Roundworms in children: symptoms and treatment of ascariasis with medications and folk remedies

The first place in prevalence among all worm infestations is taken by ascariasis. Children are the most susceptible to infection with roundworms, which occurs as a result of ignoring the rules of personal hygiene. Parents' awareness of the symptoms of the development of the disease allows them to seek specialized help in a timely manner.

Ascaris, when it enters a child’s body in the form of an egg, becomes a larva and has the ability to migrate, passing through certain phases of its life cycle. The main symptoms and signs of ascariasis in children are directly dependent on the location of the helminths and the phase of their development.

The symptoms of roundworm infestation are not specific. Differential diagnosis of ascariasis in children is carried out only in laboratory conditions.

General symptoms of roundworms in children

The severity of symptoms of roundworm infection in a child depends on how many parasite eggs have entered the body. If the infection with roundworms is small, then at first there is no deterioration in the condition. Later the parents notice:

• that the baby gets tired quickly;
• he complains of nausea and vomits periodically;
• bloating is observed;
• loss of appetite;
• there is pain in the navel area;
• the temperature rises;
• the child scratches the anus, complaining of itching;
• saliva production increases.

It is important for parents to show their child to the doctor in a timely manner. He will give directions for testing. After establishing the type of parasitic infestation, treatment is prescribed.

Take a roundworm test

Temperature

If a large number of larvae enter the body at the same time, the condition worsens very quickly. The larva, entering the intestine, leaves the egg, ruptures the intestinal wall, entering the bloodstream. When there are many larvae and they begin to migrate through the vessels to the lungs, the temperature rises.

This is the response of the immune system and its attempt to cope with parasites. The defense forces cannot cope with the infection on their own. How much the temperature rises depends on the individual. This can be an almost imperceptible rise to 36.7 or a sharp jump to 40 degrees. For most, the increase remains within 37-38 degrees.

Cough

Roundworms move into the lungs, where their habitat is suitable, they receive a large amount of oxygen and mature. The child’s respiratory system suffers and a cough begins. Parents mistake it for a cold. Many people make the mistake of starting to select syrups and tablets.

In an advanced state, on an x-ray, a cluster of roundworms may look like a focus of inflammation, bronchitis, or tuberculosis. This is a dangerous period for the body. Toxins spreading from the lungs poison all internal systems and organs.

Skin rashes and allergies

The waste products of parasites, if a timely fight against them has not been started, penetrates all cells of the body. Enzymes released by roundworms negatively affect the functioning and condition of internal organs. The result of this is skin redness and rashes.

Allergic reaction

Parents mistakenly confuse such manifestations with allergies to food or pollen. Not only hyperthermia of individual areas of the skin can be observed, but also:

• purulent rashes.
• hives,
• manifestation of eczema
• dermatitis,
• increased peeling,
• itching

If you ignore the situation, complications may occur in the form of tissue swelling, the development of bronchial asthma, and Quincke's edema. Allergies intensify when parasites begin to actively develop, feeding on beneficial microelements.

Food simply does not have the opportunity to be fully absorbed and the number of rashes increases.

The main signs of the disease in the intestinal phase

Signs of ascariasis in children continue to manifest themselves at the second stage of disease development - the phase of helminth parasitism in parts of the intestinal tract. The main clinic of this period consists of the following symptoms:

• dyspeptic manifestations;
• appetite disorders;
• stomach ache;
• sleep disorders;
• manifestations of astheno-neurotic syndrome.

After roundworms return to the intestines, symptoms in children may become less pronounced or, conversely, intensify. First of all, the clinical picture progresses in the intestinal tract. Abdominal bloating and diarrhea appear, which is accompanied by a painful syndrome during the act of defecation. Later, diarrhea gives way to constipation. Pain appears in the abdomen, most often around the navel or in the iliac region on the right side. The pain is spastic in nature.

Also, ascariasis in children may be accompanied by nausea, and less commonly, vomiting. In addition, there is itching and burning in the anal area, which intensifies at night. Impaired appetite may appear not only in the direction of its decrease or absence, but, conversely, appetite may increase, but at the same time the patient loses body weight.

