Worms and Kids

If your child is waking up in the night and is restless and irritable. He or she must be eating well and yet not gaining weight. Chances are there that she is suffering from worms of some kind.

Some of the most common worms are:

*Pineworms or Threadworms

*Tapeworms

*Roundworms

*Hookworms

*Whipworms

It is a myth that worms exist only in the stomach. Worms can be present in the bloodstream, muscles and tissues too. However a bad digestive system is an ideal breeding ground for all sorts of parasites.

ROUND WORMS

Round worms are round in shape and they are pink or white in colour. The most common symptoms are that the child might complain about abdominal pain, rashes, breathlessness and loss of appetite. The child might get fever if the round worm travels to the liver. There can be wheezing too. Round worms are usually found in the faces of dogs and cats. Kids playing outdoors may come in contact and transfer the infection when they unknowingly put their hands in the mouth. When you notice these symptoms in your child, consult your doctor who will prescribe an anti-parasitic drug.

PINEWORMS OR THREAD WORMS

These worms are usually white in colour and small. They look like cotton threads. The first symptom of threadworms is itchy anus and vulva. They become very active in the night and hence the child has disturbed sleep. Nervousness, digestive disorder and irritability are some signs of disorder when the child is suffering from pineworms and threadworms. Bad hygiene and not washing hands properly are the main reason for this infection. Children pass on the threadworms to their playmates as they put the toys into their mouths. These worms multiply very rapidly.

Most doctors suggest anti-parasitical tablets to remove the worms. The dosage varies from age to age. It is advisable to repeat the dose after two weeks. By doing this the child gets disinfected completely from thread worms and there is no chance of re-infection. As the other members of the family might be infected too, so it is advisable that the whole family takes these medicines.

TAPEWORMS

Some of the symptoms of tapeworm infection are dizziness, vomiting, loss of appetite and abdominal pains. Anaemia may sometimes develop in the infected persons. Tapeworms can be transmitted through undercooked fish and meat. Sometimes water may contain the infection too. Pets too carry tapeworm infection.

Anti-prasitic drugs may be prescribed by the doctor for treatment after the stool sample shows presence of the worm. To avoid tape worms always make it a point to wash fish and meet properly and cook it in high temperature. And if you have a pet in the house deworm him also.

HOOKWORMS

These worms live in the intestine. They suck blood and damage the organs. Side effect of hookworm infestation is anaemia. Hookworm infection in pregnant woman can lead to retardation in the baby. There will be intestinal inflammation. Most common symptom is loss of appetite. Sometimes when hookworms attack the skin, itching may be experienced. Kids infected with hookworm get the craving to eat soil. Patients infected with hookworm needs to be treated for anaemia and protein deficiency.