Worms in children: reliable symptoms and adequate treatment. Worms in children
Most often, infection with worms occurs due to violations of household and personal hygiene:
- irregular hand washing, nail biting;
- contact with contaminated soil, sand or water;
- eating dirty fruits and vegetables;
- close contact with animals;
- the abundance in the house of flies, cockroaches or other insects that are carriers of helminth larvae.
A common cause of infection with worms is the consumption of unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Another way of infection is intrauterine, that is, the transmission of helminths from mother to child during pregnancy. This is the most dangerous reason, since the vital activity of helminths can cause serious harm development of the child and cause irreversible consequences for his health.
Symptoms of helminthiasis in children
There are many types of helminths, and each of them has its own clinical picture. Separate types worms can be in the body for years, almost without betraying their presence. A characteristics usually appear with a decrease in immunity due to other diseases or stressful situations. But there are also those who, immediately after penetration into the body, begin to develop intensively and affect certain systems and organs.
General symptoms
And yet, there are symptoms typical of all varieties of helminths that are hard to miss:
Separately, each of these symptoms may indicate other diseases that are in no way associated with worms, but if at least 2-3 of these signs are present at the same time, the child must be urgently examined for helminthiasis.
Signs of enterobiasis (pinworms)
When infected with pinworms, more characteristic signs are added to the symptoms described above:
- itching in the anus, aggravated at night;
- girls may have nocturnal enuresis, vulvovaginitis and inflammation of the genital organs;
- enterocolitis and intestinal dysbacteriosis;
- disturbing dreams, gnashing of teeth at night, screams in sleep.
In the active stage of development of worms, pinworms can be seen with the naked eye in feces, especially with the morning bowel movements of the child.
Signs of ascariasis
Ascariasis is characterized by lesions of the worms of the internal organs - the liver, lungs, pancreas or gallbladder. Damage to individual parts of the heart is also possible. The manifestations of the disease are quite specific:
- increase The lymph nodes, the body temperature rises;
- observed general weakness and depression;
- appears small rash- first on the feet and palms, then all over the body;
- sharp pains in the abdomen of a cramping nature, vomiting, impaired stool, redness around the anus;
- declining arterial pressure pupils dilate, photophobia occurs;
- coughing up blood or thick sputum yellow tint, bronchitis, pneumonia or pleurisy.
Ascariasis symptom - rash
The disease can get chronic form, with which indicated symptoms appear less pronounced. IN advanced stage ascariasis is accompanied by complications in the form of acute pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, liver abscesses.
Symptoms of helminthiasis in infants
At baby You can determine the presence of worms by the following signs:
Diagnosis of helminthic invasion
Precisely determine the presence and type of helminths can only be laboratory. To do this, you need to contact a therapist, and after initial examination The doctor will prescribe which tests to take. Usually, several laboratory tests are used to diagnose helminthiasis at once:
How to treat worms in children
Usually, the course of treatment consists of two stages - first, the patient is given anthelmintic drugs, and then the body is cleansed with the help of enterosorbents, choleretic agents and enemas. To improve digestive functions, enzymatic agents based on pancreatin, papain or combined are prescribed.
Anthelmintics
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| One of the most available drugs, is available in the form of tablets and solution. For young children, it is more convenient to use the solution. The drug is prescribed for ascariasis and enterobiasis. The duration of admission with ascariasis is 2 days, with enterobiasis - three times for 5 days at intervals of 1 week. The drug is low-toxic, the efficiency is 95-100% |
| A popular remedy, available in the form of a suspension. It is prescribed for enterobiasis, ascariasis, ankylostomidosis. It is used once, in cases of severe invasions, the medicine is given within two days. Children under 2 years of age should use the drug with caution due to side effects |
| It is produced in the form of tablets, it is prescribed for ascariasis, ankylostomidosis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis. Apply once, repeat after 2 weeks to avoid re-infection. The drug has a negative effect on the liver, therefore, after treatment, it is necessary to take choleretic drugs. |
| Produced in the form of tablets, it is prescribed for ascariasis, toxoplasmosis, ankylostomiasis. It is taken once at bedtime, after 2 weeks the treatment is repeated. The drug has many side effects, so children under 14 are prescribed with caution. |
The dosage of antihelminthic drugs depends on body weight, the degree of infection and the type of helminths, therefore, a specialist prescribes it. Determining the dose “by eye”, you can provoke complications, because these drugs have a strong effect on the liver and digestive tract.
Important! To prevent re-infection, all family members need to be treated. In addition, be sure to carry out anthelmintic treatment of animals living in the house, disinfect bed and underwear, towels. During the treatment period, wet cleaning should be performed daily, it is recommended to temporarily remove Stuffed Toys and carpets.
