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What are Worm Infestations?

Children often complain of stomach ache. One of the leading causes of stomach ache in children is intestinal infection which is mostly caused by intestinal  parasites such as worms. Worms tend to live in the intestine and feed off your child’s nutrition. There are different types of intestinal worms that can cause worm infections, but the most common are tapeworms, roundworms, pinworms or threadworms and hookworms. Worm infestations and related infections are common in children and are also easily treated.  

What are the Symptoms of Worm Infections?

Some common symptoms of worm infections are irritability, weight loss, stomach ache, bed wetting, blood in stools. Besides these, each worm infection has distinct symptoms as listed below:

Tapeworm infection – Jaundice, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, eating too frequently and sometimes even malnutrition

Roundworm infection – Diarrhoea, passing worms with stools, dry cough, fever

Pinworm infection – Itching around the anus, trouble sleeping due to itching, painful urination

Hookworm infection – Wheezing, coughing, fatigue, anaemia, 

What are the Causes of Worm Infections?

As children are quite dynamic and active, they tend to come in contact with germs easily.  Some of the causes of worm infections include: 

• Coming in contact with an infected surface such as soil containing eggs or germs at a playground or touching pets infected with worms
• Consuming infected food or water
• Improper hygiene
• Inadequate hand washing

How are Worm Infections  diagnosed? 

To diagnose a worm infection, your doctor will conduct a thorough examination and discuss the symptoms in detail so that he can identify the type of worm infection that is affecting your child. 

How are Worm Infections Treated ? 

Most worm infections can be easily treated. Your doctor will prescribe a course of anti-parasitic medicines. Anti-worm or deworming medicines are also available over-the-counter, but it is advisable to seek professional advice from a doctor. It is important to follow good hygiene practices along with medication for quicker and effective recovery.

Apollo Support

At Apollo Clinic, we understand how worm infestations can hamper your child’s health. Our team of skilled and experienced doctors are specialised in handling children and can easily resolve a worm infection. Our team’s expertise is only complemented by excellent infrastructure, amenities and technology.