Skin allergic manifestations are also characteristic of this phase of helminthiasis. Children suffer from neurodermatitis, urticaria, swelling of the eyelids and dermatitis of allergic origin.

Symptoms of roundworms in infants

It is extremely difficult to determine helminthic infestation in newborns. Parents should be aware of the characteristic symptoms that appear during this period:

• sudden weight loss;
• constipation;
• increased salivation;
• rash on thighs;
• paleness of the skin;
• the appearance of bruises under the eyes;
• moodiness;
• sleep disorders.

Allergy from roundworms in an infant

Even a few symptoms should warrant a visit to the doctor. If the situation is neglected, irreversible consequences may occur for a fragile organism.

Third phase

Complications arise if there is no treatment in the previous stages of ascariasis in a child. This phase is characterized by the fact that, in addition to the existing negative manifestations, symptoms of diseases appear in the organs affected by helminths. Very often, such neglect leads to death.

Thus, a significant accumulation of parasites in the intestines leads to its obstruction. Penetration of roundworms into the liver and bile ducts is fraught with the occurrence of acute cholecystitis, obstructive jaundice and liver abscess. Staying in the lungs leads to pneumonia, and if it exits through the respiratory tract, it leads to suffocation. There are known cases of parasites penetrating the kidneys and genitourinary systems, and even the brain.

Worms can be found even in a newborn. If the mother suffered from ascariasis during pregnancy, the larvae enter the body of the unborn child through the placenta.

Treatment of roundworms in children with medications

Drits Irina Alexandrovna. Parasitologist Helminth infections can lead to numerous health problems, shortening life by 15-25 years. Many parasites are extremely difficult to detect. They can be anywhere - in the blood, intestines, lungs, heart, brain. Symptoms of helminthic infestation can be confused with ARVI, gastrointestinal diseases and others. The main mistake in such cases is delay! If you suspect the presence of parasites, you need to contact a specialist. If we talk about medications and self-treatment, then this antiparasitic complex .

Medicines are selected by the doctor after the child has been examined and tested. This allows you to identify the type of parasites and effectively fight them. Self-medication may be ineffective and the invasion may recur after some time.

Nemozol for roundworms

Nemozol can be prescribed to treat ascariasis in young children. A suspension is recommended for administration. It does not have a negative effect on the sensitive intestinal mucosa.

As soon as the active components enter the parasite’s body, they block important processes for the parasite’s life. They do not produce an enzyme that is a source of energy. The parasite can no longer metabolize glucose.

To achieve maximum efficiency, preliminary diagnostics are carried out, allowing you to see the location of roundworms. The drug will cope with them in a short time, and to normalize the condition, you will need funds to restore intestinal function. You should also do cleansing enemas.

Pyrantel for roundworms

Pyrantel effectively copes with roundworms. The active components of the product, absorbed by the parasite, cause muscle spasms in it. The worm can no longer attach to the intestinal wall, and paralysis occurs. After this, it is excreted along with feces.

To completely destroy parasites, a repeated course of treatment is usually required. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor depending on the age and weight of the patient.

How to treat worms in a child?

Worms, or helminths, are called worms that can live in the body of humans and animals - in the intestines, liver and other internal organs.

• The infection process and its causes
• Main symptoms and methods for identifying worms
• Treatment with anthelmintic drugs
• Prevention and precautions

They often affect young children, due to their anatomical features, hygiene habits and lifestyle. For parents, treating worms in children and preventing their occurrence is not an easy task, especially if the child is constantly in a group.

The infection process and its causes

Some people mistakenly believe that helminths only affect children whose parents did not pay proper attention to hygiene. This is not true; such a nuisance can happen to a child from a completely prosperous family. At the same time, Komarovsky notes that worms are a disease of dirty hands; it occurs after contact with an infected person or animal, or when eating dirty or insufficiently processed food.

Symptoms, methods and prevention on how to remove worms from a child should be known to all parents. For example, common parasites such as pinworms cause a disease called enterobiasis. The female worm lives in the lower part of the intestine, and at night she emerges from the anus to lay eggs in the folds of the skin. At the same time, the pinworm secretes a substance that causes severe itching and redness of the skin around the anus in humans - the main symptoms of enterobiasis. In a dream, involuntary scratching occurs, as a result of which the eggs get under the person’s nails, after which he spreads them everywhere. It is for this reason, as Komarovsky says, that the entire family becomes infected. If someone has pinworms in their house, then we can say with almost 100% certainty that everyone who lives in the same area as the sick person has them.