Folk remedies
Popular among the people antihelminthics may not always be effective and safe. You need to use them very carefully and best of all in preventive, and not medicinal purposes. Please note that simultaneous reception such drugs and anthelmintic drugs can affect the child's body in the most negative way, so it is better not to take risks and use them only on the advice of a doctor.
by the most effective means against worms are considered:
- pumpkin seeds (not roasted);
- linseed and hemp oil;
- infusions of wormwood and tansy;
- carrot juice;
- fresh milk with the addition of garlic.
Prevention of helminthiasis
The main condition for warning helminthic invasions is the observance of hygiene standards. The personal hygiene of the child is of paramount importance, and parents should monitor this especially carefully. From the early age the baby needs to be taught to wash his hands, not to bite his nails and not to put objects in his mouth, be sure to wash vegetables and fruits before eating them.
Be sure to carry out prophylaxis for pets twice a year, especially if children are in close contact with them.
Do not allow children and pets to "kiss"
Prevent the accumulation of flies in the house, the appearance of cockroaches and other insects, use repellents. Fish and meat dishes boil well, do not buy street food. In the summer, children should not be allowed to swim in wild waters, where, in addition to worm larvae, pathogens can be found in the water. intestinal infections and other pathogenic microorganisms.
Video - Helminths in children: symptoms and treatment
Infection child's body worms is the cause of many failures in its work, up to a violation physical development and the occurrence of serious diseases. Therefore, the problem cannot be ignored and it is important to identify it at the first stages.
What are the ways of infecting a child with worms?
Most often this happens due to:
1. contact with pets and other children who have worms;
2. through contaminated soil (dirt on the hands, under the nails after a walk) with irregular hand washing, including after going to the toilet, with poorly washed vegetables and fruits;
3. when flies and other insects come into contact with the food they eat;
4. with insufficient heat treatment meat and fish;
5. in case of accidental ingestion of water while swimming in open water.
Symptoms of helminthic invasion
With children 3-6 years old it is easier: they can more or less formulate a complaint about pain in one area or another. Concerning general list The first signs that parents should pay attention to are:
- grinding teeth at night;
- pallor;
- fatigue;
- weight loss;
- dark circles under the eyes;
- lack of appetite, nausea;
- increased salivation;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- sleep disorders;
- itching in the anus;
- itching in the nose;
- pain in the navel;
- tearfulness, capriciousness;
- allergic rash on the body;
- Availability small worms in feces;
- sometimes cough.
Diagnosis of helminthiasis
Drug treatment of helminthiasis in children
- Piperazine Adipate.
It has long been used in pediatric practice, low toxicity, narrow spectrum action - removes only adult nematodes through feces. Does not affect eggs and larvae. Ineffective in case of extensive nematode infestation. Side effects in the form of nausea, chills, diarrhea, pain in the lower abdomen.
- Decaris.
- Albendazole.
Use when severe lesions worms in children after two years. Possesses brightly pronounced action with strong side effects, therefore, it is applicable in a hospital under the strict supervision of a doctor.
- Vermox.
Assign with diagnosed signs of worms in children older than two years, displays a large number of types of helminths. Effective in mixed forms of lesions. Often the following undesirable consequences of admission occur: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever body, allergic reaction, hair loss.
- Pirantel.
The drug is widely and successfully used in pediatric practice for children from 6 months to three years. Apply once with repeated course after 14-21 days. Side effects are expressed by pain in the abdomen, nausea, diarrhea, blurred vision, chills, and sometimes hallucinations.
- Wormil.
Assign to children aged 2 years. The drug has a wide range action, effective against nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, as well as protozoa. When removing worms from the body, intoxication occurs, which causes the following reactions: headache, as well as in the lower abdomen, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, heartburn, body itching.
Mebendazole is also effective against ascariasis, trichuriasis and enterobiasis. In parallel with the child, the nearest adults should also be treated, since there is a high probability of mutual infection. To reduce the symptoms of helminthiasis, you need to drink antihistamines. After taking anthelmintic drugs, one should resort to the help of absorbents that will remove toxins from the body, which secrete dying worms, thus reducing the strength of side effects.
Most of the funds taken once, relieve only adult helminths, without acting on their eggs and larvae. This only happens if you take the drug again a week later.
You need to follow certain daily rules:
1. teach your child to always wash their hands before eating, after visiting the toilet, crowded places and playgrounds;
2. avoid close contact with animals, especially those not treated against worms;
3. trim your nails regularly;
4. explain why you can't put your hands in your mouth;
5. daily keep the bathroom clean.
