Parasites, settling in the human body, seek to gain access to vitamins and nutrients, while excreting toxins.Symptoms of parasitic infestations 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, attacks 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 defense, increased frequency of viral and bacterial diseases, causeless anxiety, disorders of the nervous system and sleep disorders.When a child is sick, they may develop the following symptoms:
- weight loss;
- retardation of the speed of intellectual and physical development;
- headache attacks.
If the above symptoms are found, you cannot start self-treatment: it is dangerous to health, and there is also a possibility that the disease is not related to worms.
enterobiosis
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 can become capable of infecting another person.
Eggs can be stored on underwear, bedding, clothing and toys for up to 14 days.If a person does not follow the rules of personal hygiene, he can easily get infected with pinworms.
The main symptoms of enterobiosis are itching near the anus, which usually occurs in the evening and at night.When the invasion is weak, 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 hurt and become inflamed.
In young children, the characteristic manifestations of enterobiosis will be:
- sleep disorder;
- capriciousness;
- irritability;
- enuresis.
If left untreated, symptoms worsen.
ascariasis
Ascaris is a roundworm reaching 15-40 cm in length.The female parasite lays eggs in the intestinal lumen, from where they enter the environment and soil, being excreted in the feces.Infection is facilitated by consumption of infected 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.Initially, ascariasis manifests itself 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 rashes, disturbed bowel movements, abdominal pain and nausea.
When the parasitic infestation becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pain around the navel;
- his appetite decreases;
- the stools become 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 them stick to 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 invasion begins acutely;a person experiences watery stools with an unpleasant odor and traces of fat.Then pain appears in the abdominal cavity, belching occurs, appetite decreases, occasionally vomiting and nausea may occur.
The initial stage lasts up to 7 days;in many cases, all symptoms of the invasion disappear spontaneously after 1-4 weeks.
When an invasion of the blastocyst is detected, it can provoke a change in the color of the stool and the appearance of streaks of blood and mucus in it.Symptomatic treatment is also necessary.
Toxocarosis
Roundworms are large dioecious helminths, reaching up to 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;
- getting a finger in the mouth containing parasite eggs.
Children are susceptible to infection while playing with a dog or in the sand, and adults - as a result of domestic 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 may develop suddenly or after a temporary illness.Signs of invasion in this case: increased body temperature, itchy skin rashes, a significant increase in lymph nodes.
Subfebrile temperature with prolonged invasion may persist for several months.If the stage of the disease is acute, a 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;
- damage to the retina;
- pathologies of the nervous system;
- allergic reactions.
With proper treatment, the prognosis is always favorable.
Prevention methods
The main ways to prevent parasite infestations will be:
- careful observance of personal hygiene rules;
- drinking only boiled water, well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- eating 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 his mouth, and it is also necessary to deworm pets in a timely manner.Doctors also recommend not allowing children to play in open sandboxes, 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 eliminate the signs of the disease.These plants include black walnut, wormwood, grapefruit, pumpkin seeds, and cloves.This treatment is available to everyone, has a general strengthening effect and does not cause unwanted reactions in the body.