Worms in children
Unfortunately, helminths are frequent guests in the child's body, because children interact with wildlife very actively: they touch animals, pick up dirty objects from the ground, eat unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries, drink unboiled water, and so on. To protect your child from helminthiasis, you need to learn how to quickly identify the symptoms of parasitic invasion so that diagnosis and treatment are carried out on time. You should not hesitate in treating worms in children, because parasites are not at all as harmless as it might seem at first glance.
The symptoms of helminthiasis in children differ from the stage of the disease (acute or chronic) and the type of helminths, of which there are a great many in nature: the human body can become a "haven" for more than 100 types of worms. However, the most common among them are pinworms and roundworms.
In Russia, during the year, more than 2 million cases of visits to a doctor with helminthic invasion are registered. Judging by the number of anthelmintic drugs sold, the real number of people infected is 10 times more, and about 80% of patients are children. More than 300 types of parasites are known to helminthology, 70 of them affect the inhabitants of Russia. Worms in children - erased symptoms, lack of specific manifestations.
Infection with helminths can occur by airborne droplets, through the skin, or by the fecal-oral route.
Content:
- Types of worms that affect children
- How do children become infected and why?
- General signs of worms in a child
- Signs of pinworms in children
- Signs of ascariasis in a child
- Signs of other helminthic invasions
- Treatment of worms in children
- How to remove worms from a child?
- Prevention of helminthic invasions
- Answers to frequently asked questions about worms in children
Types of worms that affect children
Helminths that live and reproduce in the human body are divided into 3 groups:
- Nematodes, or roundworms - pinworms (causative agents of enterobiasis), roundworms (causative agents of ascariasis), Trichinella (causative agents of trichinosis), whipworm (causative agent of trichocephalosis), etc. This group of helminths is more common in young children.
- Cestodes, or flat (tape) worms - echinococcus, bovine tapeworm (causative agent of teniarinchiasis), rat tapeworm (causative agent of hymenolepiasis), pork tapeworm (causative agent of teniasis).
- Trematodes, or flukes - Siberian or cat fluke (causative agent of opisthorchiasis), hepatic fluke (causative agent of fascileosis), etc.
The place of localization of parasites is the digestive tract, liver, brain, lungs, heart, retina, bile ducts and gallbladder, pancreas. In the body, helminth larvae and adults move with the blood stream.
How do children become infected and why?
The overwhelming majority of cases of helminthic invasion are nematodes (ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichocephalosis). Infection with cestodes and trematodes takes from 2 to 5% of all cases of helminthiasis. The cause of infection with tapeworms and flukes is travel to the tropics and subtropics, the use of poorly cooked or cooked meat, game, fish (infection with a wide tapeworm), as well as contact with animals that are carriers of the invasion.
Roundworms and pinworms enter the child's body when eating food with dirty hands, when eating poorly washed berries, fruits and vegetables, in contact with animals or with carriers of ascariasis and enterobiasis.
When children are infected with pinworms, self-infection often occurs when thousands of eggs are transferred to toys, linen, household items, dishes, and door handles on the hands with which the child combed the skin around the anus. He re-infects himself and infects his family members.
Younger preschool children taste everything that comes into their field of vision. Therefore, places of frequent contact of children with each other (playgrounds and kindergartens, playrooms in developmental and shopping centers) become breeding grounds for helminth eggs. The defense system of a small child's body is not yet perfect, and the need for hygiene has not yet been developed.
The situation is aggravated by an imperfect system for detecting helminthiasis. Erased symptoms, or its complete absence, may accompany the development of worms in children. That is why parents find it difficult to determine the causes of malaise during the development of complications of helminthiasis.
So, for example, the developmental cycle of pinworms makes it possible to detect symptoms of its presence only at a certain period of the development cycle. A scraping taken to a child at an inappropriate time can be false negative. That is why it is recommended to take scraping on the eggs of the worm three times: with a break of 2-3 days between them, and again, after 2 weeks.
The reasons for the increased risk of infection of children with ascariasis and enterobiasis:
- Irregular hand washing before eating, after walking, contact with animals;
- Rare change of underwear, less than 2 times a day, or once in the morning.
