In this article, we consider the types of worms in children and photos.
Helminths are frequent guests in the children's body. This is due to the fact that the kids are very actively interacting with wildlife. For example, they constantly touch animals, pick up dirty objects from the ground, eat unwashed fruits, drink unboiled water and the like. In order to protect the child from helminthiasis, you need to be able to quickly determine the symptoms of parasitic infestations, so that diagnosis with treatment is done on time. In any case, one should not delay the treatment of various types of worms in children, since parasites are not at all as harmless as it might seem.
Worms in children: general information
The symptomatology of helminthiases in children differs from the stage of the disease and the type of helminths, of which there are a great many in nature. The fact is that the human body can become home to more than a hundred types of worms. True, pinworms with roundworms are the most common.
In Russia alone, more than two million visits to doctors with helminthic infestation are recorded annually. Judging by the number of anthelmintic medicines sold, the actual number of infected people is ten times greater, with about eighty percent of patients being children.
What types of worms are in children, many are interested.
In helminthology, more than three hundred species of parasites are known, seventy of which affect the inhabitants of our country. Worms in children are characterized by erased symptoms and the absence of specific manifestations. Infection with worms can be carried out by airborne droplets, and, in addition, through the skin or orally.
Types of worms in children
Helminths that live and multiply in the human body are divided into three groups:
- Nematodes, or in another way they are also called roundworms. They include pinworms, which are the causative agents of enterobiasis and roundworm, causing ascariasis. A photo of the types of worms in children is presented below. In addition, this group includes trichinella, which are the causative agents of trichinosis, whipworm, and others. This category of helminths is most often found at a young age. What other types of worms do children have?
- The second group includes cestodes, that is, flat tapeworms. Among them, Echinococcus is most famous along with bovine, pork and rat chains.
- Trematodes, or in another way they are also called flukes. This category includes the Siberian fluke, which is the causative agent of opisthorchiasis. Also, this type of worms in children in the feces (pictured) includes hepatic hepatic, which causes fasciileosis.
The localization of the parasites is the digestive system, and, in addition, the brain, liver, lungs, retina, heart, bile ducts and pancreas. In the human body, parasite larvae and adults move with blood flow.
How do children get infected?
The most common types of worms in children are nematodes, that is, ascariasis, trichocephalosis and enterobiosis are more often detected. Infection of a child with cestodes or trematodes takes up to five percent of all cases of helminthiasis. The cause of infection of the body with flukes or tapeworms is traveling to the subtropics and tropics along with the use of poorly cooked or fried meat and fish. Banal contact with animals that are carriers of invasion can also affect the appearance of parasites.
These types of worms in children in the feces (photos can be found on the network) enter the body of children due to eating foods with dirty hands, while eating poorly washed berries, in contact with animals or people who are carriers of enterobiasis and ascariasis.
Parasites spread due to the child combing the skin around the anus. Due to this, parasites are transferred through the hands to toys, household items, door handles and so on. Thus, the child again and again becomes infected himself, and at the same time other members of his family.
Young children taste everything that comes to their attention. In this regard, places of frequent interaction between children with each other, for example, playgrounds or kindergartens become dangerous helminth nurseries. The protective system in babies is not yet perfect, and the ability to observe hygiene has not yet developed.
In addition, the disease is exacerbated by an imperfect helminthiasis detection system. Erased symptoms, or their complete absence do not allow suspecting worms in children. In this regard, parents do not understand the causes of malaise in a child when he develops complications of helminthiases.
For example, the developmental cycle of pinworms makes it possible to detect the symptoms of their presence only at a certain point in development. Scraping, which is taken from the child at the wrong time, may be false negative. In this regard, it is recommended to take the scraping three times with a break of three days, and then again, after two weeks.
Symptoms and treatment of types of worms in children are interrelated.
What are the causes of worms in children?
The causes of infection of infants with enterobiasis and ascariasis are usually as follows:
- Conducting irregular washing of hands before eating, and, in addition, after walking and contact with animals.
- A rare replacement for underwear.
- The habit of taking toys by mouth, sucking fingers, biting nails and the like.
- Lack of nail care.
- The presence of unsanitary conditions in the child’s home, for example, the presence of flies, cockroaches, dirt and so on.
- Frequent contact with pets that carry helminths.
- Inadequate washing of vegetables, herbs, berries and fruits before eating.
Now we find out what are the signs of the types of worms in children, and what symptoms parents should pay attention to in order not to be late with treatment.
Common symptoms of worms in a child
Helminths are very dangerous for children, because the products of their vital activity can cause serious intoxication along with allergies, up to toxic shock. Among other things, helminths deprive children of what is vital for normal growth: vitamins and minerals. Deficiency of essential substances in the body reduces immunity, making children vulnerable to other diseases.
Helminthic lesions in children most often occur in the warm season, namely in late spring and summer, when the child spends a lot of time outdoors, eats fresh unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries and plays with yard animals.
