- Round (the most common among them are roundworms and pinworms) - the most common
- Flat (hepatic and pulmonary flukes)
- Tapeworms and cestodes (bovine and pork tapeworm, broad tapeworm)
The intestines, lungs, liver and even the subcutaneous layer become the places of localization of worms.
There is no scientific research confirming the negative effect of helminths on a child. However, if the mother is infected there is a high risk that the child will get sick... In this case, treatment with anthelminthic drugs is difficult for babies. The danger can be hidden in medication to get rid of worms - many of them pass into milk and then into the baby's body.
Causes of helminthiasis
Helminthiasis is considered a disease of unwashed hands, and the likelihood of its development is high if the rules of personal hygiene are not followed.
Pinworms also become infected if hygiene rules are not followed. Toksokarami - on contact with the ground, helminthiasis is often "picked up" by children playing in the sandbox.
The immunity of a healthy person can independently cope with some types of helminthiasis, however, the mother's body, experiencing stress, cannot always do this.
Clinical picture
Helminthiasis during lactation can be asymptomatic for a long time. Among the main features - abdominal pain and itching around the anus.
Among other symptoms: problems with stool, increased fatigue, sometimes - the development of bronchial asthma, skin irritation.
Diarrhea or constipation often indicates helminthic infestation. This is due to the fact that in the process of vital activity the worms produce a substance that softens the feces and enhances intestinal motility. This results in diarrhea.
If adult worms accumulate in the large intestine, they can retain feces, which provokes constipation.
Finally, the infected body does not receive enough nutrients and calories, and therefore the woman is rapidly losing weight, although her appetite increases.
Diagnostics
The most common diagnostic method is stool analysis, which is rented 2-3 times at short intervals. Microscopic examination reveals adults, eggs and larvae in the feces.
If you suspect that the muscles are affected by helminths, a biopsy is performed.
Treatment
Most of the worms are hatched at home, but in case of infection with flat and tapeworms, inpatient treatment is necessary.
The choice of drugs allowed for lactation is quite small. Should be excluded first Dekaris (and analogues, the active substance of which is levamisole) and Vermox, Wormin (analogues based on mermendazole).
With helminthic invasion, lactating women may be prescribed Piperazine... Moreover, taking the drug is shown to all family members (except for the baby), even if worms are found in one of its members. Dosage - 2 times, after 2 weeks repeat the reception.
Another drug that is not absorbed by the blood and, accordingly, does not change the composition of breast milk - (Helmintox). As a rule, it is taken at a time.
Pirantel is taken in combination with the use of a tampon. It is inserted into the anus at night and deprives the female of the opportunity to lay eggs.
In general, during lactation, it is permissible to prescribe drugs based on pyrantel pamoate and piperazine (the safest).
If a woman is afraid that the use of medications during the nursing period will harm the baby, it is possible to recommend expressing milk before taking the pill, which to feed the baby the next day.
For the period of treatment and some time after recovery, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Change bed linen daily and carry out wet cleaning;
- Wash linen, clothes in an automatic machine at the highest possible temperature;
- Take a shower twice a day, cut your nails short;
- Replace the thongs with classic underwear made from natural fabrics;
- Severe itching will help to remove a saline enema and lubricate the skin around the anus with zinc ointment.
Traditional methods of treatment
Traditional medicine recipes are effective for treating pinworms. However, before fighting helminthiasis with these methods, you need to establish the type of worm and get the approval of your doctor.
Compliance with the following preventive measures will protect against infection with helminths:
- Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
- Each family member has a towel, bedding, regular washing at high temperatures.
- Regular wet cleaning.
- High-quality heat treatment of meat, fish, poultry.
- Processing of all products that fall on the table. Fruits and vegetables should be washed under running water and soap. Better yet, pour boiling water over them.
- Exclude contact with stray animals, as they can be carriers of toxocariasis larvae.
This type of parasite, which can infect any person, breastfeeding mothers will be no exception. In conditions of low immunity, women become infected with them, subsequently faced with the problem of getting rid of them.
The presence of worms during pregnancy or after the birth of the baby, during lactation is a serious problem, since it is not recommended to use medications during breastfeeding.
If the worms cause serious problems for the body of a young mother, then, in order to ensure the safety of the child, doctors even recommend refusing breastfeeding. Of course, there are folk methods of getting rid of worms, but they are prescribed and used only under the supervision of a doctor.
Most often, infection occurs when the elementary standards of sanitizing the room are not followed and when the rules of personal hygiene are ignored, as well as with weak immunity.
