Pinworms in children

Pinworms in children are a parasitic disease. Let's look at the causes of the disease, diagnostic methods, symptoms of the lesion, treatment methods and prevention.

These are parasitic worms (like nematodes, roundworms) that cause a disease called enterobiasis. They look like pieces of white thin thread, and they can be found in feces. The main symptoms of the disease, by which pinworms are determined in a child, are itching in the anus, which appears at night. A child infected with worms sleeps restlessly, there may be small scratches on the buttocks and perianal folds. Pain in the intestines and allergic reactions may be observed.

Enterobiasis can proceed unnoticed, that is, without any particular symptoms. This depends on the state of the immune system and its protective functions. If the baby has a strong body, then the immune system will not allow the worms to progress and cause painful symptoms. These worms can be dangerous, especially if the baby has a predisposition to parasitic diseases and a weakened immune system.

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Causes of Pinworms in Children

The causes of the disease depend on the route of infection. The main routes of infection are household, oral and contact. Let's take a closer look at each type of parasite infection.

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Household infection

Ignoring hygiene rules, dirty hands, dirty vegetables and fruits, dirty toys - these are the main reasons for infection with worms. With this type of infection, the baby becomes a carrier of parasites, infecting people around him.

Oral infection

With this type of infection, the parasites enter the body through the mouth. The child scratches the itchy area, pinworm eggs get on the hands and under the nails. And from the hands, the parasites get on the food and into the oral cavity. To avoid this type of infection, it is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly and observe the rules of personal hygiene.

Contact infection

Pinworms are transmitted through contact with infected people or animals. Animals may have worms on their fur, so it is necessary to wash your hands when in contact with cats and dogs. With this type of infection, they enter the intestines and after a couple of weeks begin to lay eggs, causing further development of the parasitic disease.

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Symptoms of pinworms in children

Symptoms manifest themselves as itching and discomfort, painful sensations in the anus. At the first stages of infection, the itching is insignificant, but in the absence of deworming, the unpleasant sensations only intensify. With significant invasion, the baby suffers not only from itching and burning in the anus, but also from problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Regular scratching of the affected area leads to the formation of small wounds that can become inflamed. Later, secondary infections, dermatitis, inflammation of the sphincter tissue, vulvovaginitis and others can occur at the scratching sites. In some children, the infection provokes allergic reactions on the skin. With prolonged parasite infestation and in the absence of treatment, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in the form of loss of appetite, digestive disorders, refusal to eat and poisoning with waste products of worms.

Pinworms in infants

This is not uncommon, many parents face such a serious problem. The reason for the parasitic disease in infants is that when the baby begins to crawl and actively explore the world around him, parents let the baby out of the playpen or crib. At this moment, there is a risk of infection. At such an early age, enterobiasis is a very serious disease.

The danger of pinworms in infants is that the parasites eat all the nutrients and components that have accumulated in the body. The newborn does not receive adequate nutrition, but the parasites actively grow and are saturated. They can be seen in the anus area. The parasite looks like a thin white cotton thread. Let's look at the main symptoms of infection in infants.

• Itching of the perineum and anus, which intensifies in the morning and at night.
• Lack of nutrition, weakened immunity, weight loss.
• Pain in the gastrointestinal tract. (In medical practice, there are cases where nematodes multiply so actively that they form a ball in the baby's stomach, which causes the baby to feel pain and pulsation).

In order to confirm the diagnosis, laboratory tests must be taken. The baby's stool is taken, and if necessary, an ultrasound examination is performed (to determine the location of parasites in the abdominal cavity and visualize them).

As for deworming and prevention, the doctor gives recommendations on this matter. The pediatrician selects safe but effective medications (syrups or tablets), dosage and duration of therapy. In addition to drug treatment, parents should ensure that the baby eats only clean foods and drinks only purified water. It is also very important to wash the apartment with disinfectants, wash bed linen, clothes and towels and observe personal hygiene rules.

