Each parent dreams of seeing his child healthy and active, full of energy for new achievements. In order for the baby to feel good, loving mothers and fathers carefully monitor his diet, dress warmly, devote much attention and time to the prevention of viral infections. Unfortunately, there is a group of diseases from which it is difficult to protect a small child. This is an infection with various types of helminths. Pinworms are the most common in our climate and external conditions. In children, infection symptoms are observed quite often. This disease makes up almost three quarters of all cases of parasitic infections in young patients. Pinworm infection is called enterobiosis.
Description
So, the subject of our conversation is not very pleasant - pinworms. What do these parasites look like and how can they be infected? The answers to these questions should be known to every adult in order to protect his child. Parasites belong to a rather large group of nematodes. These are relatively small round white worms. Males reach a length of 3 mm, females are much larger (about 8-10 mm, but individuals are found and up to 15 mm in length). Males live about 3 months, while females die soon after they lay their eggs. Pinworms are perfectly adapted for reproduction. A female can lay up to 1.5 thousand eggs! If the external environment is favorable, after 4-6 hours they mature to the state of larvae.
Source of danger
The method of transmission of this parasitic infection is fecal-oral. The female lays eggs in the folds of the skin of the anus. This happens at night or in the early morning. In this case, eggs can get on clothes, bedding and other items. The process of laying eggs causes a severe itch in the child, he combs the affected area, laying eggs of parasites under the nails. After this, the likelihood of re-infection of the baby increases, since children often forget to wash their hands before eating, bite their nails or simply stick their fingers in their mouths. The child also becomes a source of infection for other babies 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 the guys often eat unwashed. In addition, children spend a lot of time in cottages and in the village, communicate with animals, play in the yard and in sandboxes.
Enterobiosis is a very contagious disease. A child may become ill after visiting a playground, a store, or traveling by public transport. It is enough to hold on to the handrail, which was recently taken by the carrier of parasites, and then bring your hands to your mouth. The carriers of larvae and pinworm eggs are even flies.
Symptoms of infection
One of the most characteristic symptoms of enterobiasis is severe itching at night or in the early morning in the anus. The child sleeps restlessly, often wakes up, whimpers. At this time, the female parasites lay their eggs, causing unbearable 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 on the baby’s skin. You can see pinworms in the feces of a child.
Urinary incontinence may begin
.The overall well-being of the baby is changing. He becomes irritable, tearful, quickly tired. Children eat poorly, lose weight very much. The appearance of the child also indicates malaise. Pale skin, blue bags under the eyes - all this is evidence of the onset of the disease.
The immunity of the baby is reduced. Children suffering from enterobiasis are susceptible to various viral infections and colds. The stool is slimy, unformed, resembles a greenish gruel.
Allergy or enterobiosis?
Pinworms in children, whose symptoms are sometimes disguised as a variety of diseases, can cause a variety of skin rashes, redness, and swelling. All this, parents are often mistaken for allergic reactions to foods or other external irritants. However, an allergist, before prescribing special tests for the establishment of an allergen, first suggests examining the child for parasites. Pinworms secrete various toxins that poison the body and cause responses in the form of redness and rashes.
If tests to determine the irritant that caused the allergic reaction do not give a specific result, it is likely that enterobiosis became the cause of the malaise.
Establishing diagnosis
Diagnosis of pinworm infection is based on the clinical manifestations of the disease, as well as on the results of laboratory tests. The most reliable are precisely the data of the obtained analyzes, since the external signs of the disease are not always pronounced.
The child may not have severe itching, characteristic of enterobiasis, and the baby's fatigue and irritability are a non-specific symptom inherent in many other diseases.
Laboratory diagnostics include removing the scraping from the anus, as well as a special blood test of the patient. Examination of feces for pinworm detection is not used, since it is impossible to detect parasite eggs in this way.
Scraping is usually taken with adhesive tape, which is first glued to the folds of the skin of the child, then comes off and placed on a glass slide. Then she is sent to the laboratory for research. For the most reliable result, the analysis is recommended to be carried out repeatedly, preferably within three days. Scraping is done in the morning, before the analysis of the baby you can not bathe. If the child suffers from enterobiosis, then pinworm eggs will be found on the tape.
Diagnostics by blood is based on the body's response to infection with parasites. The baby's immune system resists infection, and certain antibodies are released into the bloodstream. If their amount in the blood exceeds the permissible level, we can talk about the presence of a parasitic infection.
For an accurate diagnosis, especially with a nonspecific clinical picture, both types of studies can be performed. This will help to identify the disease at an early stage, which contributes to a quick cure and reduces the likelihood of infection of other people. It is necessary to be examined not only the baby, but the whole family.
The effect of pinworms on the children's body
Pinworms negatively affect many systems in the human body. The stronger the infection with parasites, the higher the risk of developing severe lesions of the internal organs, especially in young children. Toddlers are much more susceptible to enterobiosis than adults. The acidity of their stomach is quite low, so pinworm eggs do not die under the influence of gastric juice, but penetrate the intestines, where they develop to the state of adults. In addition, children are difficult to tolerate the consequences of infection themselves.
Enterobiosis in a child is complicated by allergic reactions of a different nature due to poisoning of the body by the parasite's vital products. Pinworms in the process of their growth consume some vitamins and minerals, borrowing them from the baby's body. This leads to vitamin deficiency, increased fatigue, drowsiness. The mood of the child worsens. Due to severe itching at night, he cannot get enough sleep, becomes irritable and moody.
