How is dwarf tapeworm transmitted?
The parasite's eggs are shed in the stool of an infected person and are immediately infectious to others. They end up on the hands, potty, door handles, toys, laundry, and then into the mouth of another child. That is why the disease spreads easily in families, kindergartens and boarding schools. A special feature of the dwarf tapeworm is its ability to complete its entire life cycle in one host: some of the eggs mature directly in the intestines, and the person infects himself again and again. Because of this, without strict hygiene, treatment is often ineffective.
- Dirty hands and nail biting habit
- Shared potties, toys, towels
- Close children's groups
- Self-infection within the intestines
- Less often - through contaminated food and water
Symptoms
Mild infestations may go unnoticed. With a large number of parasites, cramping pain in the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite, unstable stool with a tendency to loosen, and sometimes mucus appear. The child becomes lethargic, irritable, sleeps worse and gets tired faster, and may complain of headaches and dizziness. Allergic rashes and itching are often noted. Over a long period of time, the absorption of nutrients suffers: weight decreases, iron deficiency anemia develops, and growth slows down.
- Abdominal pain, usually near the navel
- Nausea and decreased appetite
- Loose stools, sometimes with mucus
- Weakness, irritability, poor sleep
- Skin rashes and itching
- Weight loss and pallor
What tests are needed
The main method is fecal analysis for helminth eggs. Eggs are released in waves, so a single negative result does not exclude anything: the test is taken at least three times with an interval of several days, and sometimes after special preparation prescribed by the doctor. The examination is supplemented with a coprogram, a general blood test to detect anemia and eosinophilia, as well as a determination of iron. All family members and contact children need to be examined, otherwise the infection will return from an asymptomatic carrier.
- Analysis of stool for helminth eggs three times
- Coprogram
- General blood test with leukemia formula
- Serum iron for pallor
- Examination of all family members
- Perianal scraping to exclude enterobiasis
Treatment
The anthelmintic drug and the duration of the course are selected by the doctor according to the age and weight of the child. Due to constant self-infection, treatment is usually carried out in repeated cycles with a break in order to act on new parasites emerging from the eggs. All identified family members are treated at the same time. Between courses and after them, strict hygiene is important: daily change of linen, short nails, hand washing, cleaning pots and toys. Control tests are taken after a few weeks and repeated after a few months.
- Anthelmintic drugs in repeated cycles
- Simultaneous treatment of infected family members
- Daily change of underwear and bed linen
- Correction of anemia as prescribed by a doctor
- Control tests after treatment
- Returning to kindergarten after doctor's permission
Prevention
Hygiene in this case is no less important than medications. Teach your child to wash his hands with soap after using the toilet, going outside and before eating, cut his nails short and stop him from biting them. Each family member should have their own towel and their own bed. Pots, door handles and toys are washed regularly with hot water and detergent. Vegetables, fruits and herbs are thoroughly washed. It is important to keep rodents out of the house, which can also be a source of infection.
- Wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating
- Cutting children's nails short
- Individual towels and bed linen
- Regular cleaning of pots and toys
- Thorough washing of vegetables and fruits
- Rodent control in the home