Signs of worms in children: how to understand that a child has them

Worm infestation in children is common. Children are famous explorers; they literally taste the world around them. During their research, they introduce parasite eggs into the body, which then actively develop. Before reaching the age of 14, 85% of children manage to get helminthiasis.

Helminthic infestations can disguise themselves as diseases of various etiologies, which makes diagnosis difficult. Infection with worms lowers children's immunity and, after vaccination, blocks the production of post-vaccination antibody titers. Treatment of helminthiasis in children has not only medical, but also social significance.

Causes of parasites in children

Little researchers do not yet realize the harm that external influences, surrounding objects and microorganisms can cause them. And they live everywhere in nature. They also do not attach much importance to the need to observe personal hygiene rules. That is why the infestation of parasites is more often observed in a child than in an experienced adult.

How does worm infection occur in children?

street homeless animals. Love for the world around us and its representatives is inherent in children. They happily touch, pick up and even kiss cats and dogs, without thinking that they are infected with bacteria, worms and much more serious diseases;
ordinary soil. Even playing in an ordinary sandbox or on a playground, or picking up toys from the ground can cause worms in a child. Many representatives of helminths easily enter the body through the epidermis;
water procedures. This could include regular visits to the pool and trips to bodies of water;
bites. Mosquitoes and those same yard four-legged animals are equally dangerous in this sense. Parasites quickly enter directly into the circulatory system and quickly reach their potential habitat;
lack of parental control. Here, careless young mothers and fathers are to blame for the fact that worms appeared in children. We must try to protect the child from dirty handrails, door handles, and crowded places;
poorly processed or low-quality products. Don't forget about thermal effects. This applies to both fruits and vegetables. Be careful with fermented milk products, seafood, and eggs. They can be carriers of larvae.
Accustom your baby to mandatory daily body cleanliness. Explain to him about the dangers and consequences of ingesting parasites. Use clear, simple words. Talk about the unpleasant, painful treatment, but don't scare him.

Contact and household route of infection

The first place among all routes of helminth infection in humans is occupied by contact and household routes. Worms are transmitted in this way quite quickly and easily: it is enough to have contact with the patient in everyday life.

This usually happens if an infected person neglects personal hygiene skills, due to the fact that helminths tend to accumulate under the nails, after which they easily spread to other people.

This route of infection is especially dangerous for children. They are quite active in social relationships and may have a number of bad habits that increase the risk of transmission.

What worms do children have?

Most often, the appearance of helminths in a child occurs in the spring or summer. It is during these periods that he spends more time walking. Of course, you shouldn’t get too hung up on cleanliness, but it’s still necessary to wipe your children’s hands and monitor what your baby is doing.

Most often, only a few worms are observed in a child:

pinworms. A clear representative of a parasite that enters the intestines through dirty, unwashed hands and food. It's quite easy to recognize them. Watch your stool. Parasites are white in color, sizes range from 2 to 12 cm;
roundworms. Larger ones. Up to half a meter. The cause may be ordinary, poorly processed fruits and vegetables;
Giardia. They can exist in damp, contaminated or poorly boiled water, poor-quality food, and often parasitize animals;
whipworms. A very dangerous representative of helminthic infestation in children, as it has a toxic effect and causes severe illness.

But this does not mean that only these species can be observed in a child’s body. How to understand and determine the exact type of parasite will be advised by your attending physician and appropriate tests for worms. If a child is diagnosed with helminths, immediately begin treatment.

Acute and chronic stages of helminthiasis

In the acute period, immediately after infection, the child experiences symptoms of an allergic reaction to the toxins of migrating larvae, the early stages of worms. Skin rashes, fever, pain in muscles and joints, and swelling may occur. The number of eosinophils in the blood increases, and the balance of intestinal microflora is disrupted. The chronic stage is characterized by symptoms that reflect changes in the functions of a particular organ or system where helminths parasitize.

Unfortunately, not all of these signs indicate with 100% probability a worm infection. Stool tests do not always show the presence of parasites. Most of the symptoms are indirect, allowing one to suspect that the child’s body has been “chosen” by helminths.