Other types of worms are not transmitted directly from one person to another. There is a group of parasites - geohelminths, their larvae or eggs are spread along with the feces of people or animals. They fall into the ground and then enter the body with dirt. Biohelminths are a different type; you can become infected with them by eating meat or fish if these products have undergone insufficient heat treatment.

Main symptoms and methods for identifying worms

Symptoms of worm infestation depend primarily on the type of worm, and there are at least 300 of them, all of which can live in the human body. Most of them are quite rare, about 30 species are most often found, and in 99% of cases pinworms, roundworms and whipworms are found.

Enterobiasis, a disease associated with the presence of pinworms in the body, is distinguished by very characteristic symptoms - unpleasant itching and redness in the anal area. However, when affected by other types of worms, the symptoms are not so obvious. You should not hesitate, if the parasite itself is found in the stool, it must be removed and immediately sent to the laboratory for analysis. When this is difficult to do immediately, for example, on a day off, the worm is placed in alcohol or vodka for storage.

The whipworm lives in the large intestine, sticking to its walls, it feeds on blood, also causing a sharp decrease in immunity. If a child has a low hemoglobin level with a normal diet and poor weight gain, this may indicate the presence of this parasitic worm in the body.

Other types of worms may not manifest themselves in any way. There are only two ways to reliably verify that a child has them: get tested or see with your own eyes the parasite that has left the body. If pinworms are suspected, a stool test, scraping or smear near the anus is done. Some varieties of worms are detected by the presence of specific antibodies in the blood, but there are few such worms. It is quite difficult to identify them yourself at an early stage. Komarovsky has repeatedly drawn the attention of parents to the fact that symptoms such as teeth grinding, skin rashes, pallor, lethargy and drowsiness are not reliable.

During the chronic stage, approximately 2-3 weeks after infection, symptoms vary greatly depending on the type of pathogen. For example, due to the presence of roundworms, a child often experiences pain in the intestines and flatulence. When affected by roundworms, the liver suffers, headaches, weakness occur, intestinal microflora is disrupted, and appetite decreases.

Treatment with anthelmintic drugs

A well-known specialist in childhood diseases, Komarovsky, believes that before treating a child with antihelminthic drugs, the presence of a worm and its type should be accurately determined. This will help you choose the most effective medicine and the right method of control. When infected with pinworms, one treatment is used; a parasitic worm such as tapeworm requires a completely different approach. In some cases, the use of drugs is justified without examination, but only when clinical symptoms indicate the highly probable presence of worms.

You will be surprised how many parasites will come out if you drink a glass of regular...

Parasites will leave the body in 3 days! You just need to drink on an empty stomach...

The best method of control is the use of medications, Komarovsky insists. However, before treating a child with them, you should conduct a stool test for worm eggs and determine the type of parasite. A specialist should prescribe medications and only after diagnosis. Moreover, to obtain a reliable result, it is necessary to do the analysis at least 3 times. If he confirms the presence of worms, treatment should be carried out immediately.

Traditional methods of combating worms cannot be compared in effectiveness with medicinal methods. Komarovsky does not deny the certain influence of certain foods on the life activity of the parasitic worm. It was found that pumpkin seeds can really rid a child of worms, only the recommended dose is at least 300 grams per day. For young children, methods such as eating large amounts of garlic and pumpkin seeds should not be used. Folk remedies can only be an auxiliary method of struggle.

Experts believe that treatment should be carried out in complex courses, in other words, it is better to take several medications intermittently. Modern anthelmintic drugs are used even to treat small children. However, it is worth considering that the dose prescribed by the doctor may differ from the recommended dosage in the annotation.