- A persistent habit of taking toys in your mouth, sucking your finger, biting your nails;
- Lack of children's nail care;
- Unsanitary conditions in the child's home, the presence of flies and cockroaches;
- Contact with domestic animals - carriers of helminths on the fur and paws after a walk;
- Careless washing of vegetables, berries, herbs and fruits before eating.
General signs of worms in a child
Helminths are very dangerous for the child's body, because the products of their vital activity and decay can cause serious intoxication and allergies, up to toxic shock. In addition, helminths deprive a child of what is vital for him for full growth and development: vitamins and minerals. Their deficiency in the body also reduces the child's immunity, making him vulnerable to other diseases.
Worm infestation in children most often occurs in the warm season - in late spring, summer and autumn, when babies spend a lot of time outdoors, eat fresh unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries with dirty hands and play with yard animals.
Symptoms of worms in children can be so subtle or mild that a person does not feel that he is a carrier of the invasion. The activity of parasites is activated in unfavorable circumstances, with a decrease in the standard of living, and a drop in immunity. It is quite possible that it is the worms that are the cause of the appearance of some of the pathologies of the internal organs, oncological processes.
The first symptoms of helminthic invasion in children are weakness and irritability. The child is capricious, does not sleep well, complains of abdominal discomfort and headaches. Appetite swings are observed: it either decreases or increases. Attacks of nausea, vomiting are also characteristic, stool disorders are observed (constipation alternates with diarrhea). Also, sometimes in children, body temperature can rise for no reason (up to 37.3 ° C). In some cases, an allergy to the waste products of helminths causes itching and rashes. Infected children have pale skin and dark circles around the eyes.
A clinical blood test for helminthic damage to the body usually shows a high level of eosinophils, which indicates an allergic reaction. A decrease in hemoglobin is characteristic.
Signs of pinworms in children
Pinworms are helminths that cause enterobiasis; these are small worms up to 1 cm long. An infected child scatters pinworm eggs in his environment, on clothes, door handles, toys, dishes. For pinworms, UV radiation, boiling, and some disinfectants are dangerous. Pinworm eggs enter the mouth, from there - into the intestines. After a few days, larvae emerge from the eggs, they become sexually mature and are already ready for reproduction and laying of eggs. One life cycle of a pinworm is only 2 weeks.
A pronounced symptom of these worms in children is nighttime itching in the folds of the anus, when the body warms up in a warm bed, and its muscles relax. The pinworm crawls onto the skin near the anus, and lays more than 5000 eggs in its folds. Combing the irritated skin of the anal area, the child spreads these eggs under the nails. In addition to itching, you can find skin damage from scratching in a child.
Additional symptoms of enterobiasis in children:
- Restless sleep due to disturbing itching, possibly insomnia, crying at night;
- Weight loss, insufficient weight gain with age;
- Excitability, increased fatigue, whims, attention deficit, memory impairment;
- Enuresis in girls due to pinworms entering the urethra;
- Vulvovaginitis due to irritation of the vagina by helminths crawling there, less often - inflammation of the appendages, uterus;
- Development of acute appendicitis due to the accumulation of pinworms in the cecum;
- Teeth grinding at night is a suspected symptom;
- Digestive disorders - dysbiosis, enterocolitis, diarrhea;
- Anemia, increased morbidity due to a deficiency of nutrients, vitamins, trace elements;
- The phenomena of intoxication, as a result of toxic poisoning of the body (weakness, weight loss, nausea, headache).
Signs of ascariasis in a child
According to statistics of laboratory studies, the defeat of children with worms is equal to 80% of the total. Worms in children are a serious problem for medicine, since worms deprive the child of nutrients, lead to organ pathologies, complications.
Ascariasis is one of the most dangerous types of worms in children. With massive invasion, roundworms can penetrate into any organ of the human body: intestines, liver, brain, lungs, pancreas, gallbladder, heart. Ascaris eggs enter the human mouth from the soil with dirty hands or food, where they are transferred from the soil, sand, legs of flies and cockroaches.
From the oral cavity, the eggs with food enter the intestines, where they develop into larvae within 3 months. The grown larvae migrate through the blood vessels to other organs. Symptoms such as hyperthermia up to + 38 ° C, weakness, dry cough with blood in sputum, increased fatigue appear. When carrying out an X-ray examination, moving infiltrates in the lungs are diagnosed. Often a child with lung damage develops pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchial asthma.
