Medicine for worms for children from 2 to 7 years old: which drug to give, advice from Dr. Komarovsky, reviews

Almost all parents sooner or later encounter helminthiasis in their child (or simply worms). But what is the safest and most effective anti-worm medicine for children? After all, the effectiveness of treatment depends on the correct choice of drug.

In addition, it is important to know the features of helminthiasis therapy, possible contraindications, side effects and rules for using medications.

What to do in such a situation? To get started, we recommend reading this article. This article describes in detail methods of controlling parasites. We also recommend that you consult a specialist. Read the article >>>

Medicine for worms for children from 6 months to 2 years

Pirantel suspension and tablets are prescribed for various helminthic infestations of the intestines. The drug can be used not only in adults, but also in children from 6 months, which makes it a fairly convenient means of treating common helminthiases.

Pyrantel is an anthelmintic drug that acts on parasitic worms of the genus nematodes - roundworms, pinworms, hookworms and others. It destroys adults, but does not affect larvae, egg laying, and has no effect on parasites during the migratory period.

Take a test for worms

Release form:

The tablets are oval, yellow, and contain 250 mg of the active substance pyrantel pamoate. Available in 3 pieces in blisters or in strips of aluminum foil.
The suspension is a homogeneous mass of yellow color with a specific odor and caramel taste. Available in 15 ml dark glass bottles, complete with a measuring cap.

Pyrantel tablets and suspensions

Contraindications for the use of anthelmintic drugs are pregnancy and breastfeeding. It should not be taken by patients suffering from liver diseases, especially liver failure.

There are cases of allergic reactions, so individual intolerance to the medication and its components is also a contraindication for use.

In addition, there are restrictions for different dosage forms of the drug. So, tablets can be prescribed only from the second year of a child’s life, and a suspension - from 6 months of age.

Price: from 40 rub.

Nemocid is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug. Causes neuromuscular blockade of sensitive helminths. The tablets are light yellow to yellow in color, oval, biconvex, with a score line on one side and the word “NEMOCID” engraved on the other side. The suspension is light yellow to yellow.

Nemocid release form

The dosage is set individually depending on the age and body weight of the patient. Approved for use by children from 6 months to 2 years.

Side effects:

Possible nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, rarely increased activity of liver transaminases;
Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, weakness; in some cases - hearing impairment, hallucinations, confusion, paresthesia;
Skin rash, increased body temperature.

Price: from 30 rub.

Kombantrin - blocks the nerve endings of parasites, preventing the impulse from passing into the muscles, thereby immobilizing the muscles of the helminth. Effectively acts on both mature forms and forms at an early stage of development. “Kombantrin” is a non-toxic drug that is easily excreted from the body along with feces.

Kombantrin

Kombantrin can be purchased as:

Regular tablets;
Coated tablets;
Suspensions.

For children aged from 6 months to 2 years, you need to take half a tablet with a dosage of 125 mg of the active substance or half a scoop of Combantrin suspension.

Instructions for use indicate that the drug is suitable for the treatment of five diseases:

Ascariasis;
Hookworm;
Enterobiasis;
Necatoriasis;
Trichocephalosis.

The effect of treatment with Combanthrin is better in the treatment of hookworm 12 than in the case of American hookworm.

Price: from 100 rub.

Piperazine is an anthelmintic drug. It has a paralyzing effect on nematodes, disrupting the function of their neuromuscular system. Available in the form of tablets for oral administration and suspension.

The medicine is taken once or in a short course, depending on the type of parasitic infection. Instructions for use for children from 6 months in most cases are as follows:

For ascariasis and enterobiasis: suspension or chewable tablets are taken at the rate of 10 mg per kilogram of a person’s weight. Should be taken once, after a meal in the morning.
For hookworm and other helminth infections, the drug is taken at a dosage of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight once a day for three days.

Despite the fact that Combantrin is a low-toxic drug, it has a number of contraindications. This medicine should not be taken by people with hypersensitivity to the active components of the drug.

In case of renal or liver failure, Combantrin can be used, but in this case the dosage should be reduced.