Infectious disease specialists have developed a regimen for taking anthelmintic drugs, which includes 5 stages:

• first take an anthelmintic drug (Pyrantel, Albendazole, Mebendazole, Vermox and others)
• Enterosorbents (Smecta, Entegnin) are prescribed for 5 days
• Enzyme agents are used for two weeks
• Biological medications should be taken for three weeks
• at the final stage, vitamin and mineral complexes are used

Treatment according to this regimen allows you to get rid of worms and reduce the negative consequences of the drug. In this case, you should remember about the possible reaction of the child’s body. There may be a fever, rash, abdominal pain and nausea. These reactions are considered normal and indicate that the fight against the parasitic worm is effective. It should be noted that some helminthiasis can only be treated surgically, for example, in cases of tapeworm and echinococcus.

Prevention and precautions

Modern medicine has an extremely negative attitude towards the use of anthelmintic drugs “just in case”. As Komarovsky notes, preventive treatment of a child makes sense only if he lives in a country with an extremely low level of culture, in which almost all children have one or another type of worms.

Many of the drugs used are toxic, and each child’s body reacts to them differently. What is completely harmless to one may be toxic to another. If symptoms of worm damage are observed, Komarovsky and practicing pediatricians advise immediately conducting a stool test, at least three times.

If worms are found in more than 50% of children in a group, WHO recommends treating everyone twice a year, regardless of the test result for the rest. In the case where parasites are present in 20-50%, treatment should be carried out every year. If less than 20% of children have worms, each of them should be examined separately, tests done, and only then medications should be used.

If infected with pinworms, children and the entire family should be immediately treated, as well as disinfected and washed at the highest possible temperature. You need to know that parasite eggs can be found not only in the child’s bed, but throughout the house. However, outside the human body they remain viable only for 40 days.

The best prevention is strict adherence to all doctor’s recommendations and basic hygiene rules. Komarovsky emphasizes that you need to wash your hands with soap after contact with an animal or returning from the street, as well as before each meal. You should avoid swimming in polluted waters, you should not drink raw, unpurified water, meat and fish must be subjected to mandatory heat treatment.

Treatment of roundworms in children with folk remedies

Alternative medicine offers effective ways to combat parasitic infestations.

1. Mix a glass of milk and a head of peeled garlic. The ingredients should be simmered over low heat until soft, the broth should be strained, cooled, and left for 12 hours. Use as an enema. Do it daily for a week.
2. Take green walnuts, chop them, take 4 tbsp. l. gruel, add a pinch of salt, 1 liter of water. Leave for 1 hour, strain. Drink throughout the day, then take a laxative.

Roundworms in children are a problem that requires timely detection and proper treatment. Pay attention to the deterioration of the child’s health, explain the rules of hygiene and regularly bring the baby to the doctor for examination.

Therapeutic measures

Classic treatment or together with folk remedies is possible. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the safety of taking specific medications for children.

Use of medicines

The following traditional drugs are prescribed for treatment:

• Enterosorbents (smecta for at least five days);
• Biological products;
• Antihelminthics (Vortil, Pirantel, Albendazole, Vertox);
• Enzymes;
• Complex vitamins.

The use of folk remedies

The following folk remedies are recommended:

• Hemp oil;
• Carrot juice;
• Chamomile;
• Pumpkin seeds;
• Tansy;
• Sagebrush.

We also recommend that you read our other article: Milk with garlic as a means of fighting worms in children. Recipes and reviews

It should be noted that the presence of two or three symptoms of worms should be a reason to get tested. Especially if parasites are present in the stool. For this reason, it is necessary to quickly go for diagnosis in order to begin treatment as early as possible.

Prevention of ascariasis

A number of simple measures will help reduce the risk of ascariasis in a child:

• make sure that he does not put dirty hands in his mouth while walking;
• Wipe your hands often with wet wipes outside;
• after a walk, wash your hands thoroughly with soap;
• if possible, in the country house or at home, place a sandbox or playground in the sun;
• use separate toys for playing outside the home;
• do not allow playing with outdoor shoes, or walking around the house in them;
• thoroughly wash all vegetables, fruits, herbs;
• If possible, carry out wet cleaning in the house every day, regularly changing the water used in the bucket.

The prognosis for mild stage disease and timely treatment is favorable.

