Parasites in a child: symptoms and treatment

With such a problem as helminthiasis, probably, every second parent had to face. Parasites in a child are sometimes found even with an incredible degree of responsibility of mothers and fathers, their bona fide care of the baby. Protecting children from worms is not easy, given the sloppy little fidgets. In addition, worms are insidious and can penetrate the body of a child in a variety of ways.

Why are children often infected with worms?

In a young child, the risk of infection with parasites is much higher than in schoolchildren and adolescents. There are many ways to get helminths. Worms have adapted to survive in almost any environment. Larvae of some species do not die even under the influence of high and low temperatures. Parasites feel great both in water and in soil, waiting for the right moment to find a new owner. Weak children's immunity is especially vulnerable to various infections. The main thing - do not despair if parasites are found in the child.

Symptoms of helminthiasis may be completely absent. Certain types of worms at the initial stages of their development do not make themselves known until they reach the site of the proposed habitat. Infection with worms in the body most often becomes known from the results of a routine examination in a children's educational institution.

The most characteristic signs

Each type of helminthiasis is characterized by a specific clinical picture. Symptoms of parasites in a child may appear atypical or completely absent, however, we must not forget that worms poison the body with the products of their vital activity, which causes serious complications and chronic diseases. If suddenly it became known about helminthic invasion, it is necessary to begin treatment as soon as possible.

It is necessary to consult a doctor if the child has signs of parasites. In children, helminthiasis can be suggested by the following signs:

1. Constant itching in the rectum, anus. Most worms settle in the intestines and produce specific secretions that irritate the mucous membrane of the anus and cause severe itching.
2. Strengthening salivation. This is direct evidence of the presence of parasites in the child. Most often observed in patients under the age of 3 years.
3. Genitourinary disorders (enuresis, cystitis). Such disorders occur mainly in girls. If the child has long been accustomed to the potty, but recently began to periodically urinate at night, it is worth considering and passing tests for worms.
4. Bruxism. Teeth grinding is a characteristic sign of parasites in children.
5. Bad dream. If the baby cannot lie down, constantly turns and does not find a comfortable pose, it is likely that he has worms that cause severe discomfort in the stomach.

Children with helminthiasis are sleepy, lethargic, inactive. With this disease, a child may experience stool disorder in the form of constipation or diarrhea. Kids who are able to talk about their health and approximately describe the symptoms indicate pain and pulling sensations in the umbilical region.

What other symptoms may be?

Parasites in children affect the appetite: some children completely refuse food, others, on the contrary, experience constant hunger, they always want to eat. Almost always, helminthiases of any type are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, rashes on the body. Children who have worms become irritable, moody, and tearful. Changes in their behavior always become noticeable to parents.

Despite the fact that the external symptoms of this infectious disease do not have characteristic differences from a number of other diseases, its appearance should alert parents. Helminthiasis is often confused with poisoning, allergies, diseases of the digestive system.

Varieties of worms

It would not be ethically correct to upload photos of parasites in children, so let's try to briefly describe the most common types of worms that are diagnosed in babies. All of them harm a weak and immature organism, and each to a different degree. So, what parasites in children can be?

1. Roundworm. This is a subspecies of roundworms. Females are capable of reaching 40 cm in length. In addition to the large size, they are made dangerous by rapid reproduction. Such worms usually settle in the small intestine, but this does not mean that they cannot migrate throughout the body. Sometimes roundworms penetrate the cavity of the respiratory, urinary organs, nasopharynx. Infection with larvae of this type of parasite occurs after eating dirty vegetables and fruits.
2. Pinworms. Enterobiosis is provoked - a disease that can occur latently for a long time. Pinworms enter the body along with soil particles on food or unwashed hands, when drinking untreated water. They live, as a rule, in the colon. Adult individuals, in comparison with roundworms, reach small sizes (up to 12 cm).
3. Whipheads. These roundworms are causative agents of trichocephalosis. A parasite can live in the body of a child for about 6 years. Adults can reach 5 cm. Whipworms are found only in humans. They firmly adhere to the wall of the intestine and absorb tissue fluid, blood.
4. Giardia. Parasitize in the small intestine of humans, mammals and birds. Propagate by dividing in two. In the external environment, only those parasites survive that enter the body of a child with contaminated water or food.
5. Tape echinococci. Often parasites in children occur after contact with animals, as they parasitize on dogs and cats. Echinococcus enters the bloodstream, and from there it spreads throughout the body, affecting the liver, lungs, and muscles.
6. Wide ribbon. The reason for the ingestion of these helminths is the use of raw or thermally untreated fish, caviar.