Find medications for parasites

This service is a small help in finding cures for parasites. To start using it, select the type of parasite. If you don’t know what kind of parasite you are infected with, this parasite identification tool will help you by symptoms.

Price: from 30 rub.

Signs of ascariasis in a child

According to statistics from laboratory studies, the incidence of worms in children is 80% of the total. Worms in children pose a serious problem for medicine, since worms deprive the child of nutrients and lead to organ pathologies and complications.

Ascariasis is one of the most dangerous types of worms in children. With a massive invasion, roundworms can penetrate any organ of the human body: intestines, liver, brain, lungs, pancreas, gall bladder, heart. Ascaris eggs enter the human mouth from the soil with dirty hands or food, where they are transferred from the soil, sand, legs of flies and cockroaches.

From the oral cavity, eggs with food enter the intestines, where they develop into larvae within 3 months. The grown larvae migrate through the blood vessels to other organs. Symptoms such as hyperthermia up to +38°C, weakness, dry cough with blood in the sputum, and increased fatigue appear. An X-ray examination reveals moving infiltrates in the lungs. Often a child with lung damage develops pneumonia, bronchitis, or bronchial asthma.

The primary phase of ascariasis is characterized by enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Reaction to waste products of roundworms - allergic reactions in the form of urticaria of the hands and feet, dermatoses.

The secondary, late intestinal phase of ascariasis, which occurs 3 months after infection, roundworms return to the intestines. They get there along with sputum from the lungs swallowed by the child. Symptoms of this period are digestive disorders (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, sudden weight loss, irritation of the anus, flatulence. Reduced immunity cannot protect the body from infections, pustular lesions of the skin and mucous membranes occur, stomatitis with frequent relapses.

The child’s nervous system suffers from the toxic effect of roundworms on the body. Children experience mental disorders - sleep disturbances, nightmares, epileptic seizures. Ascariasis causes serious consequences: inflammation of the peritoneum, appendicitis, intestinal obstruction due to the accumulation of a ball of roundworms in its lumen, obstructive jaundice due to the entry of larvae into the bile ducts.

What medicine to give for worms to a child from 3 to 5 years old

Children aged 3–5 years are actively exploring the world around them, often tasting objects, and putting dirty hands into their mouths. Infection with worms occurs after playing in dirty sand and mud, or contact with stray animals.

Often infection with worms occurs in the kindergarten - if roundworms appear in one child, there is a high probability of infection of all children.

Review of effective deworming tablets:

Albendazole is a drug used against helminths. It is used for giardiasis, trichuriasis, filariasis, ascariasis and other diseases caused by parasites.

Preparations based on albendazole are available in the form of tablets (including chewable ones for children over 3 years old), suspensions, and capsules.

The drug is taken orally, after meals, the tablets are not chewed, washed down with water. The daily dose is 0.4 g (at one time), for children - 6 mg/kg. The use of laxatives and a special diet are not required.

Side effects:

Diarrhea;
Pain in the abdomen, including in the epigastric region;
Nausea, vomiting;
Headache;
Dizziness;
Hypersensitivity reactions (skin rash, itching);
Increased activity of liver enzymes;
Leukopenia;
Pancytopenia;
Reversible alopecia;
Fever.

Price: from 150 rub.

Mebendazole is a light yellow tablet with light and dark inclusions, round, chamfered, with a score line on one side. Marbling is allowed on the surface of the tablets.

The medicine is used to treat patients suffering from ascariasis, trichuriasis, enterobiasis, strongyloidiasis, taeniasis and hookworm disease.

The medication can also be used in the treatment of mixed helminthic infestations.

Mebendazole is taken orally. The tablets should be swallowed whole, crushed or added to food with plenty of liquid.

Chewable Mebendazole tablets are crushed immediately before use or chewed with a small amount of liquid. During the treatment period there is no need to adhere to a diet or take additional laxatives.

For children over 3 years of age with enterobiasis, the single dose is reduced to 25-50 mg, maintaining the frequency of administration and duration of treatment.