The symptomatology of worms in a child is so inconspicuous or weakly expressed that a person simply does not feel that he is an invasion carrier. Parasitic activity is activated against the background of a fall in immunity. It is the worms that cause the development of part of the pathologies of the internal organs, and, in addition, oncological processes.
The first symptoms of infection in children are weakness with irritability. The child may be capricious and sleep poorly, there may be complaints of discomfort in the abdomen and headaches. Differences in appetite can be observed, which then decreases, then, on the contrary, increases. Nausea, vomiting, and stool disorders are also characteristic. In children, the temperature can also increase unreasonably. In some cases, itching and rashes occur. Infected babies have pale skin, and dark circles are present around the eyes.
In a clinical blood test for helminth infection, a high level of eosinophils is usually present, which indicates an allergic reaction. A very characteristic signal is a decrease in hemoglobin.
Symptoms of pinworms in children
Pinworms are helminths that cause enterobiosis. These are small worms up to a centimeter long. Infected children scatter pinworm eggs on clothes, toys, door handles, and dishes. For pinworms, ultraviolet radiation is extremely dangerous along with boiling and some disinfectants. Pinworm eggs first enter the mouth, and then into the intestines, after a couple of days larvae appear from them, which become sexually mature and ready for reproduction. The life cycle of pinworms is two weeks.
A pronounced symptom of these worms in children is the presence of nocturnal itching in the folds of the anus. Pinworms crawl out onto the skin near this hole, and lay more than five thousand eggs in its folds. Combing the skin of the pre-canal area, children spread these eggs under the nails. In addition to itching, the child can detect skin damage from combing. Additional symptoms of enterobiasis in children include the following symptoms:
- Bad sleep due to itching, insomnia is possible along with crying at night.
- Weight loss along with insufficient weight gain by age.
- The presence of excitability, increased fatigue, moods, attention deficit, memory impairment, and so on.
- The development of enuresis in girls due to parasites entering the urethra.
- The development of vulvovaginitis due to vaginal irritation with helminths.
- The appearance of acute appendicitis due to the accumulation of parasites in the cecum.
- The presence of night grinding of teeth.
- The appearance of digestive disorders in the form of dysbiosis, enterocolitis and diarrhea.
- The presence of anemia, increased morbidity due to a deficiency of useful components and trace elements.
- Signs of intoxication due to toxic poisoning of the body in the form of weakness, weight loss, nausea and headaches.
Let us consider in more detail how different types of worms manifest themselves in children in feces?
Symptoms of ascariasis in children
Worms in children today are a serious problem, since they deprive the child of nutritional components, leading to pathologies of organs, and, in addition, to complications. Ascaridosis is one of the most dangerous types of worms in children. With massive invasions, roundworms penetrate into any organs of the human body. Their eggs get into their mouth due to dirty hands or products where they can be transported from the soil, the legs of cockroaches and flies, and so on.
Once in the intestines, eggs develop within three months. Further, the larvae migrate through the vessels into various organs. Against this background, symptoms appear in the form of hyperthermia, weakness, dry cough with an admixture of blood and increased fatigue. As part of an x-ray study, children in the lungs are diagnosed with moving infiltrates. Often in children, pneumonia occurs along with bronchitis and bronchial asthma.
The primary phase of ascariasis is characterized by an increase in lymph nodes and spleen. Urticaria and dermatoses often become a reaction to the waste products of these parasites.
The late phase of ascariasis occurs three months after infection. During this phase, the parasites return to the intestines, where they enter with sputum swallowed by the child. Symptoms of this period are digestive disorders, manifested by abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, a sharp decrease in weight, irritation of the anus and flatulence. Reduced immunity is not able to protect the body from infection, there is a pustular lesion of the skin and mucous membranes along with stomatitis.
The nervous system of children at this time suffers from the toxic effects of roundworm on the body. A child has a mental disorder, which is manifested by sleep disturbance, nightmares and epileptic seizures. Ascaridosis can cause serious consequences in the form of inflammation of the peritoneum, appendicitis and intestinal obstruction due to the accumulation of ascaris in its lumen. In addition, obstructive jaundice is not excluded.
There are other types of worms in children. Symptoms may vary.
Symptoms of other helminthic infestations
With trichocephalosis in children, the symptoms are usually minimal. Dyspepsia is likely along with bloody diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, anemia. And in the case of prolonged intoxication, a developmental delay is diagnosed.
Hymenolepidosis infection does not have any specific clinical symptoms. The appearance of worms in children can provoke an upset digestive system in the form of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Constipation, which is replaced by diarrhea, is not excluded. In this case, children have poor appetite along with headaches and allergic manifestations.
What other types of worms do children have and what are the symptoms? With opisthorchiasis in children, lymph nodes increase and they are diagnosed with allergic rashes. Additionally, subfebrile condition is observed along with catarrh of the upper respiratory canals and digestive disorders. Symptoms of gastritis, pancreatitis, hepatitis and myocardial dystrophy are manifested.