Worms are characteristic long stay in the child's body, numerous re-infections, so the disease develops slowly, takes chronic course with a long-term satisfactory condition of the child. In children, there are more than 15 types of worms, but the most common are enterobiasis and ascariasis (in 80% of cases), trichuriasis (65%), toxocariasis (60%), opisthorchiasis, diphyllobothriasis, hymenolepiasis. IN last years thanks to the introduction of the modern method of examination into our medicine, toxocariasis began to be detected much more often and more accurately.
The ingress of mature eggs of worms is perceived by the child's body as disease state. The development of the disease can be divided into two periods: acute - these are the first 3 weeks after infection, and chronic - can last for years.
Acute period
Symptoms acute period similar in lesions different worms, but differ in the intensity of manifestation: with enterobiasis, the clinic is practically absent, while when toxocar and ascaris enter the body, children feel extremely bad.
Symptoms:
- Allergic reactions are the leading symptom.
- Nausea and pain in the umbilical region are very common.
- Increase in body temperature.
- Skin itching.
- Edema, both small and extensive.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Pain in the muscles.
- Pain in the joints.
Against the background of these symptoms often develop lung diseases(small cough, asthmatic conditions, pneumonia or pleurisy), abdominal pain,.
chronic period
Weakness, increased fatigue, bad dream child may be symptoms of chronic helminthic invasion.
Symptoms chronic phase can vary significantly in infection different types worms, depend on the amount of the pathogen, in which internal organ he is in. Symptoms chronic period more faded, invisible.
Main features:
- Weakness.
- fatigue.
- Irritability.
- Relaxation of the body.
- Bad restless sleep.
- Digestive disorders (nausea, vomiting, stool disorders).
- Children grow worse.
- Appearance tired, skin anemicly pale, bruises under the eyes.
- Immunity is reduced, frequent colds are observed.
- On secretions and metabolic products of worms, the child develops allergic reactions that shows up allergic rhinitis, inflammation of the ciliary edge of the eyelid (barley), sometimes asthmatic bronchitis.
Worms can be in the body of a child imperceptibly, and parents, unaware of the infection of their child, find mature individuals in a pot.
Pay attention to the symptoms characteristic of the most common worms
- A characteristic sign of pinworms (enterobiosis) is anal itching in evening time from 23:00 to 1:00, which children endure very painfully. Often meets sharp pain in a stomach. Girls also often have inflammatory processes genitals, urinary tract, anemia, skin allergic reactions, vegetovascular dystonia(fatigue, low blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, weakness), diseases digestive system. More often, pinworms are found in children suffering.
- With ascariasis, sleep disturbance, nausea, pain in the umbilical region, dizziness, and pneumonia are more characteristic. Roundworms have the strongest allergenic abilities, so sometimes roundworm allergic reactions can pose a threat to a child's life.
- Toxocariasis can be suspected with repeated cases of urticaria.
- With trichocephalosis characteristic symptom is hemorrhagic colitis.
Analyzes
It is often difficult to determine the presence of a disease only by symptoms, so the main method of diagnosis is laboratory analysis.
- Enterobiasis (pinworms) is detected by examining the material obtained with adhesive tape, a spatula from the anus.
- Toxocariasis - with a special study of blood from a vein.
- Ascariasis, trichuriasis, and others are detected during fecal analysis. Often, stool tests can be false negative due to the nature of different periods life of worms, so it is advisable to repeat them up to 5 times or do a special analysis for antibodies from venous blood.
- IN general analysis blood can be found increased amount leukocytes and eosinophils.
The main indications for examining a child for worms
- Abdominal pain;
- Frequent nausea, vomiting;
- Diseases of the digestive organs;
- Fatigue, irritability, restlessness disturbing dream, gnashing of teeth in a dream;
- allergic reactions;
- Itching in anus(enterobiosis);
- Inflammation of the external genitalia, urinary tract (enterobiosis);
- Delayed growth and weight.
Ways of infection
The ways of infection with worms are different, but most often their eggs enter the intestines of a child from dirty hands, less often when dust is swallowed.
Enterobiasis is infected indoors through, children's toys, with the habit of biting nails, and dirty underwear.
Ascaris eggs often fall with unwashed eggs, more often with strawberries, greens, with the habit of eating sand in the sandbox, etc.
Children become infected with toxocariasis in sandboxes, from dogs.
Trematodes enter the body by eating insufficiently thermally processed infected meat (game),. That is why it is not recommended for children to eat dried meat, dried, dried and smoked fish.
Trichuriasis - when eating dirty raw vegetables, water from open reservoirs.