Pinworms in children under one year old

Pinworms in children under one year require deworming, since attempts by parents to cope with the parasitic disease on their own do not lead to anything good. In addition, it is the doctor who can confirm the infection with the help of laboratory tests, and not any other type of worms. To do this, they take a stool sample, scraping from the folds of the anus and conduct an ultrasound examination of the intestine.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor draws up a treatment plan. Today, there are many effective drugs on the pharmaceutical market that help cure the disease. As a rule, the treatment is simple and a couple of doses of the drug are enough to completely get rid of enterobiasis.

Most often, Vormil, Vermox or Gelmitox are used. In addition to drug treatment, parents should monitor the baby's hygiene, regularly wash and change underwear. Please note that if roundworms are found in a child, then a course of deworming is recommended for all family members, even in the absence of symptoms of the disease.

Pinworms in a 2 year old child

This is not uncommon, but rather a pattern. Since at this age, the baby is very actively exploring everything around and pulling things into his mouth. The baby plays in the sandbox and on playgrounds, where there are many different parasites. The imperfect barriers of the gastrointestinal tract at this age are very susceptible, so they cannot cope with parasites (for example, in the body of an adult, pinworm eggs can die from gastric juice).

The disease must be treated, since advanced forms of the parasitic disease lead to the development of various forms of acquired immunodeficiency. In order to obtain an appropriate set of treatment measures, laboratory tests are taken, based on the results of which a treatment plan is drawn up.

Remedy for pinworms in children

Anthelmintic drugs have a certain toxicity. Therefore, deworming is carried out only as prescribed by a doctor. As a rule, the same drugs are used to treat this invasion in children and adults. The exception is newborns and pregnant women. Drug therapy is carried out only after the doctor's permission. The doctor selects a remedy according to the individual characteristics of the body. The most popular antihelminthic drugs:

Albendazole

The drug is used to treat helminthic invasion and enterobiasis. The drug is effective in combating trichuriasis, necatoriasis and other parasitic lesions. The main contraindications for use: hypersensitivity to the active substance, eye lesions, as well as pregnancy and lactation. With special caution, it is prescribed for liver failure and circulatory disorders.

If the dosage is not observed and the duration of deworming is exceeded, the drug causes abdominal pain, headaches, kidney dysfunction, allergic reactions. It is taken orally, during or after meals, the dosage is selected individually. Up to two years, 200 mg is prescribed once. After 2-3 weeks, the dose is repeated. When treating enterobiasis over two years old, 400 mg is taken once.

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Mebendazole

A broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug that is highly effective in the treatment of enterobiasis. When used at the age of 2 to 10 years, 25-50 mg of the drug is prescribed once. In case of repeated invasion, it is necessary to repeat the drug intake in the same dosage, but after 3-4 weeks. It is contraindicated for use in children under two years of age. If the conditions for using the drug are violated, the following may occur: nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, hematuria, allergic reactions.

Piperazine

The drug is available in tablet and solution form. The main indications for use are enterobiasis and ascariasis. The drug is absolutely safe, so it is allowed to be used for therapy in pregnant women. Up to 1 year, 0.2-0.5 g is prescribed, at the age of 2-3 years - 0.3-0.6 g, at 4-8 years - 0.5-1.5 g. The antihelminthic drug is used for five days a couple of hours before meals. Deworming involves three courses of administration with a week's break. Piperazine is contraindicated in renal failure and lesions of the central nervous system.

Vermox

A broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug, highly effective in the treatment of enterobiasis. The drug depletes glycogen reserves and destroys these nematodes. The main indications for the use of Vermox: enterobiasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, teniasis, mixed helminthiasis. At the age of 2 to 10 years, a single dose of 25-50 mg is prescribed, at the age of over 10 years - 100 mg. To prevent re-invasion, a repeated course of therapy is carried out after 3-4 weeks at the same dosage. If the rules of use are not followed, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, reversible liver dysfunction may occur.

