Medical expert of the article
New publications
Giardiasis in children
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Giardiasis in children is a disease that is caused by parasites, protozoa, lamblia. These parasitizing organisms manifest their activity in the small intestine. The disease "lambliasis" was first described by D.F. Lampler in 1859, in honor of which she was named.
Parasites enter the body through the mouth and begin to progress their activity in the small intestine. The main risk group are children, because in the heat of their knowledge of the world they carry it through the mouth. Accordingly, the threat of getting parasites into an organism with weak immunity is increased.
Ljamblii carry out the harmful activity in two kinds:
- Cysts. This type of parasite lamblia occurs when the microorganism enters the intestine, but does not find favorable conditions for its further parasitism. In this case, lamblia is transformed into cysts (oval, immobilized about a millimeter in size). Then, cysts are excreted from the body with feces and remain immobilized until they again enter the small intestine (vital activity persists for forty days).
- Vegetative. Movable appearance, reliably fixed to the wall of the intestine, and begins its parasitic activity. They have the shape of a pear with a long tail, 1 disc and 4 pairs of bundles, by means of which the attachment to the wall of the intestine is carried out.
Giardiasis of the intestines in children
Parasites enter the human body through the mouth. The most important enemy in this matter is dirty water, which is the main source of transmission of lamblia. Bacteria - parasites enter the small intestine and begin to multiply. Breeding processes occur very quickly - lamblia division takes place every twelve hours. In this case, every 10 days, cysts are isolated along with feces.
The process of infection with lambliasis of the intestine in children can stop on its own, after six weeks, provided a healthy intestinal mucosa and strong immunity. Otherwise, the child for many years may not be aware of his infection.
Symptoms of Giardiasis in Children
When the disease develops, the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract and other unpleasant symptoms of giardiasis in children are disrupted . The emergence of the first symptoms is possible in a couple of weeks of infection by parasites - when the parasites managed to multiply in sufficient quantity to disrupt the intestine. Under the impact of bacteria enters the small intestine, where there are processes of digestion and absorption of food. Accordingly, the manifestation of exhaustion of the body is possible. In rare cases, Giardia can settle in the bile-excreting pathways and cause damage to the liver.
There is a special list of symptoms by which you can identify the occurrence of giardiasis in a child. So, the symptoms of giardiasis in children can be manifested in the following reactions:
- Diarrhea, which is not often, but prolonged for excreta. The chair thus has a sharp, unpleasant odor, the feces adhere to the walls of the toilet bowl (this fact is indicative of not overcooked fats).
- Concern should also cause high fever, the occurrence of causeless weakness and chills in the child.
- Watch for painful sensations - with giardiasis there are sharp pains in the region of the navel (area of the small intestine).
- There is vomiting, accompanied by prolonged nausea.
- An itchy rash appears and a sharp decrease in weight occurs.
Giardiasis in infants
Recently, manifestations of lamblia action in infants have been documented. Since parasites enter the body of children only through the mouth, in this case, responsibility is shifted only to the parents. It is necessary to carefully monitor the quality of food that the child will eat. The dishes that are washed with unboiled water may well carry a hidden threat with lamblia cysts.
If you notice that a baby has a severe diarrhea, a high fever occasionally arises and physical development slows down - it is likely that lamblia has got into the body. In this case, giardiasis in infants is very dangerous, and it is necessary to contact the pediatrician as soon as possible.
Cough for giardiasis in children
The manifestation of coughing, shortness of breath may be one of the symptoms of lamblias disease. The active activity of parasites in the small intestine results in an allergy to them. And the body begins to show a variety of protective mechanisms. One of them is a cough with giardiasis in children.
Symptoms are similar to shortness of breath or even asthma attacks. But, you have to see if there are any grounds for believing that the child has a cold, or a cough or asthma. If coughing attacks are accompanied by one or more symptoms of giardiasis - it is recommended to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Rash with giardiasis in children
In children older than one year, one of the symptoms of manifestations of lamblia in the body may be a rash, redness, or itching. Intestinal parasites that have settled in the system of the gastrointestinal tract can, by the processes of their activity, lead to allergization of the skin. Outwardly surrounding such a rash may resemble hives. There may be cases when the remaining symptoms of lambliasis are very mild and the skin rash is taken for atopic dermatitis.
