Worms are a group of parasites that can cause problems when they enter the human body in children and adults. There are different types of worms such as round worms, pin worms, hookworms, whipworms and schistosoma. They enter the body as eggs which we pick up going about our daily lives, then they hatch and multiply in the digestive tract.
Children are particularly susceptible to worms because they play in sand and dirt and get closer to family pets. Children at the age of 3-6 months are notorious for putting everything into their mouths, and this may lead to them picking up an unwanted parasite.
Often worms can go undetected in your body for a long time and can also lead to poor weight gain and a host of other digestive problems. Due to the serious problems that worms can cause; the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regular deworming, every 6 months.
Signs and symptoms of worm infestation in children
Below are a few symptoms that can help you identify whether your child has fallen prey to intestinal worms or not:
Abdominal pain
Redness or rash on the buttocks
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Weight loss
Appetite loss
Anemia can be related to parasitic worms
Tiredness, weakness, or hunger due to worms
Blood in the stool
Diarrhoea or constipation
Urinating frequently
Pain while urinating
Problems caused by worm Infestation
The serious outcomes of worm infestations in children are:
Poor growth and/or malnutrition
Bleeding in the intestines which can lead to loss of iron and anemia (low blood level)
Difficulty with absorption of nutrients in the intestine
Diarrhoea
Loss of appetite which can lead to a reduction in food intake
Poor learning and poor school performance
Organ damage. For example, intestine blockage that may require an operation to unblock
How to deworm your children
Deworming is the process of expelling intestinal worms or parasitic worms from the body by administering an anthelmintic medicine/drug. Deworming medication for children comes in a liquid form, making it easier to take. The medication kills off the adult worms in the digestive system but not the eggs, it is therefore recommended that you repeat deworming after 6 months.
There are different drugs for treating worm infestation. Albendazole (a common over the counter drug) is recommended for routine deworming as it targets many types of worms. Speak to your doctor about alternative type of worm-expellers.
How often should you deworm your children?
The recommendation is to deworm all kids from the age of 6 months to 5 years. As per WHO’s recommendation, deworming must be done once every six months.
Preventing re-infection
Worm infections are easily spread between members of a family, and it is easy to get re-infected.
The worms lay eggs around the anus at night. These eggs can be transferred back to the mouth, causing re-infection. All members of the family must therefore take extra care with hygiene for at least 6 weeks after the infection.
Wash hands thoroughly, including under the fingernails, before preparing food or eating and after using the toilet. Wear underwear in bed and wash the bedding and underwear regularly. Have a bath or shower as soon as you get up in the morning. Do not share towels.
How to prevent your kids from getting worms
Prevention is always better than treatment. There are several ways in which your child can get infected by intestinal worms such as playing in infested dirt, grass and sand, consuming food from unhygienic places or coming into contact with people who are already infested with worms.
Below are a few points of prevention against worms:
Make sure that your kids wash their hands properly with soap before consuming anything.
Wash fruits or vegetables properly before eating, and make sure that whatever you consume is not infested with worms.
Prevent your kids from playing barefoot in mud, sand, grass, or other outdoor places.
Prevent your kids from eating uncooked meat, especially pork and fish, which are known to carry worms in them.
Make sure that any swimming pool your child visits is in line with hygienic standards.
Avoid drinking water from public places. Always drink purified water.
Take Home Message
Deworming is important to do every 6 months. Children are susceptible to getting worm infestations even if they are not symptomatic.
This article is written by Dr. Itumeleng Buti (MBChB)
References:
1. Tilottama Chatterjee. Parenting: How to deworm Your Child. [Internet] First Cry.Com. [updated 2018 August 18; Cited 2022 April 19] Available from: https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/how-to-deworm-your-kid/
2. Ask The Paediatrician Foundation. Deworming children? When, how and how often? [Internet] [ Updated 2015 August 25, Cited 2022 April 19] Available from: https://askthepaediatricians.com/2015/08/deworming-children-when-how-and-how-often/
3. Dis-chem. Deworming Kids. [ internet] Cited 2022 April 19. Available from: https://www.dischem.co.za/shop-by-department/health/self-medication/stomach-remedies/deworm-preps/deworming-kids.
4. Bundy DA, Kremer M, Bleakley H, Jukes MC, Miguel E. Deworming and development: asking the right questions, asking the questions right. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2009 Jan 27;3(1):e362.
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