For trichuriasis, hookworm, ascariasis and mixed helminthic infestations, it is usually recommended to take 100 mg of mebendazole twice a day. Course – 3 days.

For taeniasis, the single dose is reduced to 100 mg, maintaining the frequency of administration and duration of treatment.

Price: from 90 rub.

Levamisole is an immunomodulatory and anthelmintic agent. Due to the properties of the active components of the drug, levamisole is a highly effective anthelmintic drug for ascariasis.

In addition, this remedy is effective against strongyloidiasis, necatoriasis, hookworm disease and trichostrongyloidiasis.

Levamisole is available in the form of white flat tablets, which contain 150 mg of the main active ingredient. One tablet is placed in one package.

Levamisole is not prescribed to children under three years of age.

At older ages, a single dose is prescribed, which is calculated based on the child’s body weight. At the age of three to five years with a body weight of 10 to 20 kg, 25-50 mg is prescribed. It is recommended to take the drug in the evening.

Price: from 40 rub.

Signs of other helminthic infestations

Worms in children trichocephalosis (caused by whipworm) - symptoms are minimal. Dyspepsia, bloody diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, anemia are possible; with prolonged intoxication, developmental delays in children of primary preschool age are diagnosed.

Another worm in children is hymenolepiasis (the causative agent is rat tapeworm) and has no specific symptoms. A disorder of the digestive tract may appear - abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation followed by diarrhea, heartburn. The child has decreased appetite, headache, increased salivation, allergic manifestations, rhinitis of unknown etiology.

Worms in children - opisthorchiasis (pathogen - Siberian fluke, cat fluke) - enlarged lymph nodes, allergic rashes, changes in blood count (ESR and the number of eosinophils are increased, hemoglobin is decreased). Additionally – low-grade fever, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, digestive disorders. Symptoms of gastritis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, and myocardial dystrophy appear.

Diphyllobothriasis (the causative agent is the broad tapeworm, transmitted through fish that has not undergone full culinary processing) - anemia, allergies, digestive disorders, pain in the epigastric region.

Toxocariasis (caused by Toxocara) – carriers of the disease are domestic animals that transmit helminth eggs to humans. Preschoolers who come into contact with cats and dogs most often develop toxocariasis. Symptoms – allergic cough, itching, facial swelling, fever, hepatosis, enlarged lymph nodes. Eye damage is common - keratitis, chorioretinitis, ophthalmitis, which can become irreversible.

Medicines for worms from 6 years and older

All anthelmintic drugs can be used in the treatment of children over 6 years of age. Only a doctor can select the dosage and treatment regimen depending on the patient’s age, weight, and the presence of concomitant or chronic diseases. The list of the best anti-worm tablets includes Nemazol and Vermox.

Nemazol is an anthelmintic drug with the active ingredient albendazole. Under the influence of this substance, metabolic disorders rapidly develop in the body of the parasite.

This is due to the fact that the active component interferes with the process of utilization of glucose and other vital nutrients for the helminth. When exposed to albendazole, a powerful contracture of the muscles of the parasite develops, as a result of which it dies.

The medicine is produced in the form of a suspension and capsules. When preventing helminthiases in children, it is syrup that is most often used.

This remedy for parasites is prescribed for children aged 6 years and older. However, the suspension is used in the treatment of helminthiasis in children under 2 years of age.

General contraindications for use are:

Pregnancy (all trimesters).
Breast-feeding.
Low levels of granulocytes in the blood.
Acute inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis.
Chronic liver diseases. These include cirrhosis, fatty liver, hepatitis and liver failure.
Disorders of the urinary system, including decompensated renal failure.
Allergy to albendazole.
Ocular cysticercosis and other diseases accompanied by damage to the retina.

Price: from 240 rub.

Vermox is a highly effective anthelmintic agent. Used for enterobiasis, ascariasis, trichuriasis. Vermox is a broad-spectrum antihelminthic drug.

After entering the intestines, the drug penetrates the helminth’s body and disrupts the functions of protein metabolism, mainly the ability to absorb glucose. Due to the lack of glucose, the process of energy production and other metabolic functions of the worms stops, after which they die and are eliminated from the intestines naturally.

