Parasites, having settled in the human body, try to gain access to vitamins and nutrients, while releasing toxins.Symptoms of parasite infestation are not always specific;they can be mistaken for manifestations of other diseases.
Common symptoms in this case: weakness, excessive fatigue, loss or increase in appetite, severe hunger attacks, muscle pain and indigestion.
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 defenses, increased incidence of viral and bacterial diseases, anxiety for no reason, nervous system disorders, and sleep disorders.When a child is sick, he may experience the following symptoms:
- weight loss;
- delays in the rate of intellectual and physical development;
- headache attacks.
If the above symptoms are detected, you should not start self-treatment: this is dangerous to health, and there is also a possibility that the disease is not related to worms.
Enterobiasis
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.Most often, helminths are diagnosed in children of preschool and elementary school age.
Pinworms 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 others.
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 pinworms.
The main symptom of enterobiasis is itching near the anus, usually occurring in the evening and at night.When the attack is weak, the patient may not be aware of the 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 area becomes painful and inflamed.
In small children, the characteristic manifestations of enterobiasis are:
- sleep disorders;
- depression;
- irritation;
- enuresis.
If treatment is not carried out, the symptoms become worse.
Ascariasis
Ascaris is a roundworm that reaches 15-40 cm in length.Female parasites lay eggs in the intestinal lumen, from where they enter the environment and soil, are excreted in the feces.Infection is facilitated by eating contaminated fruits, vegetables and drinking water.This disease is more typical for children aged 5-10 years.
From the moment of infection until the first symptoms appear, it usually takes about 2-3 weeks.At first, ascariasis occurs 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 rash, disturbing bowel movements, abdominal pain, and nausea.
When parasite infestation becomes chronic:
- the child complains of periodic pain around the navel;
- his appetite decreases;
- stools become unstable, and sometimes constipation occurs.
Antiparasitic and symptomatic treatment is indicated.
Giardiasis
Giardia worms are protozoa;in the front of their body there is a suction disc that helps to hold on to the intestinal epithelial wall.Parasites have no mouth;it eats dissolved nutrients.The incubation period of this disease lasts from 7 to 20 days.
Parasite attacks begin acutely;a person experiences watery stools with an unpleasant odor and traces of fat.After this, pain in the abdominal cavity occurs, belching appears, appetite decreases, and vomiting and nausea may occur from time to time.
The initial stage lasts up to 7 days;in many cases, all symptoms of invasion disappear spontaneously after 1-4 weeks.
When blastocyst invasion is detected, it can trigger a change in stool color and the appearance of streaks of blood and mucus in it.Symptomatic treatment is also required.
Toxocariasis
Toxocara is a large dioecious helminth, 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, often puppies.A person will get sick after:
- direct contact with sick animals;
- enter the soil of the mouth containing parasite eggs.
Children are exposed to infection while playing with dogs or in the sand, and adults as a result of household contact with infectious animals (dog breeders, veterinarians, utility workers).Another common cause of toxocariasis is eating raw or poorly processed meat.
Such parasitic attacks can develop suddenly or after a temporary illness.Signs of invasion in this case: increased body temperature, itchy skin rash, significant enlargement of lymph nodes.
Low-grade fever with prolonged invasion can 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 sick children: weakness in the body, fatigue, sleep disturbances and unusual excessive restlessness.In the absence of adequate and timely treatment, toxocariasis becomes the cause of severe and dangerous complications:
- hepatitis;
- retinal damage;
- pathology of the nervous system;
- allergic reaction.
When the treatment is carried out correctly, the prognosis is always favorable.
Preventive methods
The main ways to prevent parasite infestation are:
- careful compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- only drink boiled water, well-washed vegetables and fruits;
- eat fresh meat, fried and cooked enough.
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 clean pets on time.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 helminthic attacks, neutralize toxins, and eliminate disease symptoms.These plants include black walnut, wormwood, grapefruit, pumpkin seeds, and cloves.This treatment is available to everyone, it has a general strengthening effect and does not cause adverse reactions in the body.