Helminthiasis is the most common type of parasitic lesion in childhood. Infection with worms occurs for a long time without the presence of certain symptoms, but as they develop and multiply, a rash, abdominal pain, and a lack of appetite in the child can be observed. Symptoms and treatment of worms in a child Komarovsky offers the following.
Causes of the appearance of worms in children
The main factors contributing to the appearance of worms in a baby:
- The ingestion of parasite eggs through the objects or toys of a child with helminthiasis.
- Violation of the rules of hygiene.
- In childhood, babies tend to taste everything, which increases the risk of contracting parasites.
- The presence of pathological vaccinations: sucking fingers, nibbling nails.
- Poor heat treatment of vegetables and fruits before eating them.
- Violation of sanitary standards in the family: playing with toys that the child manipulates on the street, washing floors without the use of antibacterial and chlorine-based products.
- Poor handling of hands after visiting the restroom and street.
- Contact with pets that carry parasites.
- Weakening of the body's immune forces.
- Dirt in the child under the nails.
Symptoms
Unfortunately, children are most often affected by helminthiasis for a number of reasons: immunity is not fully formed, a large number of contacts are at a potential risk (kindergarten, sandbox), it is difficult to trace the observance of hygiene rules.
The main symptoms of worms in children according to Komarovsky, which should cause anxiety and suspicion of helminthiasis in parents, are:
1. General symptoms of intoxication, including:
- temperature rise;
- general weakness;
- pain in the muscles and joints (the so-called "aches");
- nausea, possibly vomiting;
- disruption of the intestines (from diarrhea to constipation).
2. The child’s behavior becomes restless, irritable, sleep disturbance, increased salivation may be observed.
3. The so-called "often sick child's syndrome" may indicate damage to the body by any kind of helminths.
4. A classic symptom of the presence of worms in a child is itching in the area of anal folds.
5. Also an indirect symptom of the presence of helminth in the body is grinding teeth (especially at night).
If any of the above signs are found, parents should consult a specialist for help in conducting a special laboratory study for the presence of worms in a child.
Diagnostics
Not always the presence of worms in a child can be determined by external signs. Therefore, there are certain laboratory diagnostic methods, the purpose of which is to determine how infected the child’s body is, what kind of helminths are present, as well as the stage of the disease.
In laboratory conditions, the following types of studies are used:
- A study of the feces of a child for the presence of helminth larvae. In this case, feces for analysis are, as a rule, given three times with an interval of 3-4 days. Before collecting feces, the child does not need to be washed.
- Scraping with a special adhesive tape or spatula of the anal fold area helps to determine the presence of helminth larvae.
- A blood test for the presence of worms is used if the stool test gave a negative result with obvious suspicions of helminthiasis. The requirements before donating blood for helminths do not differ from the usual ones (do not eat before taking blood, do not drink sparkling water, exclude foods with high fat content in a week, and if possible, do not take medicine).
- In the case of severe damage to the child's body by worms, an ultrasound, endoscopic examination of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is performed to determine the location of the worms.
Treatment
How to treat worms in children? Komarovsky offers several methods. Treatment in children can only begin after the cause is identified and the baby is diagnosed. In order to completely get rid of helminths, it is recommended to conduct wet cleaning in the house at the same time as treatment. It is advisable to iron the baby's things well daily and limit access to pets. Treatment is carried out in different ways.
Diet
Special diet. If a specialist detects worms in a child, he advises adhering to a special dietary regimen. Daily it is recommended to eat food, which will contribute to the rapid disposal of helminths. It is desirable that the diet contains:
- Bow.
- Garlic.
- Pumpkin.
- Carrot.
- Cabbage.
- Melon.
- Dried fruits compote.
- Porridge.
- Butter and vegetable oil.
- Dairy products.
Vitamins
Fiber must be included in the diet, which is found in almost all fruits and vegetables, wholemeal bread. It is also worthwhile to ensure that the child consumes foods containing vitamins B, C, A. These include:
- Rosehip.
- Yolk.
- Peas.
- Walnuts.
- Black currant.
- Liver.
Before you include them in the diet for the baby, you should make sure that he does not have an allergic reaction.