The primary phase of ascariasis is characterized by an increase in lymph nodes, liver, spleen. Reaction to waste products of ascaris - allergic reactions in the form of urticaria of the hands and feet, dermatoses.
Secondary, late intestinal phase of ascariasis, which occurs 3 months after infection, roundworms return to the intestines. They get there together with phlegm from the lungs, swallowed by the child. Symptoms of this period are digestive disorders (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, sudden weight loss, irritation of the anus, flatulence. Lowered immunity cannot protect the body from infections, pustular lesions of the skin and mucous membranes occur, stomatitis with frequent relapses.
The child's nervous system suffers from the toxic effects of ascaris on the body. Children have mental disorders - sleep disorders, nightmares, epileptic seizures. Ascariasis causes serious consequences: inflammation of the peritoneum, appendicitis, intestinal obstruction due to the accumulation of ascaris tangle in its lumen, obstructive jaundice due to the ingress of larvae into the biliary tract.
Signs of other helminthic invasions
Worms in children trichocephalosis (causative agent - whipworm) - symptoms are minimal. Dyspepsia, bloody diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, anemia are possible, with prolonged intoxication, a developmental delay in children of younger preschool age is diagnosed.
Another worm in children - hymenolepiasis (causative agent - rat tapeworm) - has no specific symptoms. Disorder of the digestive tract may appear - abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation followed by diarrhea, heartburn. The child has decreased appetite, headache, increased salivation, allergic manifestations, rhinitis of unknown etiology.
Worms in children - opisthorchiasis (the causative agent is Siberian, cat fluke) - lymph nodes are enlarged, allergic rashes are diagnosed, changes in the blood formula (ESR and the number of eosinophils are increased, hemoglobin is lowered). Additionally - subfebrile condition, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, digestive disorders. Symptoms of gastritis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, myocardial dystrophy appear.
Diphyllobothriasis (the causative agent is a broad tapeworm transmitted through fish that has not undergone a full-fledged culinary treatment) - anemia, allergies, indigestion, pain in the epigastric region.
Toxocariasis (causative agent - toxocara) - pets that transmit helminth eggs to humans become carriers of the disease. The most common toxocariasis are preschoolers in contact with cats and dogs. Symptoms - allergic cough, itchy skin, facial swelling, fever, hepatosis, swollen lymph nodes. Often eye lesions - keratitis, chorioretinitis, ophthalmitis, which can become irreversible.
Treatment of worms in children
Treatment of worms in children depends on the type of parasite and the degree of the disease. Medication is usually required. It is also often necessary to take laxatives and adhere to a special diet. After the helminths are removed from the child's body, he needs to restore immunity and normalize the functioning of the digestive system.
For the prevention of helminthiasis, it is necessary to ensure that the child observes the rules of hygiene, ate washed fruits and vegetables, drank purified water and boiled milk.
How to remove worms from a child?
Modern drugs for the treatment of helminthiasis are divided into 2 categories, some have a wide spectrum of action, others are selectively active, they are selected for the treatment of a certain type of helminthic invasion. Self-medication with anthelmintic therapy is unacceptable, since drugs in this pharmacological group have pronounced toxicity. Only an infectious disease doctor, a parasitologist can choose the right remedy and a therapeutic dose.
At the same time, antihistamines are prescribed to prevent an allergic reaction to the components of drugs and waste products of worms. In the treatment of young children, drops and suspensions are used, for older children - tablets (Zirtek, Loratadin, Zodak, Tsetrin).
Medicines most commonly used to treat nematodes in children and their analogues:
- Pirantel (Pirvinium, Kombantrin, Helmintox, Nemocid);
- Decaris - Levamisole;
- Mebendazole (Termox, Wormin, Vermox, Mebex, Vermakar);
- Albendazole (Vormil, Nemozol, Gelmodol-VM).
The long-used drug Piperazine, the safest for the child's body, has not lost its significance. In the treatment of severe invasion, Mebendazole is most effective. This remedy has a very valuable quality - it acts not only on adult helminths, but also on their eggs and larvae.
