Everyone can be infected with the parasite, but babies are particularly affected by it, and in the summer the risk is very high. There are many different types of worms, but all of them have negative effects on health. Parents should know what a worm is in children - we will consider the symptoms and treatment of diseases such as helminthiasis below.
Types of worms in humans
There are 12, 000 worms on our planet (they are also called helminths). They live in soil, food and animals, while about 200 species can live in the human body. Parasites must always have a host and often choose babies for their habitat. When a child gets to know the world, he or she senses everything that comes to hand, so he or she is always at risk.
The most common type of worm in children is nematode or ringworm. This includes:
- Bracelet wormcausing ascariasis. Helminths are large in size and can reach a length of 40 cm. It is parasitic in the gastrointestinal tract and in the small intestine.
- cream wormscausing enterobiasis. The worms are small (less than 1 cm long) and whitish yellow. Such helminths live in children in the secum or small intestine. Their life cycle is up to 4 weeks.
- Cestodos- These are tapeworms that parasitize in the intestines and various organs. Helminths cause diseases such as teniosis, echinococcosis, hymenolepiasis, teniarinhoz and diphyllobothriasis.
- Trematodosare flatworms or trematodes. These include cat fluke, paradoxical leukochloridium, schistosomes. Parasites cause diseases such as fascioliasis and opisthorchiasis.
Ways of infection with worms
According to official medical statistics, worms in children under 2 years of age and in preschool children attending educational institutions occur in 80% of cases. This official figure is registered in infants undergoing laboratory examination. Helminths use a variety of ways to get into the human body. The most common routes of infection are:
- dirty hands or contact with infected animals;
- poorly washed fruits or vegetables;
- raw water;
- fish or meat that is not processed properly.
How to understand that the child has worms?
To answer the question about worms in children (symptoms and treatment are determined by the type of helminths), you need to know how the infection occurs and which internal organs the parasite enters. Often they do not manifest themselves in any way, and the disease persists in a latent form, so the doctor can not always determine their presence. Helminths live in the human body for years and even decades, they adapt to the worst conditions.
Common signs of worms in children can be as follows:
- nausea in the morning;
- anal itching;
- Headache;
- bruxism - is the grinding of teeth in a dream;
- profuse saliva at night;
- dizziness;
- nasal polyps;
- inflammation of the genitals;
- periodic pain around the navel;
- sheep feces, diarrhea or constipation;
- loss of appetite;
- pale skin.
If you find more than the five listed symptoms in your child, then it is advisable to suggest helminthic invasion. Everyone can be a carrier of various helminths that parasitize in the body and lead to intoxication and serious illness. With parasite activation, the symptoms may change. When you suspect worms in a child, symptoms may also appear in outward signs:
- "chicks" (rash) on the thighs or forearms;
- bruises and circles under the eyes;
- early caries;
- underweight;
- fragility of nails and hair;
- growth disorders;
- allergic reactions.
Worms in children can affect the nervous system:
- babies become irritable;
- decreased concentration of attention;
- perseverance is lost;
- disturbed sleep.
What do worms look like in a child's stool?
Often, young parents are interested in the question of how to detect worms in children's feces. In fact, only large worms can be seen in children’s feces. The parasite leaves the body in clots, where there are only a few individuals. If you notice a foreign entry, then it is better to contact a specialist and take a test to rule out the presence of parasites.
Tests for worms in children
When parents suspect worms in a child, symptoms and treatment depend on the stage of the disease. To determine the diagnosis, you need to take the child to a gastroenterologist or pediatrician. The doctor conducts an initial examination and prescribes an examination, which includes:
- enzyme immunoassay - helps identify the type of worm and its presence, for this, blood is taken from the child from a vein on an empty stomach;
- blood tests for helminths in children - the main indicators are: the number of eosinophils, the presence of anemia and color indicators;
- scrape, smear for enterobiasis - taken from the anus;
- general analysis of feces for eggs and dysbacteriosis is carried out in 3 stages, because some types of worms do not lay eggs regularly;
- computed tomography, radiography or ultrasound examination - performed to detect the presence of worms in the human body.
Children have worms - what to do?
After the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes treatment of worms in children, medications should be strictly agreed with the doctor), talk about methods and folk products that should be used for a speedy recovery. Parents should know that it is impossible to give medication to the baby on their own, as this can lead to irreversible consequences and thus worsen the child’s condition.
If you do not know how to get rid of worms in children, contact a specialist who will write some stages of therapy to you. They include:
- body preparation - in this case, sorbents and antihistamines are prescribed;
- anthelmintic therapy - traditional medicine for parasites, which can be in the form of tablets, suppositories or suspensions;
- body cleansing - enemas, choleretic drugs or sorbents.
Treatment of worms in children is carried out at home, if there are no complications in the form of infectious lesions. Throughout the child must follow a special diet. After the first course of therapy, the child was re-examined and tested. If they again show the presence of parasites in the body, then the drugs are prescribed again.
Tablets from worms for children
Currently, there are several medications that help get rid of worms. It is available in tablet form and is intended for babies. Before use, consultation with a specialist is required.
Suspension from worms for children
If your child is young and does not know how to take pills, then a specially designed suspension is suitable for him.
Folk remedies for worms in children
With the help of traditional medicine, it is impossible to get rid of parasites completely, but you can increase immunity and speed up treatment. Medicines for worms for children should be taken with caution and only with the permission of a doctor. The most popular products are:
- garlic;
- pumpkin seeds;
- carrot juice;
- vegetable oil;
- infusion of celandine and wormwood or tansy.
Prevention of worms in children
All parents should know that deworming tablets for children for prevention can be given to create a special microflora in which helminths can not exist.
To not be infected with parasites, you must:
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene.
- Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet and walking.
- Fight flies.
- Keep nipples and toys clean.
- Iron clothes and linen.
- Handle food with care.
Depending on the age of the baby, there are differences in the prevention of worms in children, the drug is first given only from 6 months.