Why Does My Child Keep Getting Worms?

Most kids in rich or well-developed countries do not constantly have to deal with worms like kids in countries where there is a big issue of poor hygiene.

With this being said, there is still a particular worm specie that feels like it has an attachment with humanity, especially kids.

This particular worm seems like it has the right powers to fight back against whatever healthy hygiene standards we have as humans.

Kids are likely to be affected with this worm, and they feel very cranky when they do. If you feel your kids are constantly having worms then the worm might be a pinworm.

The pinworms have been around for so many years, and history believes this worm also evolved as man evolved.

You will find pinworms in about five to fifty percent of primary school kids, but you also need to take into consideration that access to good treatments in some schools have reduced over the years.

Why Does My Child Keep Getting Worms

Why Does My Child Keep Getting Worms

The life cycle of the pinworm is dependent on the adult or child scratching their bum, and scratching the eggs onto the hands makes it easy for this worm to be transmitted from one child to another.

This worm also affects adults, and it is possible for this worm to make it inside the body when the child touches his mouth with the same hands.

When the worm finds its way directly inside the body, it starts off a new infection called autoinfection.

Interestingly, the eggs of pinworms are very light which makes it easy for them to infest bedding, clothes, pyjamas, while filling up the house with dust.

Pinworms are very difficult to deal with, and they are capable of causing a child to scratch to the point where the skin becomes inflamed.

This skin inflammation is what we call Pruritus, and children will feel so much pain when they develop this skin inflammation condition.

This condition causes kids to lose sleep, and it also makes a child feel very cranky. It is difficult to see pinworms as they cannot be individually seen, and their females are capable of laying up to ten thousand eggs.

How Often Can You Give Your Child Worm Medicine?

Giving your child worm medicine should be done every four to six months, and there are so many drugs out there you can count on to work actively against worms.

There are moms that have developed a three month routine in giving their children worm medicine.

You might wonder why a mother will have to give her child worm medicine every three months, but it is necessary they do as most health issues little children face is likely to be as a result of worms.

It doesn’t matter if it is no weight gain, constipation, loss of appetite, it is likely caused by a worm.

As funny as this might sound, there are moms who believe that giving a child worm medicine when the child is sick immediately makes the child feel better.

There are so many moms with this strong belief, and this explains why they deworm their child at every three months interval.

When worms enter the body, they tend to cause so many problems. Today, there are so many different worm types like pinworms, schistosoma, whipworms, hookworms, and roundworms.

People in developing countries are at the mercy of worms as worms have a heavy negative effect based on the poor standard of living.

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When a child gets attacked by worms, you will notice few signs in the child-like;

  • Diarrhoea
  • Malnutrition
  • Poor growth
  • Difficulty in absorbing nutrients
  • Poor school performance
  • Poor learning
  • Loss of appetite
  • Organ damage

People who live in areas where there is a high worm infestation rate are at risk of contacting worms.

How Do You Get Threadworms In The First Place?

Threadworms are easily spread through swallowing, and they tend to lay eggs at the anus. This makes the buttocks very itchy, and the eggs end up getting stuck on your fingers.

This is why these worms are very common in children as they can be transmitted easily.

Furthermore, you can easily pass on threadworms to objects like;

  • Toothbrushes
  • Toys
  • Clothes
  • Pets
  • Food
  • Bedding
  • Bathroom and kitchen surfaces

When other people end up touching these surfaces, the eggs on the surface are passed on to them.

These worms can also be ingested if you touch your mouth or eat with the same hands used in touching these surfaces without washing your hands.

Threadworms eggs take up to two weeks for them to get hatched, and a very big problem is children can still get infected with these worms even after they have been treated for it initially.

For this reason, it is very necessary that you advice your children to always ensure their hands are washed at all times.

They should make sure a healthy hygiene is maintained so as to avoid being infected this worm over and over again.

On the other hand, it is not entirely necessary for you to stay away from school or work. You can still observe a healthy hygiene even when you are infected with this worm.

Finally, have it in mind that drugs can kill the threadworms but not the eggs. The eggs are capable of living for as long as two weeks inside of the body, so you need to take your hygiene very serious.

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How Do I Tell If My Child Has Worms?

Worms can be easily spotted inside of your child’s poo, and you can also see them around your child’s anus. Inside of your child’s poo, you will see them as white threads, and they tend to come at night while your child is asleep.

Putting objects in the mouth, sleeping, and act restless are indicators that your child might have worms. They reside inside of the intestine without showing any symptoms, and this is where they end up taking all the minerals and vitamins inside of your child’s body.

Leaving worms untreated might lead to downgrade in physical health, low weight, iron-deficiency, and malnutrition. Here are some key signs you need to look out for so you can tell that your child has worms;

  • Spitting
  • Foul smelling stool
  • Itching around the anus
  • Abdominal pain
  • Putting objects in the mouth
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Skin rashes in very rare cases

In adult girls, they might experience a discharge and vaginal discomfort when they are being affected by worms. These are the key signs parents should look out for when dealing with worms in their kids, and the right step to take at this point is to give the child worm drugs.

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