Opisthorchiasis - when eating fish that is poorly thermally processed or not processed at all.
Where are different types of worms most common?
- Enterobiasis and ascariasis are diseases countryside, small towns, urban-type settlements. More common in the Siberian, Ural, Far Eastern, Northwestern, Volga districts.
- Trichuriasis - Dagestan, Chechnya.
- Toxocariasis is registered wherever there are established modern methods diagnostics.
- Opisthorchiasis - in the regions located in the basins of the rivers Ob, Volga, Kan.
- Diphyllobothriasis - in the Far East, in Karelia, near the basins of the Ob, Lena, Yenisei, Volga, Neva, Pechera rivers.
To avoid infection with worms and severe consequences this disease, it is necessary to teach children to hygiene - after the street, playing with animals, before eating, do not eat unwashed vegetables, fruits and berries,. District pediatricians recommend at the end of summer to be tested for the most common types of worms, to carry out prophylaxis once or twice a year anthelmintic drugs, means of traditional medicine.
More about how to identify worms in a child, says the program "School of Dr. Komarovsky":
For a biologist, it is obvious that a person, like any other Living being, is constantly in interaction with other organisms and environments.
What to do if worms are found in a child - and how, in fact, to detect them? Where is the danger, and how to avoid it?
Worms are a sign of careless parents
There is a stereotype that worms can appear only in children whose parents, to put it mildly, do not fulfill their parental responsibilities, do not properly look after the children. This is a myth, since a child who is absolutely safe in every sense can become infected with worms. The source of helminths may be a playground or children's preschool, sandbox and swimming pool, fresh fruits and vegetables, pets.
Signs of a helminth infection
This commonality can be identified by the following features.
Pinworms
The most common worms that live in our climate zone. These are white worms, from three to twelve millimeters long. The most pleasant “territory of life” for them is the small and large intestines.
The first and main sign of infection with pinworms is skin irritation and itching in the anus. In the evening and at night, the itching intensifies, because of which the child becomes nervous, irritable, falls asleep badly and sleeps restlessly, often wakes up. daytime sleep at the same time, the baby is not accompanied by such symptoms.
A girl may develop vivovaginitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the labia and vagina (external and internal genital organs). The skin in the intimate area becomes red, present severe itching and pain.
In both boys and girls, itching in the anus is the cause of scratching these areas, which leads to the entry of helminth eggs into the hands of the child and, as a result, back into the gastrointestinal tract.
Associated symptoms of pinworm infection may include dry mouth ( constant thirst), discomfort in the abdomen, dark circles under the eyes, increased fatigue.
Roundworm
The "trademark" sign of roundworm infection is a decrease in hemoglobin (anemia), the appearance of pain around the navel. In some people, roundworms can cause digestive disorders (diarrhea and constipation alternately), nausea and vomiting, skin rashes, dry cough, sleep disturbances, anxiety during a night's rest.
The main breeding ground for roundworms are unwashed fruits, vegetables, berries and other gifts of nature, especially those purchased on the market or in a store. A child can “pick up” roundworm eggs even just in the ground.
lamblia
Giardia usually live in duodenum, but they can also move gallbladder. In this case, cholecystitis is diagnosed.
The source of infection is animals, including pets, as well as contaminated water sources.
Vlasoglav
This type of helminth is relatively rare, but it poses a serious threat to the child. The fact is that whipworm larvae feed on blood and lymph. To obtain food, these worms bite into the walls of the intestine, disrupting their functionality.
The most noticeable signs of infection with this type of helminths are intestinal colic, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders (diarrhea, rarely constipation), a sharp decrease in immunity.
Helminths: ways of infection
Infection with worms is easier than a steamed turnip - through unwashed hands. Moreover, the ways of infection all pass through the mouth, albeit in different ways.
It should be remembered that any products that are in direct contact with the ground are especially dangerous. These are greens, berries and vegetables. Moreover, greenery poses the greatest threat, since it is extremely difficult even for a specialist to thoroughly wash this product - there are always inaccessible places.
There are three types of diagnosis of helminth infection.
Antihelminthic drugs can be taken (according to the scheme twice with a difference of two weeks) and for prevention. The initial appointment must be agreed with the pediatrician, but you can reuse this remedy on your own. Usually prophylactic antihelminthic drugs carried out twice a year - in spring and autumn (at the end of the "dacha season"). The main thing to remember for parents who plan to drive worms in a child is the need to carry out antihelminthic prophylaxis for the whole family at the same time. Otherwise, the effectiveness of such treatment or prevention is more than doubtful.