Children with enterobiasis are susceptible to various infectious diseases. Even a mild cold can cause a lot of trouble. Kids complain of abdominal pain of uncertain localization, periodic headaches. Pinworm girls have a risk of parasites entering the genitals. It can cause inflammation, urination disorder.
Now let's talk about how to pinworm pinworms.
Baby treatment
Many parents panic when they learn that the child has pinworms. What to do? How to get rid of this muck? What to treat? Someone runs to the pharmacy for drugs, someone turns to traditional medicine. And there are people who do not attach such importance to such a state. Yes, it does. Note that all the mentioned solutions to the problem are incorrect. At the first suspicion of pinworms in children (we described the symptoms of enterobiosis above), the baby should be shown to the doctor. Do not rely solely on folk remedies or try to remove all worms from the child’s anal area, preventing eggs from being laid (such procedures are carried out by parents quite often, but they are ineffective). After the tests, the doctor will finally determine the diagnosis and evaluate the harm that the parasites caused to children's health. In addition, in addition to measures to directly get rid of pinworms, it may be necessary to normalize the general condition of the baby.
Now about the drugs. Many people prefer to go to the pharmacy and just buy worm pills for children. However, they should not be given to the baby uncontrollably. The specialist prescribes a specific medicine to the patient and prescribes a dose, which is calculated based on the patient’s body weight, the scale of infection with enterobiasis, and the presence of chronic diseases in a small patient. All drugs designed to get rid of parasites have certain contraindications, so only a doctor can choose a remedy that will be safe for your child.
As a rule, doctors prescribe the following pinworm tablets for children: Pirantel, Albendazole, Devazimol, etc. Depending on the drug, a single dose of the medicine may be needed. With severe infection, you will need to undergo a full course of treatment.
The use of folk remedies
All folk remedies can be used in the treatment of enterobiasis only after consulting a pediatrician. They can contribute to recovery, but are unlikely to help completely get rid of parasites. And the lack of effective treatment can cause serious infection, which is dangerous for the child. In addition, many products and herbs have various contraindications. If the doctor allows to use not only worm pills for children, but also folk remedies in the fight against parasites, you can use the following recipes:
1. Get rid of pinworms will help a variety of fruits and vegetables in red and green. Naturally, they should be thoroughly washed, scalded with boiling water and peeled. Only in this form can they be given to young children.
2. Porridge from pumpkin seeds, which parasites cannot tolerate. For its preparation, it is necessary to grind about 100 g of seeds, pour them with olive oil (100 ml), mix well. Porridge is eaten on an empty stomach, after which they abstain from eating for three hours. The course of treatment lasts three days, then, after a two-day break, is repeated.
3. Pills from pinworms well complement beetroot juice. It must 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 infuse for 10 minutes, then filtered. The resulting broth is drunk about an hour before bedtime. Before this, it is recommended not to eat food for 2 hours. Then the wormwood infusion is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. It is better to prepare a fresh drink, and not use the remaining in the evening. The course of treatment is four days.
5. A good remedy for pinworms is onion and garlic. However, young children should be given with caution.
You can resort to traditional medicine if the baby has no digestive problems and chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
Psychological assistance to the baby
Worm pills for children will help get rid of parasites, but the treatment of the child should not stop there. In addition to the immediate disposal of pinworms, it should include psychological assistance. For a child, especially if it is already a preschooler who understands everything, infection with worms can be serious stress. The little man begins to worry, sleep badly, is afraid to play with other children even after recovering, is shy. Some children are panicky afraid of dirty hands, pets, refuse to eat. To help him overcome all fears, parents should explain to the baby that enterobiosis is a disease that no one is safe from. Don't blame yourself. Children need to be told that, subject to all hygiene rules, 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 the parents understand that they cannot calm the child on their own, it is better to consult a specialist.
Disease prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. This rule applies to enterobiosis. Pinworms, the treatment with tablets of which, of course, is effective, can again and again bother the baby if preventive measures are not taken. Moreover, in the prevention of the disease should participate not only the child, but his whole family. Periodically, you need to take tests to determine pinworms: take a scraping from the anus or donate blood for examination. This will help to identify the disease at an early stage, as a result, coping with the problem will be much easier. The baby will simply be prescribed to take pills from pinworms, and you will quickly get rid of parasites.
The child needs to be explained how important it is to wash hands frequently with soap, especially before meals. Try to wean the baby to lick and suck your fingers, bite your nails. Cleanliness must be maintained by adults, including in the home. Wet cleaning, knocking out carpets and bedspreads on the street, changing linen frequently - all this is an excellent prevention of pinworms. Bed linen should be washed at high temperature.
After washing it, just like underwear, it is imperative to iron it.
Particular attention should be paid to food. All vegetables and fruits must be washed thoroughly under running water, it is best to peel them. It is desirable to scalp strawberries, sorrel, salad with boiling water. Prevention of enterobiasis is the use of carrots, walnuts, beets, garlic, strawberries.
The child needs to cut his nails shortly, then dirt will not accumulate under them. Twice a day, the child must be washed. Do not fiercely rub the baby’s ass, it can cause damage to delicate skin, and the child will not want to bathe anymore.
If the child is undergoing treatment for worms, then to prevent re-infection at night, he needs to wear panties with dense elastic. This prevents parasites from getting into bedding, pajamas, hands. During treatment, it is better to remove all soft and other toys that are difficult to process.