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Komarovsky about the diagnosis of helminth infections in children

The presence of worms in a child cannot always be determined by external signs. Therefore, there are certain laboratory diagnostic methods, the purpose of which is to determine how infected the child’s body is, what type of helminths is present, as well as the stage of the disease.

The following types of research are used in laboratory conditions:

1. Examination of a child's feces for the presence of helminth larvae. In this case, feces are submitted for analysis, as a rule, three times with an interval of 3-4 days. There is no need to wash the baby before collecting stool.
2. Using a special adhesive tape or spatula, scraping the area of ​​the anal folds helps determine the presence of helminth larvae.
3. A blood test for the presence of worms is used if a stool test gives a negative result and there is a clear suspicion of helminthiasis. The requirements before donating blood for helminths do not differ from the usual ones (do not eat before taking blood, do not drink carbonated water, exclude high-fat foods for a week, and if possible do not take medications).
4. In case of severe damage to the child’s body by worms, an ultrasound and endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract is performed to determine the location of the worms.

How to treat worms in children? Komarovsky offers several methods. Treatment in children can begin only after the cause has been identified and the baby has been diagnosed.

In order to completely get rid of helminths, it is recommended to carry out wet cleaning in the house in parallel with treatment.

It is advisable to iron your baby's things well every day and limit access to pets. Treatment is carried out in different ways.

Special diet. If a specialist discovers worms in a child, he advises adhering to a special diet. It is recommended to eat food every day that will help quickly get rid of helminths.

It is advisable that the diet include:

• Onion.
• Garlic.
• Pumpkin.
• Carrot.
• Cabbage.
• Melon.
• Dried fruits compote.
• Porridge.
• Butter and vegetable oil.
• Dairy products.

Your diet must include fiber, which is found in almost all fruits and vegetables, and wholemeal bread. It is also worth ensuring that the child consumes foods containing vitamins B, C, A. These include:

• Rose hip.
• Yolk.
• Peas.
• Walnuts.
• Black currant.
• Liver.

Before including them in your baby’s diet, you should make sure that he does not have an allergic reaction.

Treatment with drugs. Experts advise cleansing the body of worms using complex therapy. It is advisable that several drugs be used simultaneously with short breaks. Most medications are also suitable for infants.

Recently, a special therapy has been created that helps get rid of helminths in children. This therapy consists of several steps. To begin with, anthelmintic therapy is carried out. It includes the Pyrantel suspension.

It is allowed to be used by children from 6 months of age. There are several inexpensive analogues for the product: “Helmintox” and “Nemotsid”.

You can also take anti-parasite medications, such as Mebendazole. It is not recommended to take it before two years of age.

Analogues: “Vormil”, “Vermox”, “Termox”, “Mebex”. Therapy is carried out depending on the drug taken. Basically it lasts 3-5 days.

What are roundworms and their eggs?

Ascaris eggs are very small and cannot be seen without a microscope. Their sizes are about 60 microns.

The maximum length of a mature roundworm can reach up to 40 cm, with a diameter of 5 mm. The female is usually several times larger than the male, whose maximum length does not exceed 25 cm.

The parasites are yellow-white or pink in color. They can parasitize a child’s body from six months to a year.

Which tablets to use for children aged 5 years and older

• Pyrantel : at any age it is better to buy it in the form of a suspension intended for children under 5 years of age. The dosage of pyrantel for one single dose is calculated based on the formula: 10 mg of active substance per 1 kg of patient’s body weight. Children from 6 to 12 years old: 10 ml of suspension (500 mg); children over 12 years of age: 15 ml of suspension (750 mg);
• Piperazine adipate : single and daily dose, respectively: 4-5 years - 0.5 and 1 g; 6-8 years - 0.75 and 1.5 g; 9-12 years - 1 and 2 g; 13-15 years - 1.5 and 3 g. When treating ascariasis, it is prescribed 2 times a day 1 hour before or 0.5-1 hour after meals for 2 days in a row.
• Decaris (levamisole) at a dose of 2.5-5 mg/kg, administered once after dinner. Its only significant drawback is the almost complete lack of effect on eggs and their larvae, since it only affects adult roundworms. Therefore, in order to remove worms, firstly, you need to take it 2 times a day in equal doses and, secondly, treat it for at least 2 days in a row.

