There was a time when it was especially popular to bask in the memories of the 70, 80 and 90 generation on the Internet. Many people have [pagoda candy] in their childhood memories, which is insecticide. Many people lament that the sanitary conditions are good now, and they cannot see children taking insecticide.
However, do children nowadays really not have worms in their stomachs?
In fact, according to the statistics of 2010, the infection rate of native nematodes (people often say [there are worms in the belly], which refers to this kind of worms) in our country is 11.25%, of which the infection rate of children aged 5-10 years old has reached 16.33%, and pinworm is one of the parasites most infected.
If parents find that their children always scratch their buttocks from time to time, often sleep poorly at night and wake up easily, then they should be on guard against whether their children are infected with pinworms.
Is what pinworm disease?
Enterobius vermicularis is a common intestinal worm infection, which is very easy to spread and infect in families and kindergartens. Millions of people in the United States are affected by enterobius vermicularis infection every year, especially children aged 3-6.
Although the infection rate of pinworm disease is relatively high, Dante’s mother can give parents peace of mind. If the child is infected with pinworm, generally speaking, there is no need to worry too much.
On the one hand, there are very effective drugs that can easily treat pinworm disease; On the other hand, pinworm looks disgusting, but it usually only causes anal pruritus after infection. If it is a girl, there may be vaginal pruritus or increased vaginal secretions, and some may show loss of appetite and weight loss, but generally it will not cause more serious conditions.
How is pinworm infected?
Enterobius vermicularis is generally infected by oral intake of Enterobius vermicularis eggs.
After eggs enter the human body through the mouth, on the road of digestive tract, they first develop into larvae in the small intestine and then move to the large intestine. After a period of development and maturity, the adults will mate with each other. The mated female insects will take the newborn eggs in the body and then move to the rectum, and run to the vicinity of the anus when laying eggs, and then place the eggs around the anus.
These eggs will irritate the skin around the anus, causing itching.
If someone around you is infected with pinworm, it is very easy to spread pinworm eggs through contact between people.
For example, a child infected with pinworm, Because of itching around the anus, He scratched it with his hand. The hands and nails will be covered with eggs, These eggs will be left in the sofa, toys and other places he has touched through the children’s hands. Enterobius vermicularis eggs can survive for 3 weeks under normal room temperature outside the body. During this period, if other children touch the sofa, toys and so on stained with these eggs, it is easy to bring the eggs to their hands and then enter the oral cavity, causing infection.
Enterobius vermicularis has what symptoms?
Some people may not show what’s special symptoms after contracting pinworm. However, if parents observe that their children have the following symptoms, they need to doubt whether they are infected with pinworm:
1. Perianal pruritus
Children will scratch their buttocks from time to time, and some older children may directly tell their parents whether their buttocks or anus itch.
Step 2: Sleep uneasiness
Since pinworms always like to lay eggs at night, children will not sleep well at night due to itching or discomfort around the anus.
3. Increased pudendal secretions
If it is a girl’s infection, it may also cause increased vaginal secretions or pudendal pruritus.
4. Loss of appetite and weight loss
Some children may show loss of appetite, which may cause weight loss in the long run.
5. Enterobius vermicularis found in anus or stool
If parents find grayish-white, linear, hair-thick and 0.6-12cm long worms around their children’s anus or in their stool, they are highly suspected to be pinworms.
What should I do if I suspect I am infected with pinworm?
If parents suspect that their children are infected with pinworms, they can check their children’s anus for worms after the children sleep soundly for 2-3 hours at night.
You can also wake up in the morning, you can put the sticky side of transparent adhesive on the child’s anus, and then take the adhesive tape to the doctor to check for eggs under the microscope. In order to improve the probability of finding eggs, it is recommended to stick adhesive tape on the child’s anus for three consecutive mornings.
If it is confirmed that it is pinworm infection, oral drugs can effectively treat pinworm infection according to the doctor’s advice.
However, because pinworms are very easy to spread and eggs are easily transmitted through hands or other public items to cause infection, if someone in the family is infected with pinworms, other people in the family also need treatment to prevent infection.
In addition to treatment, doing a good job of household cleaning can help eliminate eggs completely.
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Make sure everyone in the home thoroughly cleans their hands (e.g. Using a seven-step washing technique), especially before eating. Don’t know how to wash? Click here.
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Make sure everyone in the family changes their underwear every morning.
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Cut your nails short and clean the stitches.
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If the child has the habit of gnawing nails, urge the child to get rid of it.
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Tell the child not to scratch his anus.
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Wash all bedding, towels, bath towels and worn clothes with hot water. Then dry at high temperature.
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Thoroughly clean places where eggs may be found, including floors, desks, countertops, toy surfaces, toilet seats, etc.
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Although people are the only hosts of pinworms and pets in the family will not be infected with pinworms, they also need to take a good bath. After all, the fur on pets is still easy to harbor eggs.
How to prevent pinworm infection?
The best way to prevent pinworm infection and reinfection is to do a good job in hygiene.
Not only personal hygiene, but also the hygiene work of all people in the family should be done well. Parents especially need to help their children form good hygiene habits:
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Wash your hands carefully with soapy water before and after going to the toilet.
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Don’t leave your nails too long and keep the nail seams clean.
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If the child has a habit of gnawing nails, it is recommended to seek help from a professional child psychological consultant to help the child correct his habit of gnawing nails.
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Pay attention to bathing frequently and changing clothes frequently.