According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 241 Indian children in the age group of 1 to 14 years are at the high risk of suffering from the intestinal worms, called as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH). Even grown-ups can be in danger. Here are five symptoms of intestinal worms in children that should be aware of to treat the condition at the initial stage.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of intestinal worms
Anal itching:
Does your child feel incessant itching in the anal region? And if this is common particularly at night, it is time to visit a pediatrician to rule out the intestinal worms.
Severe weight loss:
As intestinal worm infections interfere with the nutrient uptake, it guides to appetite causing the weight loss. Furthermore, critical protein loss might lead to the fluid build-up in the abdomen, known as ascites.
Digestive problems:
With the loss of hunger or appetite, raised water uptake, & malabsorption, there is a high chance of suffering from diarrhea or dysentery & constipation.
Bad breath:
Lack of vitamin B 12 & zinc creates a foul or nasty taste in the mouth. Also, acid reflux causes the gastric acids to increase the stomach leading to bad taste & bad breath from the mouth.
Anemia:
Not ordinary people know that parasitic intestinal worms can cause both inflammation & chronic blood loss as they feed on the blood & tissues directing to iron deficiency anemia.