Sometimes helminths can live in the human body for several years and do not manifest themselves in any way until the infected person discovers symptoms that indicate the presence of worms. The presence of worms can be indicated by bloating and abdominal pain, constipation, nausea and vomiting, upset digestive tract, a sharp decrease in body weight, itching and constant fatigue.
However, it should be understood that all anthelmintic drugs are dangerous for the child, therefore, breastfeeding will need to be suspended for the period of treatment.
Why are helminths often found during pregnancy or after childbirth?
Worms can easily exist in the human body for more than one year, and the infected person may not even feel their presence. Only after some time there will be itching in the anus, stomach pain, flatulence, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, fatigue, a sharp change in weight, nausea. During this period, a person becomes sensitive to allergens, as a result of which a rash appears on the skin, bronchial asthma may develop.
To determine for sure whether a person is infected, it is necessary to donate feces for analysis. It is recommended to carry out this form of diagnosis several times, since not always helminths or their eggs can get into the studied form.
Read also on the topic
The first thing to do is seek medical advice. If you start treatment earlier, it will be possible to quickly get rid of unwanted consequences. In this case, a specialist will help to carry out the correct sparing therapy. It is important to complete the prescribed course completely.
Get ready to give up breastfeeding your baby. This is due to the fact that traditional methods are ineffective, and medications are toxic.
It should be understood that such a forced measure is temporary and it will be possible to return to breastfeeding after completing the course and passing tests that confirm the effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, doctors recommend replacing mother's milk with high-quality mixtures, and after completing the treatment and removing toxins from the nursing body, resume breastfeeding.
How can a nursing mother get rid of worms for sure and not harm the baby?
Worms during breastfeeding are treated as in a normal situation. Gentle technologies simply do not exist, which is why doctors recommend interrupting feeding.
Drug treatment
Having found worms in a nursing mother, treatment is prescribed by an infectious disease doctor. Independent attempts to get rid of worms are prohibited!
- Nematodes (pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, some tape species) are treated Pirantel , Vormil, Vermox.
- Flatworms (hepatic and pulmonary flukes, feline, Chinese, lanceolate fluke) are eliminated with Holoxila, Cystis.
In the case of prescribing the drug, you must strictly follow the necessary instructions for use, observe the dosage, and be observed by a doctor.
Pirantel belong to the class of moderately hazardous drugs. Its exact effect on breast milk has not been established, therefore, feeding is canceled for the period of treatment. The breastfeeding woman simply expresses milk temporarily, but does not give it to the baby. The course of taking the medicine is about 3 days.
Vermox when taking it should be washed down with a large portion of water. If nausea, diarrhea or other negative consequences appear, it is recommended to take a sorbent. Remember, only a doctor should prescribe a drug for treatment!
Treatment should be preceded by analyzes with a clear definition of the type of worms! Only the right therapy will help to avoid unpleasant negative consequences for the body.
Alternative remedies
Alternative techniques do exist. But during pregnancy or lactation, you must be under the supervision of a doctor. Treatment is carried out under his supervision. We list the most famous and used drugs approved by health care.
- Little known, but carrots are really effective. It is recommended to drink one glass of freshly squeezed carrot juice every day;
- Exotic juice of papaya and apple cider vinegar is mixed in equal portions and consumed in half a glass a day;
- Do not forget about the benefits of pumpkin seeds, which consume 2 tablespoons per day for two weeks;
- There is a recipe for rice porridge mixed with clove powder and ginger;
- Garlic is consumed before and after meals. This is an effective method, but it takes time to be effective;
- Pomegranate is effective for all infections due to its antioxidant properties;
- Fiber not only helps cleanse the intestines and relieve constipation, it is essential for the normal functioning of the human body. It should be supplemented with probiotics or yoghurts.
What harm do worms do to a nursing mother?
Treatment for worm infestation in lactating women is identical to any prescribed treatment for worms. There are no alternative sparing drugs that have a detrimental effect on worms, while not having a detrimental effect on the human body.
Sucking out worms from the body ( a living body that has a set of properties that distinguish it from inanimate matter, including metabolism, self-maintenance of its structure and organization, the ability to reproduce them when) mothers, most of the nutrient and useful microelements and minerals intended for the child, by their actions, can provoke a lack of minerals and vitamins, which in turn will affect the development of the bone and other systems of the child's body.
Severe forms of helminthiasis are accompanied by:
- prolonged, frequent headaches;
- dizziness and irritability;
- nervous tics;
- a complete breakdown, which can affect the child's restless behavior.