To eliminate the possibility of reinvasion, the course of treatment of enterobiasis is repeated after 2 weeks. Folk remedies in the form of preparations based on garlic, pumpkin seeds, enemas with decoctions of medicines are taken in order to complement the main treatment, or for prevention.
Prevention of helminthic invasions
Preventive measures for the prevention of helminthiasis:
- Fostering persistent hygiene habits in children (washing hands before eating, after using the toilet, a ban on licking nipples, toys, household items that have fallen on the floor or on the ground, sand);
- Elimination of the habit of biting nails, pencils, sucking fingers;
- Fight against mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches;
- Complete culinary processing of fish, meat (at least 40-60 minutes);
- Anthelmintic prophylaxis in pets;
- Thorough washing of vegetables and fruits before eating;
- Keeping the child's nails in a well-groomed condition, they must be clean and trimmed;
- Ironing underwear for children with a hot iron;
- Changing the child's panties and washing the area around the anus in the morning and in the evening to prevent enterobiasis.
- To prevent pinworms from spreading over the bedding, it is enough to dress the child in tight panties at night.
Answers to frequently asked questions about worms in children
Why is the presence of worms dangerous? Parasites are the source of infection. They are multicellular organisms for which humans are the primary or intermediate hosts. Helminths use the resources of the human body, live and reproduce in it.
What tests need to be done to determine the presence of worms? The most common is a microscopic examination of feces for the presence of eggs of worms in children, as well as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of blood serum to determine the antigen to parasites - a kind of immune response to the invasion of worms.
How to deal with worms? If children have symptoms of worms, to confirm the assumption, you need to do an enema and consider the excreted feces. Possible confirmations of worms in children are inclusions similar to thread trimming, hair, sand, white-pink mucous cords, fecal stones. To clarify the type of parasites, an analysis of feces for worm eggs should be performed. It is possible that the laboratory will give a negative result. An enzyme immunoassay will help to confirm or deny the diagnosis. This study is carried out during the day, it can identify up to 15 varieties of helminths. Worms in children are a reason for an early start of treatment, a thorough hygienic cleaning in the house. Obligatory daily change of bed and underwear, ironing it with a hot iron on both sides. Prescription of medicines for the treatment of helminthiasis is carried out by an infectious disease doctor.
Is there a need for prophylactic anthelmintic measures? Yes, to prevent worms in children, it is recommended to carry out such prevention at least once every six months.
Can you get worms from other children? A child with a strong immune system is unlikely to become a target for parasites. For helminthiasis to develop, prerequisites are needed in the form of malnutrition, deficiency of vitamins and nutrients in food. Helminth eggs regularly enter the human gastrointestinal tract, however, infection in most cases does not occur. Recommendations for drug prevention of helminthic invasion twice a year do not always need to be followed. In most cases, it is enough to wash your hands thoroughly, carry out regular cleaning of your home, use only clean underwear and bedding, diversify your diet so that you never know what helminthiasis is.
Can a child get worms from pets? On the dirty paws of pets with access to the street, there may be helminth eggs that the animal brought along with the street dirt. Wet cleaning with disinfectant solutions, washing paws, limiting the access of animals to the nursery will help to save the situation. Specific parasites of dogs and cats are not dangerous to humans, however, they can become a source of no less dangerous worm diseases in children, for example, toxoplasmosis.
Can worms be detected using computer diagnostics? Russian state medical institutions do not practice computerized bioresonance express diagnostics, which are widely advertised by alternative medicine centers. This technology is based on fixing the bioelectric potential of cells of various tissues and organs. Deviations of the magnetic field in a particular organ, according to the creators of the method, indicate pathologies. Since this method is not well developed, inaccurate data can lead to overdiagnosis of non-existent worms in children. Voll electropuncture diagnostics measures the electrical potential at bioactive points on the human body. Even with absolute health, this diagnostic method is able to show "traces of invasion", the consequences of contact with parasites. You should not rely on such data for anthelmintic treatment. Classical methods of examining feces and blood for antigens to parasites are quite objective.
Does kefir fungus help treat worms? There is no data confirming the effectiveness of this method of treating worms in children. Adherents of the treatment of any diseases with kefir fungus cannot provide evidence in favor of such an action of the kefir fungus.
The author of the article: Sokolova Praskovya Fedorovna | Pediatrician
Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.
