Worm Infection Treatment for Children

How do children get worms?

Children can contract worms in several ways, often through accidental ingestion of worm eggs or larvae. The most common routes of transmission include:

• Touching contaminated surfaces: Worm eggs can survive on objects like toys, bedding, toilet seats, and doorknobs, making it easy for children to pick them up and ingest them.

• Poor hand hygiene: Not washing hands after using the toilet, playing outside, or before eating can lead to infection.

• Eating undercooked or contaminated food: Tapeworm infections can occur if a child eats improperly cooked meat or fish that contains worm larvae.

• Walking barefoot on contaminated soil: Some worms, like hookworms, can enter through the skin if a child walks barefoot in areas with poor sanitation.
• Scratching and reinfection: Pinworms, the most common type of worm in children, lay eggs around the anus, causing itching. When a child scratches, the eggs can transfer to their fingers and then to surfaces, clothing, or directly into their mouth, leading to reinfection.

How are worm infections treated?

• Anti-parasitic medications: These effectively eliminate worms and are usually given in a single dose, with a repeat dose after two weeks if needed.
• Strict hygiene measures: Preventing reinfection is key. This includes frequent handwashing, trimming fingernails, washing bedding and clothes in hot water, and discouraging nail-biting or thumb-sucking.