With diphyllobothriasis in children, anemia occurs along with allergies, digestive disorders and pain in the epigastric region. With toxocariasis, an allergic cough occurs along with skin itching, facial swelling, fever, hepatosis and an increase in lymph nodes. There are eye lesions in the form of keratitis, chorioretinitis and ophthalmitis, which may be irreversible.
Depending on the type of worms in children, methods of treatment are selected by a doctor.
Treatment
The treatment of worms in a child largely depends on the type of parasites, and, in addition, on the degree of the disease. Medication is usually needed. It is also often necessary to take laxatives along with a special diet. After the parasites are removed from the body, it is necessary to restore children's immunity and normalize the digestive system.
In order to prevent helminthiases, it is required to ensure that children observe hygiene rules, eat washed fruits and drink purified water with boiled milk.
Worm treatment: how to save a child from parasites?
Modern medicines for the treatment of helminthiases are divided into two categories. Some have a wide range of effects, while others are selectively active, they are selected to treat a certain type of helminthic invasion. Self-medication is unacceptable, since anthelminthic drugs have pronounced toxicity. Only the infectious disease specialist or parasitologist can choose the right remedy along with the therapeutic dose.
At the same time, antihistamines are prescribed for the prevention of allergic reactions to drug components. In the treatment of babies drops and suspensions are used, and for older children, tablets in the form of Zirtek, Loratadin, Zodaka and Tsetrina are used. The medicines most often used to treat pediatric nematodoses include Combantrin along with Helminthox, Nemocide, Levamisole, Termox, Vormin, Vermox and Mebex.
Piperazine, which is the safest for the children's body, has not lost its relevance and effectiveness for a long time. In the treatment of severe invasions, Mebendazole is most effective. This product has a valuable quality, which lies in the fact that the drug affects both adult helminths and their eggs.
In order to eliminate reinfestation, the course of enterobiosis therapy is repeated after two weeks. This is directly affected by the type of worms in children. Alternative methods of treatment in the form of drugs based on pumpkin seeds, garlic and enemas with decoctions are taken as an addition to the main therapy or for prevention. Consider these methods in more detail.
Effective folk techniques
If parents are going to treat worms with folk remedies, you should first make sure that the child does not have an allergic reaction to foods and herbs that will be used for medicinal purposes. To do this, you must pass an allergotest in advance. It is also necessary to make sure that there are no hidden diseases in the child, in which the use of certain herbs can lead to a general deterioration in well-being.
We continue to consider the treatment of types of worms in children. Photo submitted.
Worm Oil Treatment
Treatment of worms at home can be done with oils. This is the safest way. For example, if the child has pinworms in the intestines, then you need to take a piece of cotton wool, which must be moistened in any vegetable oil. Such a cotton wool closes the anus of the child. Do it before bedtime.
The fact is that pinworm females lay their eggs outside the intestines and do this exclusively at night. Thus, parasites exit the anus and lay eggs in the inguinal region. In the intestines, eggs cannot ripen, and therefore, if they are not laid, then after fifty days all the worms simply die, because they have a short life cycle.
In addition, there are many oils that have antiparasitic effects. The most effective are hemp and linseed oil. They must be taken orally by teaspoon before eating. If the child refuses to take the butter in its pure form, you can just soak a small piece of bread in it, and then give it to the baby.
What else to treat types of worms in children?
Pumpkin Seed Treatment
Alternative methods of treating worms in children practice the use of pumpkin seeds. They have a rare amino acid called cucurbitin. It is characterized by a pronounced anthelmintic effect and can cleanse the children's body of parasites in just a few weeks. For the treatment of worms, it is best to use unpeeled seeds. Seeds should be given 100 grams once a day.
Pumpkin milk can also be used for treatment. To do this, take pumpkin seeds, which are crushed. Next, the resulting mixture is poured with milk in a proportion of one to five and put in a water bath. Then the prepared composition is put in a warm place and let it brew for about ten hours. The resulting liquid is given to the child on an empty stomach in one glass. In parallel with this, the child is given a laxative or a cleansing enema is made in order to improve the body's cleansing processes.
How to get rid of worms in children, every parent should know.
Fresh Juice Treatment
Traditional medicine recommends the use of freshly squeezed juices to get rid of worms, for example, pomegranate, carrot and beetroot juice are suitable. Prepared juices must be mixed with two tablespoons of honey and give the child half a glass twice a day. First, the juice is given on an empty stomach, and then before dinner.
These are the safest recipes from traditional medicine, which have long been used to treat worms in children. But it should be borne in mind that in the event that after three weeks the symptoms of helminthic invasion does not disappear, it is worth showing the child to the doctor.
Worms poison a child’s body, and when they are in it for a very long time, this can provoke the development of various diseases. In this regard, with the treatment of worms should not be delayed. They can cause much more harm to the child’s body compared to taking anthelmintic drugs.
We examined the types of worms in children with a description, treatment and photo.