What do these worms look like?

Roundworms are a spindle-shaped worm and, at first glance, look like an earthworm. Their color during life is reddish, and after death it is light yellow. The length of an adult helminth depends on its sex.

Ascaris sizes:

• Male. Length – up to 25 cm, and width – up to 4 mm.
• Female. The maximum length is 40 cm and width is 6 mm.

The eggs of these worms are almost impossible to see. They may differ in their shape and size, but even the largest do not reach a size of more than 100x45 microns. The female can contain a huge number of eggs (up to 27,000,000). Therefore, roundworms are considered the most common types of worms inhabiting the human body.

According to general estimates, more than 1.2 billion people have roundworms. This number of people are their carriers. Under certain conditions, ascariasis can affect up to 20% of the population of a certain region, and the incidence in children is especially high. These worms are very prolific, but their survival is highly dependent on the environment.

In order for an invasive larva to form, the eggs must go through a certain biological cycle. They mature in the soil - this is one of the worm formation cycles. Much depends on the ambient temperature. It should not exceed 26 ° C. There is also a lower temperature limit. It's 13°C. In cold soil, larval formation stops. The humidity of the environment is also important for the further development of the worm. It should be within 4–8%. In this regard, roundworms are considered geohelminth parasites. Their development largely depends on their habitat and climate conditions.

Ascariasis is a common disease in warm regions - countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The formation of larvae in the middle zone is possible only in the spring and summer, when it is warm. It is, of course, possible, if hygiene rules are not followed, to become infected in these parts even in winter, if the temperature in vegetable storage is maintained sufficient for the development of larvae.

Methods of infection

This type of helminth lives in the soil. It loves warm and humid climates. They cannot be found only in the desert and on permafrost territory. Helminth eggs penetrate the soil along with feces. They can stay there for several years until they enter the human body, which is an ideal environment for them. Children rarely wash their hands and may put them in their mouth, which can cause infection.

Sources of infection are:

• Unwashed vegetables and fruits.
• Contact with an infected person.
• Untreated water.
• Money.
• Door handles, toys and other items.

In order for the larvae to enter the body, it is enough to eat unwashed berries or vegetables. This disease is most common in rural areas, where there are unfavorable living conditions. In order to protect yourself from parasites, it is important to follow the rules of hygiene and thoroughly wash your hands after contact with the ground. After all, it is through the soil that these parasites are transmitted.

How to confirm the presence of helminthiasis

If pinworm infection is suspected, the pediatrician will prescribe a scraping for enterobiasis or a smear. Scraping is considered the most convenient. It can be done with a stick or with adhesive tape.

In preschool and school institutions, the tape test is more often used.

To do this, take adhesive tape, touch its sticky side to the anus, then stick it on a glass slide. The analysis is delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours. These manipulations are carried out by a nurse assigned to a kindergarten or school.

A smear is taken with a cotton swab dipped in Vaseline. After the procedure, the analysis is also sent to the laboratory within the same time frame.

Komarovsky draws attention to the fact that stool analysis for pinworm eggs is not informative, since they are located on the skin of the perineum. Therefore, there is no point in passing it on.

How dangerous are roundworms for a child’s body?

Roundworms take away nutrients from the child’s food, and he, in turn, feels constant hunger, fatigue and nausea. The baby becomes susceptible to viral infections.

Consequences and complications

The main danger with ascariasis is that worms have the ability to move through the walls into all systems in the body. They disrupt the functioning of vital organs (heart, stomach, lungs).

Against this background, the baby may develop the following diseases:

• pneumonia;
• bronchitis;
• asthma;
• liver pathologies.

At the same time, standard treatment helps little, since helminths do not allow the disease to go away, supporting foci of inflammation with their vital activity.

Larvae and adult helminths, in addition to mechanical damage to the walls of the organs, release toxic substances. They poison the body, causing allergic reactions such as rashes and asthma. The main place of development and reproduction is the intestine. Dysbacteriosis appears in it, the lumen can become clogged, obstruction and serious intoxication of the body occurs. Ascariasis itself is not a fatal disease, but severe diseases that cannot be treated due to worms can significantly undermine the baby’s health, even to the point of death.