Common intestinal worms affecting children Custom Search Intestinal worms continue to affect children all over the world. Though more common among those living in poor hygienic conditions the problem is prevalent even in developed countries. They are responsible for many symptoms like recurrent abdominal pain, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue due to anemia. These worms can rarely lead to life threatening complication like perforation of intestine, intestinal obstruction and suffocation. The following worms are known to affect man. Round worms (Ascaris lumbricoides)Round worms so called because of the rounded shape of their bodies are among the most commonly found intestinal worms in children all over the world. The adult worms live in the intestine. Life cycle of roundworm
The female worm lays thousands of eggs daily which are passed in the feces. Under optimal conditions the eggs can survive in the soil for months. The eggs are ingested through contaminated water or food. When they reach the intestine the eggs release larvae which penetrate the intestine and enter the blood stream. Through the blood they reach the alveoli of lungs, are coughed up and swallowed reaching the intestine again and mature into adults and the cycle goes on. Symptoms: Mild infestation may remain asymptomatic. If there are many worms child may have abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss may occur. The worms may be passed in stool or occasionally vomited. Rarely the worms can cause obstruction or perforate the bowel or cause obstruction in the bile duct. Airway obstruction and suffocation is another possible complication. When the larvae are going through the lungs they can cause transient pneumonia like illness if their number is large. Laboratory findings: The ova may be found by examining the stool under microscope. Treatment: Drugs effective against round worms are Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days, Albendazole 400 mg once and Pyrantel pamoate in a dose of 11mg/kg body weight as a single dose. If the worms are causing intestinal obstruction piperazine in a dose of 150mg/kg followed by 6 doses of 65mg/kg even 12 hours is given. The drugs causes paralysis of worms and helps is expulsion. Occasionally surgery may be needed to relieve obstruction. Custom Search
Page last reviewed on 7th October 2010
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