Signs of worms in children

Unfortunately, often children come across intestinal parasites, which are numerous and all of them cause unique harm to the body. To not miss this common problem in your child, you need to know what the first signs of the presence of worms in children and how or you can get infected.

Worms, or helminths scientifically, is a fairly common phenomenon. They can settle even in a baby, but more often become a problem for children from one to five years. After all, this is a period of learning everything new and children, regardless of age, pull into the mouth various not very clean objects.

Such a problem can also arise at school age if the child is in contact with stray animals and has a bad habit of gnawing on nails or a pen. Adults also have a chance to become infected if they do not comply with the rules of personal hygiene and do not handle foods that are eaten raw.

Signs of the appearance of worms in the child

The complex of symptoms of helminthic invasion can not always be clearly expressed. These signs are also characteristic of other pathologies, so it is not worthwhile diagnosing them on their own, it's just an excuse to think about and examine the baby.

The symptomatology differs, depending on the stage of development of the helminth, its life span is 28 days. During this time he manages to grow from a small larva into an adult worm, which, before dying, manages to give numerous offspring.

If you suspect the presence of worms in a child, you should pay attention to such factors as:

1. Pain in the navel area may indicate infection with various types of worms, but this disease is also characteristic of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Anal itching, which becomes more frequent at night, because of what the baby is not sleeping well.
3. Inflammation of the external genitalia in girls and anal opening in both sexes.
4. Constant bronchitis and pneumonia, children often cough for no apparent reason, because the larvae of the worms settle in the respiratory system.
5. Diarrhea, followed by constipation, with a massive accumulation of worms in the gastrointestinal tract may be an intestinal obstruction, accompanied by acute pain and requiring immediate medical attention.

This list can be supplemented by signs of worms in an infant:

1. The child does not gain weight with proper feeding and a balanced diet.
2. If helminthic invasion is not detected in time and parasites actively develop in the body, the baby can rapidly lose weight.

Analyzes for the detection of helminths

To detect traces of the vital activity of these parasites, a common analysis of feces is performed on their eggs, but, unfortunately, it is not always possible to detect them in this way. After all, a small larva is needed for this, but no one knows in what form parasites are present in the body at present - in the form of eggs or adult individuals (which in this analysis can not be calculated).

But the analysis of blood from a vein on the intensity of the immune system in relation to parasites is more informative. He is able to identify which of the species of helminths attacked the child's body and is done just a day.

Without treatment, worms in the body can cause death. Therefore, it is necessary to fight against them and as soon as possible. A competent doctor will prescribe a regimen for taking antihelminthic drugs, and the best course of treatment for the whole family is that there is a great chance that adults have worms and they can infect the child again.

Prevention of helminthic invasion

In order not to allow contamination, it is necessary not to trite it, to teach the baby from the very early age to wash hands properly after visiting the bathroom, walking and before eating. Raw vegetables and fruits without water treatment with soap are also banned. Doctors are advised to take preventive medication for the whole family every six months.