Helminth infection in the modern world is very common. Most people on the planet are carriers of these parasites. The danger of such a disease is that not everyone is able to recognize helminthiasis. Sometimes its symptoms are very unpredictable. So, cough with worms is not uncommon, but most of the population does not attribute this symptom to infection with parasites.
Usually, parents immediately begin to treat children for all kinds of colds. Such therapy does not bring harm, but it does not eliminate the main problem. So, let's see if worms can cause a cough.
Cause of helminth infection
Despite the surprise of many parents, this theory is officially confirmed. Worms can cause coughing. This is due to the fact that some types of helminths are able to block the respiratory tract of the child, not completely, but partially. As a result of this, itching and uncomfortable sensations arise, and then a cough.
As the pathology develops, other symptoms may appear, and sometimes they are really dangerous for the health of the child. For example, fever, developing into a fever, a delusional state, or even breathing problems. If you are not sure about your suspicions, ask your doctor what cough with worms can bother. Usually it is dry and slightly scratching the throat, because this is not a catarrhal disease, sputum does not form.
Coughing Worms
There are a huge number of helminths that can cause coughing and urge to it. A specific type of parasite can only be determined by a doctor with a laboratory test. Self-medication in these matters is not allowed. Here are the most common worms that cause coughing:
- pinworms;
- Giardia
- trichinella;
- acne
- schistosomes;
- toxocaras;
- pulmonary flukes ;
- roundworms.
It is noteworthy that these types of helminths also affect adults, but mostly only in children they cause coughing. Parasites settle in the body and lead their life there, which is accompanied by the release of toxic substances. This, in turn, causes various symptoms in children. Therefore, the presence of worms in the body can be recognized not only by coughing.
Symptoms of the disease
Cough with worms is not the only symptom of pathology. The main signs of infection include such factors:
- Chronic fatigue, weakness, lethargy.
- The causeless development of depression.
- Missing or very poor appetite.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Weight loss.
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Diarrhea and diarrhea.
- Irritability and aggressiveness.
- Sleep disorders.
- Pale skin and noticeable circles under the eyes.
- Sometimes dermatological rashes appear.
- Fever, chills, fever.
Cough with worms in children may not occur, but if, against the background of the above symptoms, it still appears, do not rush to treat the child for a cold. Better show it to your doctor.
In especially neglected cases, the child completely loses interest in life, joy, excitement, desire to study, walk, spend time with family disappear. In the future, pathologies of various characters begin to bother. Therefore, helminths need to be fought constantly.
Ways of entry of parasites into the body
Worms do not enter the body of a child by accident. Moreover, it is in childhood that the risk of infection is extremely high. The kid can pick up the pathology in any way:
- When playing with other children outside, a child may become infected with helminths in the sandbox or, for example, while walking in tall grass.
- In contact with animals, including pets.
- When visiting public places or traveling by public transport.
- When eating insufficiently processed food or dirty water.
- If personal hygiene is not followed.
You can become infected with helminths even when communicating with a sick person. Any direct contact puts the child at risk. And since there are even more sick people today than healthy people, cough with worms in children is far from uncommon.
At the first suspicion of infection with parasites, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is worth noting that helminths can live in the body of a child for years, without manifesting themselves. Therefore, diagnostic measures are often postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, without these procedures, it is impossible to prescribe adequate treatment.
Therapy should act to eliminate the source of the pathology, and not to relieve the symptoms. Therefore, taking up cough treatment, you will succeed for a very short time. This symptom can be completely eliminated only in the case of an integrated approach.
Separately, it should be said that the doctor must prescribe a treatment that includes an effect on the immune system. That is, only a strong organism in the future will be able to independently fight with worms. Immunity is a defensive force. It ensures no relapse.
It is also important to know how parasites live, which manifest themselves in the form of a cough.
Giardia, pinworms and roundworms
These parasites are dangerous in that they are able to migrate. It would seem that worms live in the intestines. But over time, they are able to move to the circulatory and respiratory systems.
Over time, the parasites begin to multiply. When coughing, they are excreted, and those remaining in the oral cavity again enter the intestines and continue their vital activity.
Worms secrete toxic substances that poison the body. The child becomes prone to allergic reactions. This is the main feature of giardia and roundworm.
Toxocaras and flukes
Surprisingly, these types of helminths are considered the most severe, especially if the patient is a child. Parasites are able to attach to the lung tissue, which entails severe diseases of the respiratory system. Therefore, it is extremely important to identify them in the early stages and start treatment on time.
A feature of this type of helminths is that cough when they enter the body is not always dry. Sometimes sputum is released, in which there are splashes of blood. This is a characteristic symptom of a child becoming infected with worms.
Trichinella, Acinaria and schistosomes
These parasites are perhaps the most dangerous. They are not the most common, which is why almost no one knows about them. Accordingly, helminths have much more time to settle in the human body and lead productive life activities.
These worms penetrate through the skin when bathing in public waters. Not a single person is safe from this, therefore, screening for the presence of parasites in the body must be done regularly. Also, some of these helminths successfully penetrate the stomach when drinking tap water.
Cough and nasal congestion
As we already found out, worms cause coughing in children. But sometimes this symptom can be supplemented by a runny nose. As a rule, this combination worries parents who are sure that their child has suffered from a cold. But worms can also cause a runny nose.
It is worth noting that nasal congestion with helminths can only be combined with coughing, not otherwise.
A runny nose occurs rarely and only if the parasite enters an organ that is not intended for its life. This happens periodically, especially if helminthiasis is started.
But it also happens that there is only a runny nose with parasites, and it is not accompanied by a cough. The fact is that situations are known when larvae of flies and gadflies settle in the nasal sinuses of a person. This is especially true for children who often play on the street. If this phenomenon is not paid attention, the larvae penetrate the maxillary sinuses, causing a runny nose, secretion of tears, shortness of breath and sometimes the urge to cough.
Preventive actions
We found out whether there can be a cough from worms in children. Now it’s worth saying what to do so that such symptoms are never bothered. To do this, you must follow the rules of prevention in order to avoid infection in principle. They are as follows:
- Compliance with personal hygiene. This includes washing your hands after using the toilet, walking on the street, making contact with animals and before eating. Teach your children these rules so that they can be safe outside the home.
- Most babies sometimes pull their fingers in their mouths. You need to get rid of this habit. Many microorganisms are concentrated on the hands, and after a walk there will certainly be several hundred parasite larvae.
- It is important to wash vegetables and fruits before use, and very carefully.
- Meat and fish must undergo a full heat treatment before going to the dinner table.
- It is strictly forbidden to drink tap water. You can only use filtered liquid at room temperature.
- Personal hygiene items for everyone should have their own. The use of someone else's towel is not allowed.
Helminths are able to affect the human body again and again, so these rules must always be observed.
And remember, there are so many parasites in our lives that no one is safe from them, especially children. Periodically take your child to the hospital for an examination so that treatment can be started on time if necessary.