When parasites settle in the human body, they try to get access to vitamins and nutrients, while releasing toxins.Symptoms of parasitic infections are not always specific;they can be mistaken for manifestations of other diseases.
Common signs in this case are: weakness, excessive fatigue, lack of or increased appetite, severe hunger pangs, muscle pain and indigestion.
Other manifestations of the presence of worms are various allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes, itchy dermatoses, eczema, reduced hemoglobin levels, immune defenses, increased incidence of viral and bacterial diseases, unexplained anxiety, nervous system disorders and sleep disorders.When a child is sick, the following symptoms may appear:
- weight loss;
- delay in the pace of intellectual and physical development;
- headache attacks.
If you notice the above symptoms, you should not start self-treatment: it is dangerous to your health, and there is a possibility that the disease is not related to worms.
Enterobiasis
The cause of this disease is pinworms - small white worms.It is called the most common helminth infection 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 are able to infect 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 become infected with fungal worms.
The main symptoms of enterobiasis are itching near the anus, which usually occurs in the evening and at night.If the infection 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 typical manifestations of enterobiasis are as follows:
- sleep disorder;
- despondency;
- irritability;
- enuresis.
If treatment is not started, the symptoms will get worse.
Ascariasis
Ascaris is a round worm that reaches a length of 15-40 cm.The female parasite lays its eggs in the lumen of the intestine, from where they are excreted in the feces into the environment and the soil.Eating contaminated fruit and vegetables and drinking water promotes infection.This disease is more typical for children aged 5-10 years.
It usually takes about 2-3 weeks from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms.Initially, ascariasis appears as an allergic disease.
In preschoolers, the acute stage begins with a rise in body temperature of 37-37.5 degrees, skin rashes, upset stools, abdominal pain and nausea.
When the parasitic infection becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pain around the navel;
- your appetite decreases;
- the stool becomes unstable and sometimes there is constipation.
Antiparasitic and symptomatic treatment is recommended.
Giardiasis
Giardia worms are protozoa;on the front side of their body is a suction disc that helps them adhere to the wall of the intestinal epithelium.The parasite has no mouth;feeds on dissolved nutrients.The incubation period of the disease lasts 7-20 days.
Parasitic infection begins acutely;a person experiences watery stools with an unpleasant odor and traces of fat.After that, pain occurs in the abdominal cavity, belching occurs, appetite decreases, and sometimes vomiting and nausea may occur.
The initial stage lasts up to 7 days;in many cases, all symptoms of invasion disappear spontaneously after 1-4 weeks.
Detection of blastocyst invasion may cause discoloration of the stool and the appearance of streaks of blood and mucus.Symptomatic treatment is also necessary.
Toxocariasis
Toxocara are large dioecious helminths that can reach 18 cm in length.The average duration of their life cycle is 4 months, maximum six months.The main source of infection is dogs, most often puppies.A person becomes ill if:
- direct contact with a sick animal;
- after entering the oral cavity containing parasite eggs.
Children are susceptible to infection by playing with dogs or in the sand, and adults by household contact with an infectious animal (dog handlers, veterinarians, public workers).Another common cause of toxocariasis is eating raw or poorly processed meat.
Such parasitic infections can develop suddenly or after a temporary illness.Signs of invasion in this case: increased body temperature, itchy skin rashes, significant lymph node enlargement.
A low-grade fever with prolonged invasion may persist for several months.When the disease is in an acute stage, 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 unusually excessive nervousness.In the absence of proper and timely treatment, toxocariasis causes serious and dangerous complications:
- hepatitis;
- retinal damage;
- pathologies of the nervous system;
- allergic reactions.
If the treatment is done correctly, the prognosis is always favorable.
Prevention methods
The main ways to prevent parasitic infections are as follows:
- careful observance of personal hygiene rules;
- drink only boiled water, well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- consumption of fresh, sufficiently fried and boiled meat.
It is equally important to teach the child not to eat off the floor, not to put dirty objects in his mouth, and pets should also be dewormed in time.Doctors also recommend not allowing children to play in open sandpits, as such places often serve as toilets for cats and dogs.
You should know that there are herbs that can increase the body's resistance to helminthic infections, 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 side effects in the body.