What to do in this situation
Revise the diet that will be beneficial for the child.
- Give up flour, sweet foods,
- minimize semi-finished products, sausages and pickles,
- give preference to baked fruits and vegetables,
- urgently conduct tests for the presence of helminths (if the analysis gives a negative result, for accurate certainty it is advisable to carry out another 1-2, since there were cases when the subsequent delivery of samples turned out to be with a positive result),
- after consulting a specialist, carry out drug therapy.
Misconception
Despite this, they all agree that it is better for a woman to stop breastfeeding and carry out the correct drug therapy with anthelmintic drugs, selected on the basis of tests.
- include garlic, pumpkin seeds in the diet;
- do cleansing enemas.
The only thing to take into account is that we live in the new century, we are keeping pace with the times, and fables are still written on the forums that garlic, pumpkin seeds and cleansing enemas are capable of performing a miracle and curing helminth infestation. Not every medicine is capable, but they can!
But the child can cause significant harm by toxic substances that are transmitted during feeding through the mother's milk, accumulating in the body with a large amount of its use. Pumpkin seeds in large quantities can cause intestinal obstruction and salting (which is transmitted through milk to the child) of various body tissues.
Firstly
When expelling helminths from the body, when breastfeeding, you should completely abandon breastfeeding for the period of treatment, and to save lactation:
- express milk from both breasts as often as possible, both during the day and at night;
- be sure to consume at least 2.5 liters of water per day;
- do a nipple massage (2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes).
And remember that the sooner an infection is detected, the earlier treatment will be prescribed with a greater opportunity to avoid complications.
The prejudicial opinion that a mother is capable of infecting a child when feeding is mistaken and illiterate. Through the mother's milk, during breastfeeding, worms cannot be transmitted to the child.
A prerequisite if therapy is prescribed and carried out is:
- delivery of tests and, if necessary, treatment of all family members;
- compliance with all kinds of hygiene rules.
Hygiene rules include:
- two daily use of the shower;
- hand treatment before each touching the child;
- daily change of bed linen is desirable;
- frequent cleaning of the premises with special attention to the restroom, bathroom, kitchen.
When the treatment is carried out after 7-10 days, the tests should be repeated to avoid relapse.
The most correct, safe and only way out when an infestation by helminths is detected in a gnawing woman is the prescribed treatment by an experienced specialist and carried out strictly under his supervision.
Adults of worms do not live outside the host's body, but eggs and larvae of some species can remain viable in soil, dust and air for up to six months or more.
- One of the kissing people has just bitten off and has not yet swallowed part of the product contaminated with worm eggs;
- Immediately before the kiss, the partner touched his lips to the surface where the worms were. For example, my mother kissed the palm of a child who was digging in the sandbox, and immediately kissed her husband.
But infection in this way occurs from contact with the product, soil and so on, and the kiss itself cannot be called a transmission of helminths. Saliva itself does not contain eggs and worm larvae.
Infection through sexual contact
Are worms transmitted between people during sex? Definitely yes. Sexual intercourse is a very convenient way for certain types of worms to find a new owner. For example, curious pinworms sometimes crawl into the vagina, which causes inflammation in it. And if they make their way into the urethra, they cause bedwetting. Sexually mature individuals of these helminths crawl out of the anus to lay eggs around it. And if there is oral-genital contact, then this will inevitably lead to infection of a healthy partner. This is the case when helminths can be transmitted through kissing. Also at risk are couples who practice anal sex.
You can get infected with enterobiasis through dishes in the same way. To avoid this, you must thoroughly wash both the cutlery and your hands before serving them.
Infant worm infection
The younger the child, the weaker his immune system, and hence the likelihood of infection with worms. Helminthiasis in infants is an extremely dangerous disease that can lead to developmental delays, severe organ damage and even death. But doctors are in no hurry to treat infants, since all anthelmintic drugs are extremely toxic and the consequences of taking them can be worse than harm from worms.
It is believed that the best prevention of helminthiasis in young children is breastfeeding a healthy mother.
This type of food ensures colonization of the intestines only with beneficial microorganisms, making it unsuitable for helminths. During the transition period from breastfeeding to adult food, breast milk will provide the baby with the necessary immunity.
Can worms be transmitted through mother's milk?
No matter how enthusiastically the presentation of pregnancy and the period of breastfeeding, young mothers know from their own experience how difficult this time in a woman's life is. Often the immunity of a happy parent is reduced so much that it is during this period that she first encounters various helminthiases. And against the background of the psyche shattered by the surge of hormones, the fear of infecting the child leads to nervous disorders.