Before taking the remedy for pinworms, it is recommended to prepare the baby. The day before deworming, the baby should be given only liquid and semi-liquid food. In the morning, give the medicine, and in the evening, a laxative. The next day, you need to do an enema. In addition to drug treatment, it is very important to follow the rules of personal hygiene and maintain cleanliness in everything. All family members should undergo deworming.

In addition to drug therapy, pinworms in children can be treated with folk remedies. Let's look at some of them.

• Using garlic for three weeks with a repeat course after a week allows you to get rid of this invasion. But such deworming is only suitable for children of primary school age and older.
• It is recommended to drink a decoction of wormwood, half a glass three times a day, for 3-4 days. A decoction of tansy flowers will also help to cope with worms, but it is recommended to take it on an empty stomach, for 5-7 days.
• A decoction of pumpkin seeds and an infusion of thyme or wild savory have antihelminthic properties. Herbal decoctions should be used until the symptoms of the disease disappear.

Unlike drug treatment, traditional medicine does not always give the desired result, as it depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

Treatment with Pyrantel

Treatment with Pirantel allows you to effectively get rid of enterobiasis. Pirantel is released in the form of a suspension, the product has a pleasant taste and is easily swallowed by the child. The drug acts locally, destroys nematodes due to the fact that the active substance paralyzes the neuromuscular apparatus of parasites. Worms become completely immobilized and are excreted from the body with feces in a natural way. Pirantel is taken without preliminary preparation, and there is no need to use an enema.

The medicine is used only as prescribed by a doctor. Pyrantel is taken once, the medicine must be taken again after 3-4 weeks. Let's look at the basic dosage of the anthelmintic.

• For children up to 6 months, 125 mg is prescribed once a day;
• Children under 6 years of age are given 250 mg;
• Children aged 6 years and over use 500 mg of the medicine.

The main contraindications for taking are hypersensitivity to the active substance. The suspension is prescribed with special caution in the first year of life and in case of liver dysfunction. If the dosage is not observed and the duration of deworming is exceeded, the medicine causes side effects. The main side effects of Pirantel are: problems with the gastrointestinal tract, loss of appetite, drowsiness or, conversely, sleep disorders, allergic reactions. If the symptoms described above occur, you must seek medical help and interrupt treatment.

Treatment with Dekaris

This is an effective and safe method of getting rid of parasites. Decaris is an antihelminthic drug with immunomodulatory properties. It is produced in the form of tablets, light orange in color with an apricot smell. The drug must be taken once and this is enough to completely destroy the worm.

Main indications for use: enterobiasis, ascariasis, toxoplasmosis, necatoriasis and others. Decaris is contraindicated for children under three years of age, with increased sensitivity to the drug and with agranulocytosis. The drug is prescribed with special caution in case of liver and kidney failure. If the rules of use are not followed, Decaris causes side effects (digestive system disorders, allergic reactions).

The dosage for the treatment of enterobiasis depends on age. At the age of 3 to 6 years, 25-50 mg is prescribed, up to 14 years from 50 to 100 mg. Sometimes the dosage is selected according to weight. But Decaris can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.

Why are pinworms dangerous for children?

Pinworms, as a rule, do not pose a serious threat to the body, either in children or adults.

• Their danger is that without proper therapy, parasites can move from the intestines to the liver, bile ducts and other organs, causing inflammatory diseases and other lesions.
• Females can even penetrate the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing severe itching and discharge from the genitals in girls.
• In medical practice, there are cases where pinworms were found in children's eyes, sinuses, and even lungs. The danger of nematodes in such lesions is that surgical intervention is required for treatment.

The worms are localized in the large intestine, therefore they provoke problems with the gastrointestinal tract. In the morning and in the evening, they go down to the anus and lay eggs. If the baby scratches the itchy place, the pinworm eggs get on the hands and under the nails, and from there on toys, clothes, food and everything that the baby touches. Therefore, the task of parents is to carefully monitor the hygiene of their child.

If pinworms are suspected in a child, parents should consult a doctor and undergo tests. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe medication for parasites. Timely deworming and prevention will help prevent the disease and protect the body from the dangerous effects of parasites.

