Parasites, after settling in the human body, try to get access to vitamins and nutrients, releasing toxins.Symptoms of parasitic infections are not always specific;they can be confused with the manifestation of other diseases.
The usual signs in this case: weakness, excessive fatigue, loss or increase of appetite, attacks of strong 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 protection, increased incidence of viral and bacterial diseases, anxiety without cause, nervous system disorders and sleep disturbances.When a child is sick, he may show 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-treatment: this is dangerous for health, and there is also a possibility that the disease is not related to worms.
Enterobiasis
The cause of this disease will be small worms - 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.
Red worms live in the large intestine of humans.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 can become capable of infecting another person.
Eggs can be stored in underwear, bedding, clothing and toys for up to 14 days.If a person does not observe the rules of personal hygiene, he can easily become infected with breast worms.
The main symptoms of enterobiasis are itching near the anus, which usually occurs in the evening and at night.When the infection is weak, the patient may not notice its signs;with an increase in the number of parasites, 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 disturbance;
- bad mood;
- nervousness;
- enuresis.
If treatment is not undertaken, 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, excreted in feces.Infection is facilitated by eating contaminated fruits, vegetables and drinking water.This disease is more typical for children 5-10 years old.
From the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms, it usually takes about 2-3 weeks.Initially, ascariasis appears in the form of an allergic disease.
In preschoolers, the acute phase will begin with an increase in body temperature to 37-37.5 degrees, skin redness, boring bowel movements, abdominal pain and nausea.
When the parasitic infection becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pain around the navel;
- his appetite decreases;
- the stool becomes unstable and sometimes there is constipation.
Antiparasitic and symptomatic treatment is indicated.
Giardiasis
Giardia worms are protozoa;on the front side of their body there is a suction disc that helps to hold on to the walls of the intestinal epithelium.The parasite has no mouth;feeds on digested nutrients.The incubation period of the disease lasts from 7 to 20 days.
Parasitic infection begins acutely;a person experiences watery stools with an unpleasant smell and traces of fat.After that, pain appears in the abdominal cavity, belching occurs, appetite decreases, and vomiting and nausea may occur from time to time.
The initial phase lasts up to 7 days;in many cases, all symptoms of invasion disappear spontaneously after 1-4 weeks.
When the invasion of the blastocyst is detected, it can provoke the whiteness of the stool and the appearance of streaks of blood and mucus in it.Symptomatic treatment is also required.
Toxocariasis
Toxocara are large dioecious helminths, reaching 18 cm in length.The average duration of their life cycle is 4 months, and the maximum is six months.The main source of infection is dogs, most often puppies.A person will get sick after:
- direct contact with a sick animal;
- entering the soil in the mouth containing parasite eggs.
Children are susceptible to infection when playing with a dog or in the sand, and adults as a result of household contact with an infectious animal (dog breeders, veterinarians, municipal service workers).Another common cause of toxocariasis is eating raw or poorly processed meat.
Such parasitic infections may develop suddenly or after a temporary illness.Signs of invasion in this case: increased body temperature, itchy skin rashes, significant enlargement of lymph nodes.
Low-grade fever with prolonged invasion may persist 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: body weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbance and unusual excessive irritability.If there is no adequate and timely treatment, toxocariasis becomes the cause of serious and dangerous complications:
- hepatitis;
- damage to the retina;
- 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 infections will be:
- careful observance of personal hygiene rules;
- drinking only boiled water, well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- eating fresh meat, sufficiently fried and cooked.
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 also necessary to clean pets in a timely manner.Doctors also recommend not allowing children to play in open litter boxes, 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 helminthic infections, neutralize toxins and eliminate the signs of the disease.These herbs include black walnut, wormwood, grapefruit, pumpkin seeds and cloves.This treatment is available to everyone, has a general strengthening effect and does not cause negative reactions in the body.