Everyone can be infected with parasites, but they are especially affected by babies and in summer the risk is particularly high. There are different types of worms, but they all have a negative impact on health. Parents need to know what worms are in children - we will look at the symptoms and treatment of a disease such as helminthiasis below.
Types of worms in humans
There are 12, 000 worms on our planet (they are also called helminths). They live on land, food and animals, while about 200 varieties can live in the human body. Parasites should always have a host and often choose babies for their habitat. When the child knows the world, he enjoys everything that comes to hand, so he is constantly in danger.
The most common types of worms in children are nematodes or roundworms. This includes:
- Round wormcause ascariasis. Helminths are large and can reach a length of up to 40 cm They parasitize the gastrointestinal tract and small intestine.
- Red wormscause enterobiasis. The worms are small (less than 1 cm long) and white-yellow in color. Such helminths live in children in the small intestine or small intestine. Their life cycle is up to 4 weeks.
- Cestodosate- These are flat tapeworms that parasitize in the intestine and various organs. Helminths cause diseases such as teniosis, echinococcosis, hymenolepiasis, teniarinhosis and difilobothriasis.
- Trematodozatare flatworms or trematodes. These include cat stroke, paradoxical leukochloride, schistosome. Parasites provoke 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 preschoolers attending educational institutions occur in 80% of cases. These official figures are recorded in those infants who have undergone laboratory examinations. Helminths use all sorts of ways to enter the human body. The most common routes of infection are:
- dirty hands or contact with infected animals;
- badly washed fruits or vegetables;
- raw water;
- poorly processed fish or meat.
How do you know if a child has worms?
To answer the question of what worms are in children (symptoms and treatment are determined by the type of helminth), you need to know how the infection occurred and in which internal organ the parasites entered. Too often they do not manifest 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 most adverse conditions.
Common signs of worms in children can be as follows:
- morning sickness;
- anal itching;
- headache;
- bruxism - is the gnashing of teeth in a dream;
- abundant saliva at night;
- dizziness;
- nasal polyps;
- inflammation of the genitals;
- periodic pain around the navel;
- sheep feces, diarrhea or constipation;
- loss of appetite;
- skin pallor.
If you find more than five of the symptoms listed in your child, then it is worth suggesting a helminth infestation. Each person can be a carrier of various helminths that parasitize the body and lead to intoxication and serious illness. With the activation of parasites, the signs may change. When you suspect worms in children, the symptoms may also appear on the external signs:
- "chicken" (rash) on thigh or forearm;
- bruising and eyebrows;
- early caries;
- lack of body weight;
- brittle nails and hair;
- growth disorder;
- allergic reactions.
Worms in children can affect the nervous system:
- babies become irritated;
- concentration of attention decreases;
- perseverance is lost;
- sleep is disturbed.
What do worms look like in a child's stool?
Too often, new parents are interested in the question of how to detect worms in a child's feces. In fact, only large worms can be seen in the feces of children. Parasites leave the body in clots, in which there are only a few individuals. If you see foreign involvement, then it is better to contact a specialist and do tests to rule out the presence of parasites.
Tests for worms in children
When parents suspect worms in children, the symptoms and treatment depend on the stage of the disease. To determine the diagnosis, you should take your child to a gastroenterologist or pediatrician. The doctor performs an initial examination and prescribes an examination, which includes:
- enzyme immunoassay - helps to know the type of worm and its presence, for this, blood is taken from the child from a vein on an empty stomach;
- a blood test for helminths in a child - the main indicators are: the number of eosinophils, the presence of anemia and a color indicator;
- scraping, stain for enterobiasis - taken from the anus;
- a general analysis of feces for eggs and dysbacteriosis is performed in 3 stages, because some types of worms do not lay eggs regularly;
- computed tomography, radiography or ultrasound examination - are performed to detect the presence of worms in the human body.
The child has worms - what to do?
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes the treatment of worms in children, drugs must be strictly agreed with the doctor), talks about the popular methods and products that should be used for a speedy cure. Parents should know that it is impossible to give medicines to babies themselves, because this can lead to irreversible consequences and thus worsen the condition of the child.
If you do not know how to get rid of worms in children, then contact a specialist who will write you some stages of therapy. They include:
- body preparation - in this case, sorbents and antihistamines are prescribed;
- anthelmintic therapy - traditional medicines 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. The child must follow a special diet at all times. After the first course of therapy, the child is re-examined and tested. If they still show the presence of parasites in the body, then the drugs are prescribed again.
Tablets from baby worms
Currently, there are several medications that help remove worms. They are available in tablets and are intended for babies. Before use, consult a specialist.
Suspension from baby worms
If your child is still young and does not know how to take pills, then specially created suspensions are suitable for him.
Folk remedies for worms in children
With the help of traditional medicine, it is impossible to completely get rid of parasites, but you can increase immunity and speed up treatment. A worm medicine for children should be taken with caution and only with the permission of the doctor. The most popular products are:
- garlic;
- pumpkin seeds;
- carrot juice;
- vegetable oil;
- infusions of celandine and wormwood or tansy.
Worm prevention in children
All parents should know that worm removal tablets for children for prevention can be given to create a special microflora in which helminths simply can not exist.
To avoid becoming infected with parasites, you must:
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and walking.
- Fight flies.
- Keep pacifiers and toys clean.
- Iron clothes and linen.
- Handle food carefully.
Depending on the age of the baby, there is a difference in the prevention of worms in children, medicines start to be given only from 6 months.