8 serious symptoms of tapeworm in young children

A tapeworm is a parasite that lives in the small intestine. And it is one of the most common causes of stunted growth, slow growth, and digestive problems. However, do not worry too much, let aFamilyToday Health follow up with the following sharing to understand more about tapeworm disease in children.

Tapeworms are parasitic species on a living host, they are often found in the animal's stomach. Tapeworm infection can be caused by ingestion of undercooked meat.

Types of tapeworms

• Pig tapeworm : The pig tapeworm larvae eggs hatch in the intestinal wall. Then, these larvae enter the bloodstream through the intestinal tract. With the help of blood flow, the larvae migrate to other parts of the body such as the brain and eyes, where they develop into adult fluke. This disease is also known as rice pig disease.

• Fish fluke mainly lives in the gut. Fish tapeworm infection can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia . Anemia will make your child feel tired. If it is severe, your child may feel numb. More severe can affect the central nervous system.

Cause children infected with tapeworms

The main reasons why your baby is infected with tapeworms are:

• Contaminated food or water

Drinking water or food contaminated with tapeworm larvae. Undercooked beef and pork, the larvae will invade and begin to develop in the intestines, where they develop into adult tapeworms.

• The environment is unsanitary

Tapeworm larvae thrive in unhygienic places. Uncleaned waste is a good environment for tapeworms to grow.

• Poor personal hygiene habits

If a child does not wash their hands after going to the toilet, they are susceptible to tapeworm infection. So, teach children personal hygiene habits to get them in good health.

Symptoms of a tapeworm infection in children

Some common symptoms, easy to detect when a child is infected with tapeworms:

• Lost weight

As the tapeworm grows, it will begin to absorb the body's essential nutrients. If the parasite absorbs too many nutrients from the baby's body, the baby will begin to lose weight and become tired.

• Nausea and vomiting

This is one of the most common symptoms of a tapeworm larvae infection. As the larvae mature, the nausea will develop stronger, followed by vomiting.

• Stomachache

Most of the time, children will complain that they have colic. The cause of this condition is that the tapeworms attach to the intestinal walls and affect this area. In addition, the tapeworm can also be eliminated through feces.

Some other symptoms:

• Too hungry
• Poor appetite
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Bloating

How to prevent tapeworms

Follow these steps to prevent tapeworms:

• Cook meat and fish
• Wash your hands before eating and after using the toilet
• Drink boiled water
• Maintain personal hygiene

Treatment of tapeworm infections in young children

If you see worms in your child's feces, take them to hospital immediately. If not treated early, the tapeworm larvae will spread to other parts of the body.

One dose of antiparasitic medicine is sufficient for the treatment of tapeworm in children. However, if your child has fluke in a special location such as brain or lung, your doctor will order your child to have an MRI or CT scan.