Preparations
Drug treatment. Experts advise cleaning the body of worms with complex therapy. It is advisable that several preparations be used simultaneously with short breaks. Most medicines are suitable for infants.
Recently, special therapy has been created that helps get rid of helminths in children. Such therapy consists of several stages. To begin with, anthelmintic therapy is performed. It includes a suspension of "Pirantel". It is allowed to apply to children from 6 months of life. To the tool, there are several inexpensive analogues: Helminthox and Nemocide.
You can also take medications for parasites, for example, Mebendazole. It is not recommended to be taken up to two years.
Analogs: "Vormil", "Vermox", "Termox", "Mebex". Therapy is carried out depending on the drug taken. Basically, it lasts 3-5 days.
Enterosorbents
Then enterosorbents are prescribed. They remove most toxic substances from the body through feces. This therapy includes Smecta, Entegnin, and activated charcoal. Such therapy lasts no more than a week. Further include enzyme preparations to restore the gastrointestinal tract. The list includes Creon, Mezim, and Pancreatin. Treatment lasts no more than two weeks.
Replace therapy with biologics. They contribute to the restoration of intestinal microflora. These include Linex and Bifidumbacterin.
In the last stage, it is desirable to take complexes of vitamins and minerals to restore the body. Most people are treated with homeopathy. These drugs include:
- "Silicia."
- "Pomegranate".
- Qing.
- "Natrum Phosphoricum".
- Kalkarea.
- "Spiegel."
Traditional medicine treatment. This method is popular among many people. It includes candles, decoctions, tinctures, enemas based on useful medicinal plants.
Pumpkin seeds. In this way, the grandmothers of their children treated. Seeds should be peeled and placed in a cup. It is further recommended to finely chop and add honey. The proportion should be 3 to 1. This mass is eaten on an empty stomach for several hours. It is desirable that there should be no more than 200 grams. After this procedure, you should drink any laxative medicine and make an enema.
Tansy. Three small tablespoons of grass pour a glass of boiling water. Put infuse in a dark place for an hour. Such a decoction should be filtered and taken in a tablespoon up to 5 times a day.
Garlic and milk. Boil a large head in a glass of milk. It is advisable that the garlic becomes soft. Then it is recommended to strain the resulting solution and leave it to infuse in an enema for the whole night. For a child, half a glass of garlic milk will be enough.
Chamomile. A tablespoon of dried flowers pour a glass of boiling water. Insist until it turns yellow. This tea is recommended to use instead of the usual.
Tips by Dr. Komarovsky
No one is safe from parasitic diseases, but children are a special risk group. Kids drag everything in their mouths, they study the world at their tactile level. Older children like to mess with animals, which, in turn, are carriers of various parasites. Yes, and the usual non-compliance with hygiene rules lead to the disease.
How to understand that the baby is sick with parasitic diseases?
Almost every mother knows the signs of worms in a child (Komarovsky emphasizes that there is no single symptom and it is necessary to look at the condition of the baby in the complex):
- Teeth grinding a child during sleep.
- The child refuses favorite dishes.
- A decrease in body weight is noted.
- Hyperactivity.
- Gastrointestinal upset, nausea, vomiting.
- In rare cases, allergic reactions.
How to help baby
First of all, you just need to go to the doctor’s office, take tests (smear from the priests), everything is done quickly and painlessly. As soon as the analysis shows the presence of parasites in the child’s body, the doctor will prescribe the medicine for the baby. Most often, medications such as are used to treat parasitic diseases:
- "Pirantel".
- "Vermacar".
- "Levomizol".
Dr. Komarovsky about worms in children says that as a prophylaxis, without consulting a doctor, it is undesirable to give these medicines.
There are also home treatments for the disease, but they are not so effective. And besides, they can cause allergies and indigestion. So all treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
The main measure for the prevention of diseases associated with parasites is the observance of hygiene rules:
- Write your hands before cooking and using.
- Rinse vegetables and fruits well, conduct high-quality heat treatment of meat and dairy products.
- Keep animals out of the room where food is being prepared and meals are being taken.
Compliance with these simple rules will protect you and your loved ones from unpleasant diseases.