Children Are Prone To Stomach Worms. What Are They and What Are The Causes and Treatments

True, children are more prone to stomach worms. This is because children tend to become infected when they play in soil contaminated by human or pet feces.

They can also become infected by eating worm eggs found in contaminated food or under the finger nails, when kids play with mud or dirt. Some worms also infect children when larvae burrow through the skin of bare feet. Most common infections throughout the world are caused by intestinal parasites or worms.

Worms are major parasites that infect nearly anyone, but children tend to be more susceptible due to their lack of proper hygiene. Most worms live and breed in the digestive system. There are several different worms. The most common and easiest to get are Threadworms.

Other Worms Include;

• Roundworms
• Toxocariasis
• Hookworms
• Whipworms
• Pinworms &
• Tapeworms

Threadworms

Threadworms are common in children and live in the lining of the stomach. The adult threadworm lays eggs around the anus that causes irritation and itching. Scratching tends to lead to re-infection, as the eggs are transmitted to the mouth back into the digestive track.

Threadworms occur mainly in moist tropical regions, especially in rural areas and lower socioeconomic groups. These worms are excreted in feces and contaminate soil, where they continue to breed, until they infect a human host.

Symptoms Of Threadworm Infection Include;

• itching
• rashes on the buttocks and waist areas
• mild diarrhea alternating with constipation
• abdominal pains
• nausea and
• vomiting

People who have who have severe threadworm infections often have more severe symptoms, including extreme abdominal pain, coughing blood, and shock and severe sepsis. This form of the infection can be fatal.

Treatment

A threadworm infection is usually treated with the medication such as ivermectin or thiabendazole.

Roundworms

Roundworms are the result of eating unhygienic or dirty food or living in unsanitary conditions. Children get theses worm by ingesting food or water which contains its eggs. The eggs hatch in the intestine and the worms live there. Some eggs are passed out with faeces and stay in the soil until ingested another person.

Symptoms of Roundworm Infections

Symptoms of roundworm infections are generally mild and vague, and may include;

• abdominal pain
• nausea
• weight loss and
• diarrhea (though in not all cases)

Some people develop a cough and mild fever when the roundworm larvae leave the gut and sometimes enter the lungs.

Treatment

Mebendazole is probably the most common medication used to treat roundworm infections. Proper hygiene and eating clean food is the best way to avoid getting infection by these worms.

Hookworms

Hookworms enter the body by penetrating the skin and then migrate to the small intestines. Hookworm infections are also very common. The life cycle of hookworms begin and end in the small intestine, while its eggs are passed out in the feces. These hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal wall and suck blood. Children are usually infected by these worms when they walk barefoot on soil that has been contaminated by feces.

Symptoms Of Hookworm Infection

Itching and rash are the first signs of a hookworm infection. Other symptoms include;

• Anemia
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite and
• Weight loss

Severe and chronic hookworm infections can cause stunted growth and mental development, and can be especially fatal in infants.

Treatment

Treatment for a hookworm infection depends on the degree of infection. It usually consists of taking the medication mebendazole for up to three days.

Whipworms

Whipworms are also spread through the feces. and usually live in the small intestines.

This worm is mainly found tropical and subtropical climates, especially in areas where sanitation is poor. Children are mainly infected by these worms, when they handle contaminated soil and touch their mouths. They can also be infected when they eat food that contains the eggs.

Symptoms Of Whipworm Infection

There are no symptoms in a light infection. A moderate infection causes;

• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• nausea and
• diarrhea

Heavy infections are known to cause intestinal bleeding, severe abdominal cramps, and anemia. And can also result in appendicitis.

Treatment

Nowadays mebendazole is prescribed to treat light, moderate and heavy infections. Whipworm infection can be prevented by good hygiene, proper washing and cleaning of fruit and vegetables and good sanitation.

Toxocariasis

Toxocariasis is caused by roundworms that normally infect dogs or cats. These worm eggs are found in cat and dog feces. and usually infect children who tend to eat sand infect with the animal feces.

Symptoms

Serious symptoms of toxocariasis include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Wheezes
• Enlarged liver or spleen
• Skin nodules and itchiness and
• Seizures (though they are uncommon)

Mild infection usually cause little to no symptoms.

Treatment

Mebendazole is sometimes prescribed for children infected, however, these infections usually go away themselves without any treatment in six to 18 months. To prevent this infection, dogs and cats should be de-wormed regularly.

Pinworm Infections

Pinworm infections are often seen in children. This is because these tiny worms live in the large intestine or rectum of people. As a child sleeps, the worms leave the intestines through the anus and deposit eggs on the surrounding skin. The eggs can survive for up to two weeks on clothing and bedding's. Children usually become infected if they touch contaminated surfaces and then swallow the eggs.

Symptoms

Main symptoms include;

• itching around the anal area,
• irritability
• restlessness
• insomnia
• weight loss and
• poor appetite

Treatment

Treatment consists of a two-dose course of the medications pyrantel pamoate or mebendazole.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are found in the guts and usually infect both children and adults through contaminated food, or uncooked meats.

Symptoms

Infections with adult worms normally produce mild symptoms, such as some abdominal pain and nausea. However, cysticercosis, that is the presence of cysts in human tissues can cause a variety of problems, such as epilepsy and hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain).

Treatment

Treating tapeworms depends on its severity. It is often treated with the medication mebendazole.

Many health problems can be caused by these worms including malnutrition and anemia. However, most worm infections in the U.S. are rare and do not occur frequently. They are more frequent in under developed countries which lack proper sanitation and hygiene.

To Avoid Worm Infection In Children

• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet
• Ensure food, particularly beef and pork is well cooked
• Keep fingernails clean and trimmed

Paying proper attention to hygiene is the single most important factor in the prevention of worm infections.