WORM INFESTATION IN CHILDREN

WORM INFESTATION IN CHILDREN

Presented by:-

         Tenzin Dolma

                          Post Basic B.Sc Nursing 

INTRODUCTION

Helminthes infestations in children is a major public health problem caused by ineffective disposal of human excreta.

The common helminthes found in the human body are round worms (Ascaris), pin worms (Ancylostoma) and tape worms (Taenia saginata or taenia solum).

ROUND WORM

ROUND WORMS (ASCARIASIS)

Most common helminthes infestation.

It lives in the lumen of the small intestine.

Each round worm produce 2,40,000 eggs per day.

The eggs are excreted in the feces.

PATHOGENESIS

MODE OF TRANSMISSION:-

Feco oral route.

Incubation period :-

About 2 months.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATION :-

Asymptomatic.

Depend upon worm load, location or migration of larvae and deprivation of nutrients of the host .

Common features such as pain abdomen, abdominal distention, nausea, cough, loss of weight, growth failure, anemia and vitamin deficiency.

Pica, sleeplessness.

Intestinal obstruction.

DIAGNOSIS :-

History of illness.

Clinical examination.

Stool examination.

MANAGEMENT:-

Antihelminthis

PREVENTIVE MEASURE

Sanitary disposal of human excreta.

Safe drinking water, food hygiene, improving habits of hand washing .

Avoidance of open field defecation.

Special attention to be taken for foods .

CONTD:-

Health education.

Dewarming at interval of 2 to 3 months

Sanitary improvement.

PIN OR THREAD WORM (OXYURIASIS)

INTRODUCTION

Common parasitic infestation in infants and young children.

The worm does not multiply inside the human body.

Travels to perianal region at night .

MODE OF TRANSMISSION:-

Finger nails contaminated.

Contaminated clothing, bed linen and dust to infect the human host .

PATHOGENESIS:-

CLINICAL MANIFESTATION:-

No complaints.

General symptoms like

poor appetite.

loss of weight.

teeth grinding.

 abdominal pain.

Nausea.

Vomiting.

diarrhea.

Pruritus ani.

DIAGNOSIS:-

History collection.

Routine examination of stool.

MANAGEMENT:-

Antihelmintics.

Prognosis is good.

Antipruritc .

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:-

Maintenance of personal hygiene.

Laundering of infected clothing.

Health education.

HOOK WORM (ANCYLOSTOMIASIS)

INTRODUCTION

Intestinal infestation in human.

Widely prevalent in slums and rural areas.

PATHOGENESIS:-

MODE OF TRANSMISSION:-

Skin penetration.

Oral route.

INCUBATION PERIOD:-

5 weeks to 9 months.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATION:-

Progressive anemia.

Loss of appetite.

Epigastric pain.

Pica.

Black colored stools.

Diarrhea, constipation.

Malnutrition, malabsorption, growth failure.

DIAGNOSIS:-

History collection.

Stool examination.

Blood examination.

MANAGEMENT:-

Albendazole.

Correction of anemia.

PREVENTIVE MEASURE:-

Sanitary disposal of feces.

Personal hygiene.

Avoid contact of contaminated soil.

Prevention of soil pollution.

TAPE WORMS (TENIASIS)

INTRODUCTION:-

Commonly found in children.

Two types of tape worms that is pork tape worm (taenia solium) and beef tape worm (taenia saginata).

MODE OF TRANSMISSION:-

Improper cooked meat of infected pork or beef.

Ingestion of unwashed raw vegetables, food and water.

PATHOGENESIS:-

CLINICAL MANIFESTATION

Most of the infected individuals remain asymptomatic.

Symptomatic children may present with :-

Headache.

 abdominal pain.

abdominal distension.

Recurrent diarrhea.

Growth failure.

Convulsion and epilepsy.

Neurological deficit.

Alter level of consciousness.

DIAGNOSIS:-

Stool examination.

Blood study.

CT scan, MRI.

CSF examination.

MANAGEMENT:-

Antihelminthics drugs.

Surgical intervention.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:-

Treatment of infected person.

Meat inspection.

Proper cooking.

Sanitary disposal of waste.

Health education

Hand washing and prevention of pollution.