If the treatment of dermatitis is unsuccessful, you may suspect the presence of intestinal parasites.
What's bothering you?
Consequences of Giardiasis in Children
The appearance of parasites of lamblia is only negative for the child's body. Since the process of liberation of lamblia from cysts, and their subsequent reproduction requires a potent inflow of nutrients, the bacteria find them in the blood. As a result, the baby's body is deprived of minerals, vitamin and other complex of nutrients necessary for a full-time life. And the consequence of giardiasis in children in this case is avitominosis.
The next negative factor is the release of toxic processed substances into the body. These processes occur as a result of the lamblia activity. Dedicated substances, when ingested, suppress the full operation of the nominal system. Hence, there are various allergic reactions to various stimuli.
And the most important thing is that lambliasis, with the help of its symptoms, has the ability to mask for various other diseases, which can negatively affect the body. So a child can for a long time undergo treatment for other diseases, launching the main one - giardiasis.
Diagnosis of Giardiasis in Children
Diagnosis of lambliasis in children is always based on the result of the study of feces and what is contained in the duodenum.
The study of hard stools is carried out during the day - since lamblia cysts retain their vital functions for up to ten days. If the analysis of liquid feces is performed, it is necessary to deliver it to the laboratory no later than 15 minutes after defecation. Such urgency is necessary because the vegetative form of lamblia perishes in half an hour.
The analysis should be carried out every day, for three days and purposefully on the search for cysts.
With a very hard stool in a child, it is necessary to give a small dose of laxative and collect feces for examination.
Microscopy of the contents of the stool is carried out immediately after collecting the material, until the feces have cooled. The procedure is carried out with the help of formalin-ether precipitation.
Analyzes for giardiasis in children
To accurately determine that lamblia are in the body of the child, it is necessary to conduct a blood and feces analysis.
Complete confirmation of the disease comes after detection in the feces and cysts, and mobile lamblia. The accuracy of a single analysis is a maximum of 70%. For final confirmation it is necessary to carry out tests for giardiasis in children for three days.
When giving blood, to detect lambliasis looking for antibodies, which can be formed after a couple of weeks after infection. Thus, there is a search for antibodies that fight in the body against Giardiasis. But, neither the presence nor absence of antibodies against Giardia can not act as a full indicator of the disease of the body.
To carry out the necessary analysis, use a small amount of blood, which is taken from the vein.
Thus, only complex analysis can prove or disprove the disease.
What tests are needed?
Who to contact?
Treatment of giardiasis in children
When diagnosing lambliasis, the first and most important rule is to maintain a sufficient level of fluid in the body. Abundant and frequent diarrhea is a frequent phenomenon that occurs with giardiasis, which provokes dehydration. Therefore, in addition to drug treatment it is necessary to monitor that the child drinks a sufficient amount of liquid.
Treatment of giardiasis in children is a complex exercise. They include both diet and drugs for treatment.
During the diet, you must limit fatty and fried, and stop giving milk. In the first few days, bananas, rice and rusks are recommended.
The second part of the treatment is medicated, includes special antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs. They are directly destroyed by lamblia bacteria, and malicious activity tracks.
Scheme of treatment of giardiasis in children
For a full recovery, the following scheme of treatment of giardiasis in children is used, which is divided into three phases.
In the first phase, it is necessary to eliminate lamblia by a mechanical (medicamental) route and increase the level of the body's defenses. It lasts for a month, depending on the degree of neglect of the disease. A special diet, choleretic preparations are used and the body cleanses from harmful bacteria.
In the second phase, antiparasitic treatment is carried out in two courses. It lasts up to seven days. Also, during the therapy it is necessary to monitor the daily chair.