Diagnosis of pinworms in children

Diagnosis begins with laboratory tests. To confirm enterobiasis, a scraping is taken from the perianal area to examine for pinworm eggs. Also, feces are taken for analysis. Parents can diagnose the disease themselves; all they need to do is look into the child's potty.

Very often, worms settle on clothes, especially on underwear. Therefore, parents should ensure that the baby's underwear is changed regularly. Nematodes can also be seen on the body, especially in the evening and morning. Parasites crawl out of the anus and lay eggs, which causes the baby to feel severe itching and even burning. When diagnosing an invasion, special attention is paid to the symptoms of the disease and the study of the causes of infection.

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How to identify pinworms in a child?

It is worth knowing that it is not always possible to determine the presence of worms using feces or visually see parasites on the anus. For an accurate determination, it is necessary to take a scraping. In the laboratory for analysis, they take a special sticky tape and pass it along the anus, this allows you to collect nematode eggs that remain on the surface. But, in some cases, scraping can give a false negative result. In this case, the task of the parents is to pay attention to the presence of symptoms such as:

• Itching in the anal area, causing restlessness and fidgeting during night and daytime sleep.
• Nausea, pain in the gastrointestinal tract, a sharp decrease in appetite and weight.
• Bowel disorder, dysbacteriosis, diarrhea, constipation.
• Drooling, increased appetite, pain in the navel area.
• The baby quickly gets tired, becomes capricious, the baby begins to suffer from headaches, and his face becomes pale.

When infected, girls may experience enuresis, i.e. urinary incontinence. As a rule, this occurs due to irritation of the urethra. If the worms affect the genitals, then profuse discharge appears. With prolonged invasion, parasites cause allergic reactions, low hemoglobin levels and increased eosinophils.

Pinworm eggs in a child

A child can pick up parasites in kindergarten, through contact with other children, while playing in a sandbox, on a playground, or through contact with pets. Worms develop both in the human body and in the intestines of animals (cats, dogs).

Some people infected with nematodes do not experience symptoms of the disease. That is why many institutions (swimming pool, kindergarten) require a certificate with a negative test result for pinworm eggs. When infested with eggs, characteristic symptoms occur - itching and burning in the anus at night and in the morning, pain in the gastrointestinal tract, problems with appetite, weight loss, and others. If eggs are found, you must contact a pediatrician for treatment.

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Pinworms in a child's stool

Pinworms in a child's stool are very common and, as a rule, do not pose a mortal danger. It looks like a piece of white thread, up to one centimeter long. Parasites have a toxic, mechanical and allergic effect on the body. They affect the intestines, cause inflammatory processes in the genital area, urethra and anus. Parasites can even crawl into the appendix and provoke attacks of appendicitis.

Only adult nematodes can be seen in feces, but females do not lay eggs in feces. That is why it is not always possible to diagnose the disease only by stool analysis. To accurately determine enterobiasis, scrapings are taken from the perianal folds. Nematodes in feces require deworming and prevention, since without proper medical care, parasites can provoke serious problems with the immune system.

What do pinworms look like in children?

Pinworm eggs can only be seen under a microscope, but adult pinworms resemble white cotton threads. An adult can reach 15 mm in length, but the male parasite is up to 5 mm in length.

Worms are only white, that is, light in color. Many patients have a question: can pinworms be black or with black inclusions? We will answer right away: these nematodes are only light in color. If you find dark-colored parasites in your feces, then these are not Enterobius vermicularis and most likely not even worms. In any case, parasites in feces require diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

What to do if a child has pinworms?

The first thing parents need to do is seek medical help. The pediatrician will give a referral for tests for enterobiasis and, based on the test results, will create a treatment plan. The invasion is treated with syrups and tablets. The most popular antiparasitic drugs are: Vormil, Pirantel, and others. All family members should undergo deworming, even if there are no symptoms of the disease, since mandatory prevention is required.