It is impossible to transmit helminths with breast milk.
That pleases, but does not reduce the risk of infection of the baby by the usual contact route. Therefore, mother cannot postpone treatment. But here the difficulty lies in the fact that almost all anthelmintics are contraindicated during lactation. Therefore, during treatment, breastfeeding will have to be stopped.
How worms are transmitted from one child to another
Children are open and sincere, they love to hug adults and each other, kiss cats and dogs on the nose, and often hold hands. And with these hands, they enthusiastically learn about the world, touching objects, digging in the sandbox, tasting them. But the quality of hygiene without parental guidance usually leaves much to be desired. All these factors contribute to the spread of helminths in the environment, infection and transmission from one baby to another.
In addition, if one small patient has already become infected, he suffers from discomfort and itching in the anal area. In an effort to get rid of the unpleasant sensation, he will not hesitate to scratch the causal place and go on to go about his business and hug other babies.
Children are the largest category of patients suffering from helminthiases.
Therefore, in kindergartens and schools, it is mandatory to examine babies for infection at a given frequency. Do not neglect this procedure.
Anyone can get infected and almost anywhere. Even a friendly handshake is dangerous. Reducing the risk of infection with helminths will work if you adhere to the following rules:
- Carefully monitor hygiene and teach young children this. Give each family member their own towel, washcloth, toothbrush;
- Improve immunity with vitamins, rejection of bad habits, proper nutrition;
- Eat only well-fried or salted meat and fish;
- Drink clean water;
- Minimize contact with street animals and take preventive measures to destroy worms in pets;
- To pass the necessary tests at least once a year, for the timely detection of the disease.
But it is not necessary to bring hygiene to the point of absurdity. Too aggressive antibacterial soap or frequent use of the usual one leads to a deterioration of local immunity.
In case of detection of helminths in a family member, in addition to tests and possible treatment, you will have to carry out a complete disinfection of the room. Vacuum all upholstered furniture, wash and iron at the highest possible temperature all personal belongings, bed linen, as well as curtains, rugs, towels.
Pinworms in a breastfeeding mother are a tragedy in the family. After all, all pills to combat them strike not only at the worms, but throughout the body as a whole. Is there a treatment that does not have to give up on breastfeeding and are anthelmintic drugs so dangerous for the child?
Ways of infection and habits of pinworms
To understand what treatment for pinworm infection will be most effective, you need to figure out what kind of uninvited guests settled with a nursing mother.
The disease caused by pinworms is called enterobiasis. It is very easy to become infected with these worms through dirty hands, clothes contaminated with pinworm eggs, bedding, food, in a public toilet, and even with inhaled air - the eggs enter the nasopharynx, and then through the esophagus into the gastrointestinal tract. In the external environment, the eggs of the worms retain their viability for 2 weeks.
The life cycle of pinworms begins with the penetration of eggs into the intestines, where they quickly mature to white worms no more than 12 mm in length. Pinworms are heterosexual - females 9–12 mm long with a pointed straight tail, males 3–5 mm long with a rounded tail. The simplicity of the structure of these worms is only apparent.
The internal cavity of the pinworm filled with liquid is equipped with the digestive, nervous, reproductive, excretory and muscular systems. In a three-layer shell, the hypodermis retains substances toxic to the helminth. The digestive system begins with the mouth opening, surrounded by lips, with which the pinworm sticks to the intestinal walls, and ends with the anal.
The senses are limited to touch and chemical sense - smell, taste, perception of humidity, temperature and carbon dioxide. They feed on the contents of the intestines, they can swallow blood.
Do pinworms have brains? There is something like this organ in the head of the worms - accumulations of nerve cells in the form of a ganglion, from which several nerve trunks extend.
After 2–3 weeks from infection, the worms reach sexual maturity and begin to multiply. For the development of pinworm eggs, air is needed. Therefore, after 4 weeks from their birth, the fertilized females go on a tour for laying eggs. It takes place in the skin folds around the anus and the perineum area of \u200b\u200bthe nursing mother. Worms move at an enviable speed - up to 12 cm per minute.
Poisoning in a mother while breastfeeding requires immediate treatment
The beautiful representatives of pinworms prefer to go out into the world after waiting for silence and darkness. Female worms climb out either while the hostess of the hospitable house is going to bed, or when she is sleeping. One such worm is extremely fertile - it lays 5-15 thousand eggs.