These are not all helminths that can affect the body of a child. Parasites can cause tremendous damage to the baby’s health, therefore, when diagnosing an invasion, it is necessary to start treatment immediately to prevent the development of serious complications.

How does infection happen?

Because of their curiosity, children often become victims of parasites. They can enter the body of a child in several ways. Most often, children become infected with worms in playgrounds with sand - it is in the loose ground that helminths live. It's no secret that babies tend to pull dirty hands in their mouths, chew on various toys, etc.

No less dangerous are contacts with tetrapods, especially those who constantly live on the street. It is not worth it to uncontrollably let the child to the pets, even if the animal was given anthelmintic. Also, the baby needs to be protected from insects: mosquitoes and flies can carry parasite eggs on their paws.

A huge number of larvae are located in water bodies, so for your own safety you can only visit proven beaches where bathing with a sanitary epidemiological station is allowed. Another way the infection gets into the child’s body is through the child’s eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, not fully cooked meat, fish.

Diagnosis of helminthiases

The principle of identifying worms in children is no different from that used in the examination of adults. To make sure that worms are present in the body, it is first necessary to pass feces for laboratory analysis. Parasites in children can also be present on underwear, and if parents were able to independently detect worms, it is urgent to go to the doctor. Comprehensive diagnostic measures will accurately determine the type of helminths, after which the doctor will prescribe the correct treatment.

It is unacceptable to give worm preparations to your child at your discretion, since most of the medicines for helminthiasis are toxic and unsafe for the health of the child. Only a specialist will be able to choose the most suitable drugs and determine the dosage that is optimal for the age and weight of the child.

To determine the class and variety of parasites, modern medicine offers a range of studies:

1. Fecal analysis. This is the traditional and easiest type of diagnosis, characterized by relative information content. Feces for research are carried out at home. Using a special container, the material is transferred to the laboratory for study.
2. Scraping on enterobiosis. Manipulation allows you to detect pinworm larvae in the anus. Scraping is performed using a special stick with a cotton tip, or adhesive tape.
3. A blood test for the presence of parasites and IgG antibodies.
4. Ultrasound It is prescribed, as a rule, after the detection of tapeworm larvae, roundworms in feces. Used to visualize helminths and determine their localization.
5. Roentgenography. This method is resorted to if there is a suspicion of the presence of worms in the lungs and chest.

What tests to pass on parasites to the child in order to immediately determine the type of invasion? The diagnostic methods such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of feces, which are carried out using a special staining agent, and the polymerase chain reaction, which can determine the type of microorganisms based on DNA, have maximum accuracy.

Effective Worm Medicines

To save children from parasites, treatment should be started as soon as possible. Depending on the type of infestation, the age of the small patient and his weight, the doctor will select the best anthelmintic drugs. The specialist will also take into account possible contraindications and individual characteristics of the child's body. Among the anthelmintic drugs that are allowed to use at an early age, it is worth noting the best:

1. "Piperazine." The effect of the drug is the paralysis of the neuromuscular system of helminths. Compared to a number of anthelmintic drugs, Piperazin is characterized by low toxicity and safety. In this case, the medicine copes not only with the worm larvae, but also with adult pinworms. It can be taken for children over one year old.
2. "Pirantel." Approved for use from six months of age. No less popular analogues are "Nemocide", "Helminthox." The drug is recommended for necatorosis, enterobiasis and ascariasis. Pyrantel often causes side effects (nausea, skin rash, insomnia and headache). For children suffering from kidney disease, the medicine is contraindicated.
3. Mebendazole It can be used from the age of two. The drug perfectly removes pinworms, roundworm and trichinella from the body. Reception "Mebendazole" entails a complex of adverse reactions, and it is not allowed for use in pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Most often, this substance can be found in a pharmacy under the trade name "Dekaris".
4. "Albendazole". This is an anthelmintic drug with a wide spectrum of action, which is highly effective against toxocara, roundworm, giardia and other worms. "Albendazole" rarely causes side effects. If parasites are found in the feces of a child, the doctor can prescribe Vermox - this is an analogue of Albendazole, which can also be used from two years old.