In addition to drug therapy, it is necessary to observe hygienic and preventive measures to combat nematodes. This will help to avoid re-infection with parasites. Parents should monitor personal hygiene, change underwear regularly, and keep toys and clothes clean. Tampons with Vaseline ointment are used for treatment in infants. This helps to cure enterobiasis and eliminate itching.

Treatment of pinworms in children

Treatment begins with taking tests. Laboratory tests can confirm the presence of parasites. Since the lifespan of these nematodes is a couple of weeks, the main set of treatment measures is monitoring proper personal hygiene. However, this method is effective for adult patients, for children it is a mandatory preventive measure.

Therapy is carried out using medications. The most effective of them are: Piperazine, Mebandazole, Decaris, Combatrig. The drugs are selected according to the age of the child and the individual characteristics of the body. To prevent infection with parasites of primary school and preschool age, the child is tested every year for pinworms. Deworming is not long-term, usually no more than a week, but sometimes repeated administration of drugs is required.

How to treat pinworms in a child?

Before starting the treatment process, it is necessary to remember that this helminthic invasion occurs due to contact with infected surfaces (shoes, floor, sandbox, toys, public places, animals). Sometimes, parasites are transmitted from child to child through unwashed hands. All this suggests that it is very easy to become infected with worms, so it is necessary to take preventive measures in order to protect the baby in the future.

Before treating an infestation, it is necessary to confirm the presence of the disease. There are certain symptoms for this (itching in the anus and perineum, problems with appetite, stool, abdominal pain) and laboratory tests. Deworming is dangerous, since only a doctor can formulate an effective and safe treatment based on the test results. Drug therapy is resorted to only if the test results confirm the presence of parasites. Before starting to take medications, it is worth knowing that all antihelminthic drugs are toxic.

• The infestation can be treated with Pyrantel, Vermox or Mebendazole.
• When taking antihelminthic drugs, you must follow the instructions for the drug, the dosage prescribed by the doctor and the duration of treatment.
• After the main course, the baby must undergo a repeat course of treatment (in two weeks). The goal is to prevent the disease in the future, that is, to prevent helminthic invasion.
• After deworming with medications, it is necessary to restore the intestinal microflora. For this, medications containing bacteria are used, for example, Linex or Bifidumbacterin.

A couple of months after the therapy, it is recommended to conduct a control examination of the baby for enterobiasis. This is especially important in case of severe worm infestations, and in cases where enterobiasis occurs with complications.

Prevention of pinworms in children

Prevention is used to protect the baby from repeated parasite infection. Infection with nematodes is much easier to prevent than to cure. Let's look at basic preventive measures.

• Make sure your child washes his hands regularly and thoroughly. This rule applies to all family members, as pinworm eggs can be under the nails and on the hands. Hands should be washed before and after eating, after using the toilet, after contact with pets and after walking outside.
• Particular attention should be paid to intimate hygiene, changing underwear and washing as often as possible. This will help keep the perianal area clean and prevent itching when infected with worms.
• Vegetables and fruits must be scalded with boiling water and washed thoroughly. It is forbidden to drink raw tap water, as this can also lead to infection.
• It is not recommended to eat raw fish, poorly fried or undercooked meat.
• In summer, it is necessary to protect the child from swimming in unknown bodies of water and purchase insect repellents, i.e. repellents. Since insects (bloodsucking) are carriers of parasites.
• If you have pets, give them preventive treatment for worm diseases and keep them clean.
• Do not forget to regularly wet clean your home, as helminth eggs can remain dormant for a long time in household dust. Disinfect the toilet after using the toilet.
• When changing underwear, do not forget to iron panties, T-shirts and vests with a hot iron.
• Make sure your child's nails are cut short, as eggs of these nematodes can accumulate under the nails.

Pinworms in children are an unpleasant disease caused by infection with parasitic worms. Enterobiasis has unpleasant and even painful symptoms. Today, there are many methods of deworming and prevention. Treatment is carried out after examination by a doctor and testing. It is prohibited to give antihelminthic drugs to a child on your own.