Parasites in children: characteristic symptoms and signs

The baby cannot independently determine health problems or disorders. The child does not yet have enough experience to describe how he feels or talk about the types of pain.

In young children, you will have to look for all the signs and symptoms of the possible presence of helminths yourself, using the observation method:

itching in the anal area. The child constantly tries to eliminate it, itches, adjusts his underwear;
restless, anxious sleep, audible grinding of teeth is possible;
involuntary urination during sleep. The problem occurs mainly in little girls. Signs of acute periodic cystitis;
lethargy, weakness, symptoms of the inflammatory process;
gagging, pain in the abdomen or navel;
frequent diarrhea or prolonged constipation;
lack of desire to eat or increased appetite.

Here's how to easily find out at home that your beloved child has worms using these symptoms. But if you are not sure why these signs appeared, contact an experienced pediatrician in any case.

Only based on test results and a complete examination can a diagnosis be made.

Why are parasites dangerous in a child’s body?

Few parents and experienced adults see worms as a real danger not only to the health, but also to the lives of young children.
If qualified medical care is not received in time, worms in a child can lead to serious consequences:

a sharp decrease in immunity. Some types of helminths cause the inability of cells to fully obtain or absorb essential vitamins and elements;
dysbiosis. Since the main habitat of parasites is mainly considered to be the large and small intestines, it is natural that disturbances will affect its functioning. Inability to perform its functions leads to diarrhea, dehydration;
diseases of the nasopharynx. Sinusitis, polyps, adenoids;
lack of vitamin B12. As a result, hair and nails become brittle;
anemia;
appendicitis;
gynecological diseases. Vaginitis, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, ovaries. A long process of helminthic infestation in children can even cause infectious sexual diseases;
frequent flatulence, bloating;
allergic and other dermatological problems;
bronchospasms, asthma and even suffocation.

Helminthiasis in children is precisely the name given to a serious disease that develops against the background of parasitic worms and helminths entering both the child’s and adult body.

This is not yet a complete list of negative toxic effects on a small, still weak child’s body.

How to identify worms in young children under one year old

Older children and teenagers can still describe the deterioration of their condition or at least show where and what hurts. How to check and find out if little babies have worms.

To become good parents, you don't have to have many children. You need to listen to the advice of older and more experienced people, learn to understand your child and constantly monitor the changes that happen to him.

This concerns not only its development. You must know exactly everything about the baby’s health:

certain weight and height;
required amount of food intake;
frequency of visiting the toilet;
psychological state in different situations;
possible allergic rashes.

All this will help you determine in the future whether your child has health problems. It will not be difficult to recognize a violation if you know exactly all the habits, preferences and natural state of the baby.

How to determine the disease in this case:

watch your stool. Often they will help identify worms in young children;
vomiting; diarrhea or constipation, bloating. If the child constantly cries and is naughty, determine the amount and consistency of feces. Consult your doctor;
inspect your skin for rash, redness, or irritation;
Calculate the approximate time of sleep and wakefulness. Get advice from a specialist about whether these conditions are appropriate for the child’s age;
copious secretion of saliva. If this is not the period of teething, then your baby may have worms.

Parents are required to regularly visit medical institutions until the child is one year old, which greatly facilitates the task of identifying worm infestations in the early stages. Through regular examination, the class of parasite and appropriate treatment can be easily determined.

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brucellosis. Parasites. Link
Corbel MJ Parasitic diseases // World Health Organization. Link
Young EJ Best matches for intestinal parasites // Clinical Infectious Diseases. — 1995. Vol. 21. - P. 283-290. Link
Yushchuk N.D., Vengerov Yu.A. Infectious diseases: textbook. — 2nd edition. - M.: Medicine, 2003. - 544 p.
Prevalence of parasitic diseases among the population, 2009 / Kokolova L. M., Reshetnikov A. D., Platonov T. A., Verkhovtseva L. A.
Helminths of domestic carnivores of the Voronezh region, 2011 / Nikulin P. I., Romashov B. V.

An article for patients with a doctor-diagnosed disease. Does not replace a doctor's appointment and cannot be used for self-diagnosis.

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