasites and evaluate the functionality of the digestive system. The biomaterial for the test is feces, in time a coprogram is made from 1 to 3 days. Assign an analysis for suspected amoebiasis and helminthic invasion.
- Hemoscanning of blood for parasites - an analysis of white blood cells under a microscope, which allows to detect abnormalities in the body. The presence of parasites is indicated by a large number of eosinophils. The test is done 1.5-2 hours, blood is taken from the finger. This method has a significant drawback - a very high cost.
- Bioresonance scanning is a non-invasive method that tests the electromagnetic waves emitted by the body's cells. Traditional medicine considers this study a quackery.
Prevention
The main task of parents is the timely detection of a problem. The results of tests for worms in children show the presence or absence of parasites. But you can avoid infection with worms by applying preventive measures.
- Follow simple hygiene rules (handwashing).
- Wash toys from the fabric, wash the rest thoroughly.
- Wash vegetables and fruits under running water.
- Heat meat and fish.
- Regularly give worm preparations to pets.
Conclusion
Children need protection and attention. From how parents monitor the state of their child, his future health will depend. Helminth damage to the body is one of the common causes of poor health in children. So that a mild malaise does not develop into a serious illness, it is necessary to regularly take tests for helminths in a child.