The symptoms of ascariasis in children are caused by these reasons

Some children complain of stomachache from time to time, but their parents do not take it seriously. Over time, it will cause some common complications, such as biliary ascariasis, ascariasis intestinal obstruction, etc. Once the trachea and bronchi are blocked, it may cause suffocation and death, and it may also drill into the appendix or pancreatic duct and cause inflammation.

1. Causes

After the eggs are swallowed, the larvae break out, penetrate the intestinal wall, circulate through the portal vein system, migrate to the liver, enter the alveolar cavity through the right heart, go along the bronchi and trachea to the pharynx, are swallowed again into the small intestine, and gradually develop into adults. During the migration process, the larvae can also reach other organs through the blood flow. They generally do not develop into adults, but can cause organ damage. Adult worms have the habit of migrating to other places and drilling holes, which can cause biliary ascariasis and ascariasis intestinal obstruction. Once they block the trachea or bronchi, they can cause suffocation and death. They can also drill into the appendix or pancreatic duct and cause inflammation. It takes 60 to 75 days from human infection to female worm laying eggs, and the life span of female worms is 1 to 2 years.

Patients with ascariasis are the main source of infection. Because female worms lay a huge number of eggs and the eggs are highly resistant to external physical and chemical factors, the eggs can survive in the soil for several months and can survive for 2 years at 5℃ to 10℃ and still be infectious. The main route of transmission is swallowing infectious worm eggs contaminated by food or hands through the mouth. The worm eggs can also be inhaled and swallowed with flying dust.

Human ascariasis is the most widespread human helminthiasis in the world. According to WHO estimates, there are 1.3 billion patients worldwide, and the infection rate is high among children, especially preschool children. About 531 million people are infected in my country, with an average infection rate of 46.99% and a maximum rate of 71.12%. Due to the implementation of a comprehensive enteric infection prevention and treatment program in schools across the country, the infection rate has gradually declined in recent years.

2. Symptoms

1. Children often complain of stomach pain, especially around the navel, which can be relieved by massage.

2. Children are prone to waking up, grinding their teeth and drooling during sleep at night.

3. There are often pale white, circular or oval patches on the face and neck skin of children, with small grayish white scales on them, commonly known as "worm spots".

4. For no apparent reason, children often develop recurrent "wind pimples" on their skin.

5. The child shows picky eating habits and likes to eat strange things such as soil, paper, cloth, etc.

6. Children eat a lot, get hungry easily, and love to eat snacks, but they can never gain weight.

Complications

1. Biliary ascariasis

It is the most common complication. Typical symptoms include paroxysmal severe colic in the right upper abdomen, flexion of the body, nausea and vomiting, and vomiting of bile or roundworms. Abdominal examination showed no obvious positive signs or only right upper abdominal tenderness. When bile tract infection occurs, the child may experience fever, jaundice, and increased white blood cell count in the peripheral blood. In some children, roundworms can directly enter the liver and cause bleeding, abscesses or calcification of the worm body. Others include massive biliary bleeding, gallstones, gallbladder rupture, bile peritonitis, acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis, intestinal perforation, etc.

2. Ascaris ileus

It is more common in children under 10 years old, and the highest incidence rate is in children under 2 years old. Ascaris lumbricoides twist into balls in the intestines, partially or completely blocking the intestines and causing intestinal obstruction, which is more common in the lower ileum. The onset is acute, with paroxysmal severe pain around the umbilicus or right lower abdomen, vomiting, abdominal distension, hyperactive bowel sounds, visible intestinal patterns and peristaltic waves, and a cord-like mass that can be palpated. Abdominal X-ray examination shows intestinal air and fluid levels.

3. Intestinal perforation and peritonitis

It manifests as sudden severe abdominal cramps accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and progressive abdominal distension. Physical examination revealed symptoms of peritoneal irritation in the star, and abdominal X-ray showed free gas under the diaphragm.