In phase number three, immunity rises and conditions are created so that lamblias can no longer reproduce in the intestine.
Treatment of Giardiasis in Children Nemosol
The drug Nemozol is one of those who have a spectrum of antihilmite effects - it kills not only adults, but also larvae of parasites. This factor is very important when destroying cysts of lamblia. However, you should warn against taking the drug if there are problems with the functioning of the liver, retinal diseases, or there is an intolerance to one of the components of the drug.
Take the medicine only during meals, with the calculation of 10 mg per 1 kg of weight.
In the treatment of giardiasis in children with Nemosol, liver function disorders, nausea, and abdominal pain are possible. The body temperature and blood pressure may increase.
When taking this medication, children may not tolerate treatment well. Nemosol for children with giardiasis is attributed only in chronic forms, when a powerful and powerful medicine is needed to destroy the parasites.
But, the child may experience nausea, vomiting, general weakness, irritability increases. These side effects adversely affect the overall condition of the child, so it is necessary to consult with the pediatrician - how necessary is this particular drug.
Treatment of giardiasis makmirorom in children
Macmorore - is a derivative of 5-nitrofuran - a drug. Which is widely used for the treatment of Giardiasis. It meets all the necessary requirements for efficiency and safety. One of the advantages of using makmiror is the minimal amount of side effects. The drug contains a wide range of antimicrobial activity. When treating giardiasis makmirorom in children, the drug is quickly absorbed and reaches a maximum concentration in the blood after two hours, then it is excreted and purified by the kidneys.
The drug acts as follows: blocking of enzyme chains, further inhibition of protein synthesis in ribosomes. These actions prevent the emergence of strains of microorganisms and counteract the development of cross-reactivity of antibiotics.
Treatment of giardiasis is prescribed at a rate of 15 mg of the drug per kilogram of body weight twice a day for a week.
Nutrition for giardiasis in children
After the end of drug treatment, for the speedy recovery of the small intestine, which was weakened by the action of bacteria, you need a properly selected food. Bacteria that cause this disease live in a sweet environment and do not tolerate acidic. Accordingly, nutrition with lambiosis for children should continue to support the acidic environment. By making a further, therapeutic diet, you will have to give up for a while from sweet, floury and fatty. Excluding products falling into these categories, you will not only help the child's recovery, but also lay the foundations of a healthy diet. Whole milk should also be excluded. If a child loves milk, then it can be replaced with soy or low-lactose mixtures. Sweet tea replace cranberry and cowberry mors. To improve immunity, use cereals, fruit and vegetable purees, fresh fruits and vegetables. Do not be superfluous dairy products.
Diet for giardiasis in children
For the successful treatment of lambiosis, the most important component is a special diet.
Its goal is to create an unfavorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria. It is known that lamblia begin to die in an acidic environment, while the sweet environment provides bacteria with positive living conditions. Hence, we need to create an acidic environment. Products that should be excluded from the baby's diet: milk (can be replaced with soybean), gluten-containing foods, beverages and foods containing sugar, restrict carbohydrates and fatty foods. In return, the following products should be introduced: dried fruits, vegetables, bran, baked apples, pears, porridges (rice, buckwheat, corn), vegetable oil. It is also recommended that sour drink, for example, cranberry and cranberry fruit drinks, kefir. Diet for lambiosis for children will speed up the process of recovery of your child, provided it is strictly observed.
Drugs
Prevention of giardiasis in children
The system of preventive measures consists directly in identifying the sick child in time and separating it from the rest of the group (if the child is attending a kindergarten), since parasites can be transmitted through dishes and toys.
It is also necessary to teach children the necessary hygiene rules (wash their hands after the toilet and before meals), monitor the quality of the products and check the water they will drink.
In schools and children's institutions it is necessary to conduct bi-annual examinations on the lamblias of the work collective and children.
And most importantly - if in your family the child is infected with Giardia, the prevention of the disease is that all family members will be examined and treated directly with the infected baby.
Использованная литература