With an excessively high concentration of toxic substances that are released after the death of parasites, the body has to deal with severe intoxication, so a day after taking antihelminthic drugs (most of them are used once), it is necessary to drink sorbents (Polysorb, Enterosgel, Atoxil) . If helminthic invasion has caused skin rashes, the child should be given an antihistamine (Zodak, Cetrin, Loratadin, Erius), but be sure to consult a doctor before doing this.

Worm Products

Pinworms and roundworms are afraid of garlic, but since young children are not able to use it in its pure form, it is recommended to add it to warm milk. To do this, you need to make pulp from one clove and add it to a glass of milk, which you need to drink the baby on an empty stomach. Garlic has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anthelmintic effects.

To make helminths leave the body of a small child, it is necessary to give him fresh vegetable and fruit juices more often. Especially effective from worms are considered concentrates from:

• pineapple
• grenade;
• carrots;
• spinach
• Pumpkins
• beets;
• celery.

Melon will help you cope faster with giardia, and pumpkin seeds with pinworms. It is important not to overdo it with healthy foods, so as not to cause food allergies.

Folk remedies

In most cases, you can get rid of worms only with the help of potent medicines. But if treatment cannot be carried out due to contraindications, folk remedies can be a good alternative. In addition, natural formulations are often advised to be used simultaneously with already prescribed medications.

Alternative recipes have the main advantage over pharmacy drugs - the absence of side effects and contraindications, with the exception of allergies to any of the components. But, despite the relative safety of treatment, it is possible to give folk remedies to a child only after consulting a doctor. Here are some well-known worm recipes:

1. Enema with soda. Helminths are not able to survive in an alkaline environment. If you put an enema with soda within a week (add half a tablespoon of food alkali to one glass of warm boiled water and stir until completely dissolved), it will quickly recover.
2. Sorrel. To prepare the medicine you will need 1 kg of fresh herbs, 1 liter of water and 4 tbsp. l Sahara. Mix all components in one container and put it on a slow fire. After the water has evaporated, remove the dishes from the stove and allow the medicine to cool. Give the child 2 tsp each day. before eating.
3. Tansy tincture. This drug has been used for centuries to treat helminthiasis. To prepare the medicine, take 2 tbsp. l dry mixture, pour it with 1 liter of boiling water. You need to give medicine for 1 tbsp. l thrice a day. Suitable for treating a child older than 3 years.
4. Lemon and garlic drink. The composition includes 1 liter of chilled boiled water, juice of 1 lemon, 3 tsp. grated garlic. Drinking infused for a couple of hours, for taste it is allowed to add honey. Drink 2 tsp. before each meal.

Treatment must be approached in all seriousness. Before using pharmacy or home remedies, be sure to consult a pediatrician so as not to harm the baby.

About the prevention of helminthiasis

In order to prevent infection with worms, it is necessary to monitor the hygiene of the child, accustom him to cleanliness from the first months of life. From an early age, the baby should know about how important it is to wash hands with soap when returning from the street, after visiting the toilet and contact with animals, before eating.

Vegetables and fruits must be doused with boiling water before eating. In addition, the prevention of parasites in children involves the observance of simple recommendations:

1. Regularly cut the baby's nails - they should be short so that dirt does not accumulate under them.
2. Every day, underwear should be changed, and once a week - bedding.
3. Daily water treatment and washing.
4. At least once a year, it is necessary to take an analysis of feces for the presence of parasites.

The health status of the child should be closely monitored in order to detect characteristic symptoms in time. Treatment of parasites in children requires qualified assistance.