In addition to taking drugs or decoctions, it is necessary to carefully monitor the hygiene of the child. In parallel with the “anthelmintic”, it is necessary to thoroughly wash and iron the bed and underwear of the child and other family members with a hot iron. Toys, especially soft ones, should also be thoroughly washed with soap and dried (preferably in the sun). By the way, such hygiene of toys will also allow you to get rid of other unattractive "illegal immigrants" like dust mites, etc.
In addition, for complete deliverance from worms you need to carefully take care of intimate hygiene all family members, and especially the baby. wash away warm water the child is needed daily, and in the presence of irritation or itching in the genital area and anus - at least twice. It is best to lubricate the affected areas after washing vaseline oil or oil-based cream.
Rules for the prevention of infection with helminths
- To wash hands. As often as possible, and first of all - after communicating with animals, playing in the sandbox, visiting public places.
- Thoroughly wash berries, vegetables, fruits. If possible, it would be better to pour boiling water over them.
- Wash salad greens properly. Cut off the roots, immerse the grass for a quarter of an hour under water, rinse, immerse in water for another 15 minutes, and rinse again.
- Monitor the quality of the water that you drink yourself and that your children drink. Never drink water from open bodies of water (for example, while swimming). If this happens, carefully monitor the result and take appropriate measures at the first sign of infection.
- Arrange sunbathing for toys, as well as sand in the sandbox. Helminth eggs are most feared sunlight, That's why the best prevention worms - daily loosening of the sandbox.
- Carry out preventive antihelminthic procedures twice a year for all family members, including pets. For pets, the dosage and preparations will be prompted by the veterinarian.
- Owners of their own land - plant natural enemies for worms - lupins, peas, calendula (marigolds), oats. Where these plants are found, worm eggs do not survive.
Not a single child is immune from infection with worms - regardless of the environment in which he grows up and with what environment he contacts. The task of parents is to detect the disease in time and treat it correctly. And how to do it - we'll show you!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 4.5 billion people on Earth are infected with worms. More than half of them are children.
How do children get worms
Doctors conventionally divided all varieties of worms (they are also helminths) into three main groups, mainly according to the nature of their infection.
Reference: total medical science managed to count about 300 species of worms that can live in the human body.
In 98% of cases of detection of worms in Russian children, doctors, as a rule, are faced with one of their three varieties:
- Either the child has pinworms (pinworm infection is called, and it is very common in children);
- Or ascaris;
- Or hairhead (a special type of worms that lives in the large intestine, sticks to the walls of blood vessels and feeds on blood);
Worms in children: symptoms are reliable and deceptive
There are many myths among the people regarding the symptoms by which a child can be suspected of being infected with worms. Fortunately, or unfortunately, almost all of them have no basis.
In other words, neither pain in the abdomen, nor frequent hiccups in any way indicate that the child has worms. By no means!
In fact, there are very few symptoms of helminth infection, including in children. So, parents may start to worry about worms in a child if:
All three types of worms that are most often found in Russian children (pinworms, roundworms and hairheads) are detected using stool analysis. For the reliability of the diagnosis of infection of the child with worms, the analysis of feces for the eggworm must be taken three times.
Worms in a child: about methods of treatment, adequate and not very
Let's just say that there are no generic medicines with proven effectiveness, which would actually treat human body from all worms, regardless of their type.
In other words, in order to pick adequate remedy to treat a child for worms, it is imperative to determine the type of helminths using stool tests and sometimes a blood test.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following tactics regarding the treatment of children from worms: if you live in a prosperous country (with a standard of living and medicine not lower than average, with a temperate climate, in good sanitary conditions, etc.), then twice a day is enough a year to take tests of the child for the eggworm, and if one or another type of helminths is found, treat with appropriate drugs.
What about pumpkin seeds? you might reasonably ask. After all, dozens of generations have used this method of treatment for worms!
In fact, ethnoscience not so wrong this time, however this method treatment against worms is effective only in theory.
At the same time, the therapeutic portion of seeds, which is necessary for "killing", is 300 g - this is approximately 3 cups. It should be noted that not every adult is able to eat such a lot at a time. pumpkin seeds, A Small child- and even more...
Prevention of infection with worms in children
Taking into account the specifics of our country and the fact that most of our children live in a relatively prosperous environment, doctors do not consider it appropriate to give children anthelmintics medications as a preventive measure. But this does not cancel the elementary household rules. Don't forget:
- Observe hygiene (you need to wash your hands often for adults and children, wash toys after a walk, do not walk around the house in street shoes, etc.);
- Regularly drive worms in pets;
- Regularly take children's stool tests for eggworm (at least 2 times a year).