After laying the eggs, the female worms die, and the males go to another world even earlier - after completing their main task - fertilization. On average, pinworms live 4–6 weeks, some long-lived females up to 8 weeks. The eggs on the skin ripen after 4 hours and are ready to repeat the entire life cycle from the beginning.
Symptoms of enterobiasis caused by pinworms
Itching intensifies at night and continues with re-infection at intervals of 2-3 weeks for about 3 days. If there has been a repeated infection with laid eggs and the number of worms has increased obscenely, then the itching may become permanent.
Symptoms of intoxication join - fatigue, lethargy, headache, signs of allergy are not uncommon. With enterobiasis in a nursing mother, infection of a breastfed baby is highly likely. Pinworms can be seen in feces, on underwear.
What tests are needed to identify pinworms?
It is advisable to carry out the analysis during the laying of eggs by pinworms, that is, when itching torments. Scraping from the skin around the anus is examined under a microscope. It is performed either with a cotton swab or with adhesive tape.
Itching around the anus, caused by pinworms going out in the evening and at night for a walk, steals sleep, which a nursing mother already lacks. There is a lack of sleep, increased nervousness, deterioration of health. Irritability during breastfeeding reduces the synthesis of oxytocin, which does not have the best effect on the process of milk outflow from the breast and postpartum recovery of the uterus.
Questionable in medical circles is the relationship between appendicitis and the penetration of pinworms into the appendix of the cecum - the appendix. Sucking to the walls of the intestine, worms violate the integrity of the mucous membrane, which can provoke inflammatory processes, enterocolitis.
The waste products of worms poison the body and increase the production of immunoglobulin E, leading to an increased release of histamine and allergic reactions.
Persistent dermatitis, eczema and other skin diseases according to some studies, in more than half of cases are caused by helminthic invasions.
Stirring fetus during pregnancy, the degree of its activity at different stages
Pinworms can crawl into the genitals and cause vulvovaginitis in women and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract and genitals. With severe infection, even peritonitis is possible - inflammation of the peritoneum when worms penetrate through the intestinal wall into the abdominal cavity. The assimilation of nutrients, vitamins, minerals is impaired, which can affect the quality of milk of a nursing mother.
Breastfeeding treatment
If there are few settlers in the intestine, then special treatment with tablets for enterobiasis caused by pinworms is not required. It is necessary to observe a strict sanitary and hygienic regime, which does not allow the spread of eggs wherever they please. These highly infectious germs of life have even been found on the ceiling.
Better yet, do not allow females to lay them off. To do this, a nursing mother can put a cotton swab in the anus at night and between acts of defecation. Careful observance of the rules of hygiene by all family members, young and old, is mandatory - washing with soap after waking up, each visit to the toilet, "peep", "pooka" in a child, disinfecting the toilet bowl, washing hands with soap before eating, short nail trim under which the eggs of pinworms are so fond of "ripening".
It will not be possible to have a strong rest with pinworms - the most important component of treatment is daily wet cleaning to remove dust in which eggs of worms may be present.
Frequent washing and ironing of bed linen, curtains, underwear, etc. is required. - at high temperatures, the eggs of the worms die.
To relieve itching and reduce the size of the colony, enemas can be done at night with plain water to wash out the worms.
After 6 weeks of such a drug-free fight against pinworms, you can breathe calmly, not forgetting about daily wet cleaning and thorough personal hygiene for at least another 2 weeks.
This type of breastfeeding treatment is safest for a breastfeeding baby.
How to safely treat a runny nose for a nursing mother and what medications are suitable
For faster disposal of pinworms, pharmaceuticals offer tablets with the following active ingredients - pyrantel pamoate, albendazole, mebendazole, piperazine, levamisole. If pinworms are found in a nursing mother, all family members over 2 years old need to take them. The mother herself can also take medications if she can not breastfeed for a while. The components of antihelminthic drugs are toxic, and are contraindicated in a newborn baby.
The lowest risk for breastfeeding is pyrantel, albendazole and mebendazole. These drugs are poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and pass into breast milk in small quantities. In the blood plasma, traces of them with normal liver and kidney function are usually present for 2-5 hours. For this period of time, you need to refrain from breastfeeding the baby, and before taking it, you can express and water the baby with expressed milk from a spoon.
In liver diseases, the maximum concentration of drugs increases, as does the elimination period. The dosage and duration of treatment are calculated taking into account body weight and the type of helminthic invasion.
Taking any anthelmintic drugs is possible only after consulting a doctor.