Pinworms in children: symptoms. Tablets from pinworms for children. A child of pinworm - what to do?

Each parent dreams of seeing his child healthy and active, full of energy for new achievements. In order for the baby to feel well, loving moms and dads diligently monitor his nutrition, warmly dress, pay much attention and time to the prevention of viral infections. Unfortunately, there is a group of diseases from which it is difficult to save a small child. This is the infection of various types of helminths. The most common in our climate and external conditions are pinworms. In children, the symptoms of infection are observed quite often. This disease is almost three-quarters of all cases of parasitic infections in small patients. Infection with pinworms is called enterobiosis.

Description

So, the subject of our conversation is not very pleasant - pinworms. How do these parasites look and how do they get infected? Answers to these questions should be known to every adult person to protect their child. Parasites belong to a fairly large group of nematodes. These are relatively small white worms of round shape. Males reach a length of 3 mm, females are much larger (about 8-10 mm, but there are individuals and up to 15 mm in length). Males live about 3 months, females die shortly after laying eggs. Pinworms are perfectly adapted to reproduction. A female can postpone up to 1.5 thousand eggs! If the external environment is favorable in this case, after 4-6 hours they mature to the state of the larvae.

Hazard source

The method of transmission of this parasitic infection is fecal-oral. The female lays eggs in the folds of the skin of the anal opening. It happens at night or early in the morning. Thus eggs can get on clothes, bed-clothes and other subjects. The process of laying eggs causes the child the strongest itch, he combs the affected area, bringing the eggs of the parasites under the fingernails. After this, the probability of repeated infection of the baby increases, since children often forget to wash their hands before meals, gnaw their nails or just put their fingers in their mouths. The child also becomes a source of infection for other kids with whom he plays.

Cases of the disease are most often recorded in the spring and summer. During this period, there is an abundance of fruits and vegetables, which children often eat unwashed. In addition, children spend a lot of time in dachas and in the countryside, communicate with animals, play in the yard and in sandboxes.

Enterobiosis is a very contagious disease. The child can get sick after visiting the playground, shop, travel in public transport. It is enough to hold your hand for the handrail, which the parasite carrier recently took, and then put your hands to your mouth. Bearers of larvae and eggs of pinworms are even flies.

Symptoms of infection

One of the most characteristic symptoms for enterobiasis is severe itching at night or early morning in the area of the anus. The child restlessly sleeps, often wakes up, whines. At this time, the female parasites lay eggs, causing intolerable skin itching. Pinworms in children, the symptoms of which are quite diverse, can be seen even with the naked eye. They resemble small pieces of cotton cloth on the baby's skin. You can see the pinworm in the feces of the child. Night incontinence can begin .

Changing and overall health of the baby. He becomes irritable, whiny, quickly tired. Children do not eat well, they lose weight very much. The appearance of the child also speaks of malaise. Pale skin, blue bags under the eyes - all this is evidence of the onset of the disease.

The immunity of the baby decreases. Children with enterobiosis are susceptible to various viral infections and colds. The stool is slimy, unformed, like a greenish gruel.

Allergy or enterobiosis?

Pinworms in children, whose symptoms are sometimes masked for a variety of diseases, can cause a variety of skin rashes, redness, swelling. All these parents are often mistaken for allergic reactions to food or other external stimuli. However, the specialist-allergist before the appointment of special tests for the establishment of an allergen suggests first to examine the child for the presence of parasites. Pinworms excrete various toxins that poison the body and cause reactions in the form of redness and rashes.

If the tests for determining the irritant that caused the allergic reaction do not give a concrete result, it is likely that enterobiosis has become the cause of the ailment.

Establishing diagnosis

Diagnosis of infection with pinworms is based on clinical manifestations of the disease, as well as on the results of laboratory studies. The most reliable are just the data obtained from the analysis, since the external signs of the disease are not always clearly pronounced.

A child may not have a strong itch characteristic of enterobiasis, and fatigue and irritability of the baby are a nonspecific symptom common to many other diseases.

The laboratory diagnosis includes the removal of scrapes from the anal area, as well as a special analysis of the patient's blood. The study of stool for the detection of pinworms is not used, since it is impossible to detect eggs of parasites in this way.

Scraping is usually done with an adhesive tape that first glues to the folds of the child's skin, then breaks away and fits on a slide. Then she is sent to a research lab. For the most reliable result, the test is recommended to be performed repeatedly, preferably within three days. Soskob do in the morning, before the analysis of the baby you can not bathe. If a child suffers from enterobiosis, then pinworm eggs will be found on the tape.

Diagnosis by blood is based on the body's reaction to parasite infection. The child's immune system resists infection, and certain antibodies are secreted into the blood. If their amount in the blood exceeds the permissible level, we can talk about the presence of parasitic infection.

For an accurate diagnosis, especially with a nonspecific clinical picture, you can conduct both types of studies. This will help to identify the disease at an early stage, which contributes to a rapid cure and reduces the likelihood of infection of other people. It is necessary to examine not only the baby, but the whole family.

Influence of pinworms on children's body

Pinworms negatively affect many systems in the human body. The stronger the infection with parasites, the higher the risk of severe damage to internal organs, especially in young children. Babies are much more susceptible to enterobiasis than adults. The acidity of their stomach is quite low, so the pinworm eggs do not die under the action of gastric juice, but enter the intestine, where they develop to the state of adult individuals. In addition, children are also severely affected by the effects of infection.

Enterobiosis in a child is complicated by allergic reactions of a different nature due to poisoning of the body with the products of the vital activity of parasites. Pinworms in the course of their growth consume some vitamins and minerals, borrowing them from the baby's body. This leads to avitaminosis, increased fatigue, drowsiness. The child's mood worsens. Because of severe itching at night, he can not sleep well, becomes irritable and capricious.

