Parasites, after settling in the human body, seek to gain access to vitamins and nutrients, while releasing toxins.Symptoms of parasitic infestation are not always specific;they can be mistaken for the manifestation of other diseases.
Common signs in this case: weakness, excessive fatigue, loss or increase of appetite, bouts of intense hunger, muscle pain and digestive disorders.
Other manifestations of the presence of worms will be various allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes, itchy dermatoses, eczema, decreased hemoglobin levels, immune defenses, increased frequency of viral and bacterial diseases, causeless anxiety, nervous system disorders, sleep disorders.When a child is sick, they may develop the following symptoms:
- weight loss;
- delay in the rate of intellectual and physical development;
- headache attacks.
If the above symptoms are detected, you cannot start self-medication: it is dangerous to health, and there is a possibility that the disease is not related to worms.
Enterobiasis
The cause of this disease will be pinworms - small white worms.They are called the most common helminth infections in many developed countries of the world.Very often, helminths are diagnosed in children of preschool and primary school age.
Pinworms live in the human colon.When the patient sleeps, the female parasite leaves him through the anus and begins to lay eggs on the skin near the anus.After a few hours, the worms may become capable of infecting another person.
Eggs can be stored on underwear, bedding, clothes and toys for up to 14 days.If a person does not follow the rules of personal hygiene, he can easily become infected with pinworms.
The main symptoms of enterobiasis are itching near the anus, which usually occurs in the evening and at night.When the infestation is mild, the patient may not notice its signs;as the number of parasites increases, the itching becomes so painful that the patient can scratch the skin until it bleeds, and the affected areas become sore and inflamed.
In young children, the characteristic manifestations of enterobiasis will be:
- sleep disorder;
- moodiness;
- irritability;
- enuresis.
If left untreated, symptoms worsen.
Ascariasis
Ascaris is a roundworm that reaches 15-40 cm in length.The female parasite lays eggs in the lumen of the intestine, from where they enter the environment and the soil, and are excreted in feces.Infection is facilitated by consuming contaminated fruits, vegetables and drinking water.This disease is more typical for children aged 5-10 years.
From the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms, about 2-3 weeks usually pass.At first, ascariasis appears in the form of an allergic disease.
In preschool children, the acute phase will begin with an increase in body temperature to 37-37.5 degrees, skin rash, bowel movement disorder, abdominal pain and nausea.
When a parasitic infestation becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pains around the navel;
- his appetite decreases;
- the stool becomes unstable, and sometimes constipation occurs.
Antiparasitic and symptomatic treatment is indicated.
Giardiasis
Giardia worms are protozoa;at the front of their body is a suction disc that helps hold onto the walls of the intestinal epithelium.The parasite has no mouth;feeds on dissolved nutrients.The incubation period of the disease lasts from 7 to 20 days.
Parasitic infestation begins acutely;the person experiences watery stools with an unpleasant odor and traces of fat.After that, there is pain in the abdominal cavity, belching, loss of appetite, and from time to time vomiting and nausea may occur.
The initial phase lasts up to 7 days;in many cases, all symptoms of invasion disappear spontaneously after 1-4 weeks.
When blastocyst invasion is detected, it can cause the stool to change color and contain traces of blood and mucus.Symptomatic treatment is also required.
Toxocarosis
Toxocara are large dioecious helminths, reaching 18 cm in length.The average duration of their life cycle is 4 months, with a maximum of six months.The main source of infection is dogs, mostly puppies.A person will become ill after:
- direct contact with a sick animal;
- penetration into the mouth of soil containing parasite eggs.
Children are susceptible to infection while playing with a dog or in the sand, and adults as a result of household contact with an infectious animal (dog breeders, veterinarians, utility workers).Another common cause of toxocarosis is the consumption of raw or poorly processed meat.
Such parasitic infestations can develop suddenly or after a temporary illness.Signs of invasion in this case: elevated body temperature, itching of the skin, significant increase in lymph nodes.
A low temperature with a prolonged invasion can last for several months.If the stage of the disease is acute, the person experiences symptoms of bronchitis, pneumonia and severe asthma attacks.
Signs of infection in a sick child: weakness in the body, fatigue, sleep disturbance and unusual excessive nervousness.If there is no adequate and timely treatment, toxocarosis becomes the cause of severe and dangerous complications:
- hepatitis;
- retinal damage;
- pathologies of the nervous system;
- allergic reactions.
When the treatment is carried out correctly, the prognosis is always favorable.
Prevention methods
The main ways to prevent parasitic infestations will be:
- careful adherence to personal hygiene rules;
- drink only boiled water, well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- eat fresh, enough fried and boiled meat.
It is equally important to teach the child not to eat food from the floor, not to put dirty objects in the mouth, and it is necessary to deworm pets in a timely manner.Doctors also recommend that children do not play in open sandpits, as such places often serve as toilets for cats and dogs.
You should know that there are some medicinal plants that can increase the body's resistance to helminth infestations, neutralize toxins and remove signs of disease.These herbs include black walnut, wormwood, grapefruit, pumpkin seeds and cloves.This treatment is available to everyone, has general strengthening and does not cause unwanted reactions in the body.