Stomach Worms in Kids

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Symptoms Of Stomach Worms In Kids

• Types Of Stomach Worms In Kids 

• Causes Of Stomach Worms In Kids 

• How To Diagnose Stomach Worms In Kids 

• Importance Of Deworming 

• How To Prevent Stomach Worms In Kids 

• Stomach Worms Treatment 

• When to See a Doctor

• Take-Home Points 

• FAQs

Introduction

Worm infections in kids are quite common in India. According to WHO stomach worms in kids are among the commonest infections in humans. If your child is not eating well or complaining of stomach ache this might be due to stomach worms in kids. Deworming can be helpful in children. It can be done once or twice a year starting from the age of 2 years and there are several home remedies which you can try to avoid stomach worms in kids.

Stomach worms in kids can be acquired by consuming unhealthy meals, drinking contaminated water, playing in soil etc. In this blog, we will discuss the symptoms of stomach worms in kids, the causes of stomach worms, how to treat and how to prevent stomach worms in kids, etc.

Symptoms Of Stomach Worms In Kids

There are several symptoms of stomach worms in kids which you can look for. Sometimes, stomach worms can be asymptomatic for long, the only complaint being loss of appetite. Here are the symptoms of stomach worms in kids to look for:

1. Stomach Ache  

2. Diarrhea 

3. Nausea And Vomiting 

4. Coughing 

5. Painful Urination 

6. Anal Itching 

7. Rashes Around Anal Region 

8. Loss of appetite 

9. Frequent Eating

10. Anaemia 

11. Blood In Stool

12. Unexpected Weight Loss

Types Of Stomach Worms In Kids

Stomach worms are members of the helminthic family which include roundworms and flatworms. The main types of worms in kids include tapeworms, whipworms, Pinworms, flukes and roundworms:

1. Whipworm: Whipworms are named because of their whip-like shape; they are spread via contaminated soil and infection of whipworm is known as trichuriasis. Symptoms due to whipworm include vomiting, headache, diarrhoea with blood, and inability to control defecation. Infection due to whipworms is common in places where open defecation happens. 

2. Pinworm: Anal itching is more common with pinworm. They are thread-like, white in colour and can be found in stool. They are common among school-going kids and can be spread via contaminated hands. Other symptoms associated with pinworms include irritability during the night, teeth grinding and occasional stomach pain.

3. Tapeworm: tapeworm is acquired via drinking contaminated water. These are members of Platyhelminthes meaning flat-bodied; they can also be acquired via the undercooked meat from infected animals. Symptoms due to tapeworm include nausea, weakness, abdominal pain etc.

4. Hookworm(ancylostomiasis): They have a hook-like projection on their head. These worms can directly enter through your skin if you walk barefoot on the contaminated soil. Other worms cannot enter directly through your skin.

5. Roundworm: Spread through contaminated soil, seen in places where open defecation is common. Roundworms can grow up to around 13 inches and female roundworms lay around 200,000 eggs per day. Symptoms of roundworms include weight loss, wheezing, fever, and coming out of the roundworm through the anus, mouth or nose.

Causes Of Stomach Worms In Kids

Contamination by stomach worms in kids is quite common for several reasons and they can get these stomach worms through:

1. Playing In Dirt: Playing in contaminated soil can cause stomach worms in kids through hand-to-mouth transmission.

2. Drinking Contaminated Water: Drinking water which is contaminated by eggs of these worms can affect kids.

3. Playing in the areas that lack sanitation: Playing in the areas that lack sanitation predisposes children to eggs of intestinal worms because of poor sanitation, there is a high chance of contamination to their hands.

4. Playing with their bare feet: Some worms can enter directly through the skin. If children are playing barefoot on the soil, there is a high chance of getting these worms.

5. Dirty hands: It is essential to teach kids hand hygiene. Not only intestinal worms but other infections can all also get into their stomachs if hand hygiene is poor. Touching dirty toys or food can predispose children to stomach worms.

6. Eating Poorly Cooked Meat: Kids can also get stomach worms by eating poorly cooked meat as meat can contain eggs of these worms. Proper cooking destroys the eggs. 

7. Getting infection from pets: If a child plays with pets, it is important to maintain hygiene because pets can carry these forms and their eggs, and it becomes quite easy for kids to get these stomach worms. 

How To Diagnose Stomach Worms In Kids

To diagnose stomach worms in kids, doctors can use different methods which include:

1. Stool examination: Stool examination can be done to check for eggs of stomach worms or worms themselves

2. Scotch Tape Test: A tape is repeatedly applied and removed to capture worms, and then this sample is analysed under a microscope.

3. Ultrasound: Ultrasound abdomen can detect the moving body of intestinal worms.

4. CT scans and MRIs can also be used to detect intestinal or stomach worms in kids.

Importance Of Deworming

WHO recommends school children in endemic regions be dewormed regularly to get rid of these stomach worms. Deworming helps in removing these worms from the intestine by killing them using medications. 

• Deworming helps in removing these worms from the stomach and improves the nutrition of the child.

• Increases weight and improves the growth of the child.

• Improves absorption of nutrients.

• Improves physical and mental health.

• Decreases the likelihood of getting gastrointestinal problems in children.

How To Prevent Stomach Worms In Kids 

Stomach worms in kids can be prevented by using several preventive measures, here are things to do to prevent stomach worms in kids:

1. Playing in a clean surrounding 

2. Maintaining hand hygiene 

3. Maintaining clean swimming pools 

4. Avoid walking barefoot 

5. Eating properly cooked food 

6. Keeping children safe from drinking in public water tanks 

7. Giving children boiled or purified water

8. Avoid sharing bottles for drinking water in school.

9. Avoid your children from playing barefoot on the ground.

Stomach Worms Treatment 

Stomach worm treatment is done by your doctor after assessing your child's age and the type of worm that has infected the intestine. Worms are identified based on your stool sample, and a diagnosis is made.

• Albendazole and Mebendazole are commonly used medicines for deworming in children

• Albendazole is given twice a year for deworming.

• Syrups can be used for children who cannot consume solid forms of medicines.

When to See a Doctor

If your child is not growing well or is not eating well or having a stomach ache, this may be the time when you have to see your doctor. Your child may have worm infestation in their Gut because it is very common to get stomach worms in kids and it is also easy to get rid of them. If your child is experiencing symptoms like: 

1. Stomach Ache  

2. Diarrhea 

3. Nausea And Vomiting 

4. Coughing 

5. Anal Itching 

6. Rashes Around Anal Region 

7. Loss of appetite 

8. Frequent Eating 

9. Blood In Stool

10. Unexpected Weight Loss

If these symptoms are seen in your child then it is important to visit a doctor for thorough evaluation and treatment. There can be other causes which can lead to the symptoms.

Take-Home Points

1. Stomach worms in kids can affect children's growth, they can reduce appetite and even cause stomach aches

2. Stomach worms in kids can be acquired by consuming unhealthy meals, drinking contaminated water, playing in soil etc.

3. There are several symptoms of stomach worms in kids, like stomach ache, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting,  coughing, painful urination, anal itching, rashes around the anal region, loss of appetite, frequent eating etc.

4. Contamination by stomach worms in kids is quite common because of playing in the dirt, drinking contaminated water, playing in areas that lack sanitation, and playing with their bare feet. 

5. Diagnosis of stomach worms and kids is made through stool examination, scotch tape test, ultrasound and other imaging modalities.

6. Deworming in children can be done twice a year.

7. Deworming can help remove worms from the stomach and improve the growth and nutrition of a child.

8. Stomach worms in kids can be prevented by maintaining hygiene and playing in clean surroundings.