Children suffering from enterobiosis are prone to various infectious diseases. Even a slight cold can cause a lot of trouble. Babies complain of abdominal pain of uncertain localization, periodic headaches. In girls infected with pinworms, there is a danger of penetration of parasites into the genitals. It can cause inflammation, upset urination.

Now let's talk about how to get the pinworm.

Treatment of a child

Many parents panic when they learn that the child has pinworms. What to do? How to get rid of this muck? Than to treat? Someone is running to the pharmacy for drugs, someone is turning to folk medicine. And there are people who do not give such a state of due importance. Yes, there is such. Note that all the mentioned solutions to the problem are incorrect. At the first suspicion of pinworms in children (we described the symptoms of enterobiasis above), the baby should be shown to the doctor. Do not rely solely on folk remedies or try to remove all worms from the anus of the baby's anus, preventing eggs from being laid (similar procedures are performed by parents quite often, however they are ineffective). After the tests, the doctor will finally determine the diagnosis and evaluate the harm that parasites have inflicted on children's health. In addition, in addition to measures to directly get rid of pinworms, you may need to normalize the overall condition of the baby.

Now about the drugs. Many prefer to go to the pharmacy and just buy pills for worms for children. However, they can not be given to the baby uncontrollably. The specialist writes out a specific medicine to the patient and prescribes a dose that is calculated based on the patient's body weight, the extent of infection with enterobiasis, and the presence of chronic diseases in the small patient. All drugs intended for getting rid of parasites have certain contraindications, so only a doctor will be able to choose a remedy that will be safe for your child.

Typically, doctors prescribe the following tablets from pinworms for children: "Pirantel", "Albendazol", "Devazimol", etc. Depending on the drug, you may need a single dose of medication. With a strong infection, you will need to undergo a full course of treatment.

Application of folk remedies

All folk remedies can be used in the treatment of enterobiasis only after consultation of the pediatrician. They can contribute to recovery, but are unlikely to help completely get rid of parasites. A lack of effective treatment can cause serious infection, which is dangerous for the child. In addition, many products and herbs have different contraindications. If the doctor allows you to use not only tablets from worms for children, but also folk remedies in the fight against parasites, you can use the following recipes:

1. To get rid of pinworms will help a variety of fruits and vegetables of red and green colors. Naturally, they should be thoroughly washed, scalded with boiling water and peeled. Only in this form they can be given to young children.

2. Kashitsa from pumpkin seeds, which are not tolerated by parasites. For its preparation, it is necessary to grind about 100 g of seeds, pour them with olive oil (100 ml), mix well. Kasha is eaten on an empty stomach, after which three hours refrain from eating. The course of treatment lasts three days, then, after a two-day break, it repeats.

3. Tablets from pinworms are well complemented by beet juice. It should be taken on an empty stomach for a couple of weeks.

4. The long-known folk remedy for parasites is wormwood. One tablespoon of well-ground grass is brewed in 300 ml of hot water, left to stand for 10 minutes, then filter. The resulting broth is drunk about an hour before bedtime. Before this, it is recommended not to eat for 2 hours. Then the infusion of wormwood is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. It is better to cook a fresh drink, and do not use the rest from the evening. The course of treatment is four days.

5. A good remedy for pinworms is onions and garlic. However, small children should be given with caution.

You can resort to folk medicine if the baby has no problems with digestion and chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

Psychological help to the baby

Tablets from worms for children will help get rid of parasites, but the treatment of the child should not stop only on this. In addition to the immediate disposal of pinworms, it should also include psychological assistance. For a child, especially if it is already an understanding preschooler, infection with worms can be a serious stress. The little man begins to worry, does not sleep well, is afraid even after recovering to play with other children, is embarrassed. Some children panic afraid of dirty hands, pets, refuse to eat. To help him overcome all fears, parents should explain to the kid that enterobiasis is a disease from which no one is immune. Do not blame yourself. Children need to be told that if all hygiene rules are followed, the risk of re-infection is very small, and you should not be afraid.

In rare cases, the baby may need the help of a child psychologist. If parents understand that they can not calm the child on their own, it is better to turn to a specialist.

Prevention of disease

Any disease is easier to prevent than treat. This rule applies to enterobiosis. Pinworms, whose treatment with pills, of course, is effective, can again and again worry the baby, if not take preventive measures. And in the prevention of disease should not only participate in the child, but also his whole family. Periodically, you need to take tests for the definition of pinworms: take a scraping from the anus or donate blood to the study. This will help to identify the disease at an early stage, as a result, coping with the problem will be much easier. The kid will simply be prescribed to take pills from pinworms, and you will quickly get rid of parasites.

The child needs to explain how important it is to wash hands often with soap, especially before eating. Try to wean the crumb licking and sucking your fingers, gnawing your nails. Cleanliness should be maintained by adults, including in the home. Wet cleaning, knocking out carpets and bedspreads on the street, frequent change of bed linen - all this is an excellent prevention of pinworms. Bed linen should be washed at high temperature. After washing it, just like underwear, it is necessary to iron it with iron.

Particular attention should be paid to food. All vegetables and fruits must be thoroughly washed under running water, it is best to clean them from the peel. Strawberries, sorrel, lettuce preferably scalded with boiling water. The prevention of enterobiasis is the use of carrots, walnuts, beets, garlic, strawberries.

The child needs to shortly cut his nails, then under them will not accumulate dirt. Twice a day a child must be washed away. Do not furiously rub the ass of the baby, it can cause damage to the delicate skin, and the child does not want to swim more.

If the child is treated for worms, then to prevent a second infection at night, he should wear panties with a tight elastic band. This prevents the parasites from getting on bed linens, pajamas, or hands. At the time of treatment, it is better to remove all soft and other toys that are difficult to process.