The main effect of the drug occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, however, approximately 5-10% of vermox is absorbed by the blood, but when passing through the liver it is destroyed into metabolic products and excreted from the body through the kidneys.

Vermox is strictly prohibited for children under two years of age. From 2 to 10 years of age, use only as prescribed by your doctor.

Price: from 100 rub.

Signs of pinworms in children

Pinworms are helminths that cause enterobiasis; they are small worms up to 1 cm long. An infected child scatters pinworm eggs in his environment, on clothes, door handles, toys, and dishes. For pinworms, UV radiation, boiling, and some disinfectants are dangerous. Pinworm eggs enter the mouth, and from there into the intestines. After a few days, larvae emerge from the eggs, they become sexually mature and are ready to reproduce and lay eggs. One life cycle of a pinworm is only 2 weeks.

A pronounced symptom of these worms in children is nighttime itching in the folds of the anus, when the body warms up in a warm bed and its muscles relax. The pinworm crawls onto the skin near the anus and lays more than 5,000 eggs in its folds. By scratching the irritated skin of the anal area, the child spreads these eggs under the nails. In addition to itching, you can find skin damage from scratching in a child.

Additional symptoms of enterobiasis in children:

Restless sleep due to disturbing itching, possible insomnia, crying at night;
Weight loss, insufficient weight gain due to age;
Excitability, increased fatigue, moodiness, attention deficit, memory impairment;
Enuresis in girls due to pinworms entering the urethra;
Vulvovaginitis due to irritation of the vagina by helminths crawling there, less often - inflammation of the appendages and uterus;
Development of acute appendicitis due to the accumulation of pinworms in the cecum;
Night grinding of teeth is a presumptive symptom;
Digestive disorders – dysbacteriosis, enterocolitis, diarrhea;
Anemia, increased morbidity due to a deficiency of nutrients, vitamins, microelements;
Intoxication phenomena as a consequence of toxic poisoning of the body (weakness, weight loss, nausea, headache).

What medicine to give a child for prevention: advice from Dr. Komarovsky

Pediatrician Komarovsky : scientific parasitologists (i.e., those who specifically study helminthic diseases) are categorically against “shooting cannons at sparrows” and using anthelmintic drugs “just in case.”

This is argued by the fact that effective drugs are far from harmless and are sometimes toxic. Well, the conclusion is - first prove that there is a worm, specify which one, and then treat with the drug that is most effective against this particular worm.

At the same time, the overwhelming majority of practicing pediatricians (including myself) consider the use of anthelmintic drugs in some cases justified even without examination.

But not for the purpose of prevention, but when clinical symptoms make the presence of worms highly probable.

Thus, enterobiasis (pinworms) is characterized by such characteristic symptoms that even without analysis it is clear what, how and with what to treat. A sad but obvious fact is that it is easier for almost any mother to give the appropriate pill twice than to go to the clinic, stand in line at the pediatrician for a referral, then stand in line at the laboratory, and then again at the pediatrician for prescriptions.

Numerous complaints of nausea for no apparent reason, loss of appetite, pallor, and plus communication with animals - yes, worms are likely. We took a test - negative. But any pediatrician knows that sometimes 9 tests are negative, and the 10th is positive.

So what, go to the clinic ten times? Try to persuade mommy. What about stress for a child? It’s better to let him drink for worms...

Now the details. If there are no complaints, if everything is in order, nothing is needed for prevention. If she complains, if there are real problems, it’s still better to take Pyrantel (dosage and order of use in the instructions).

Vermacare (international name “mebendazole”, the most common commercial name is “vermox”) is in many cases more effective than pyrantel, but also much more toxic.

Perhaps, among the antihelminthic drugs for children “just in case,” Pyrantel is optimal. However, I would like to emphasize once again: any such preventive treatment is a necessary measure, as retribution for the laziness or busyness of parents or for the imperfection of the examination organization system. If you have time and opportunity, it is always safer to get tested.

It is possible to defeat parasites!

Antiparasitic Complex® - Reliable and safe removal of parasites in 21 days!

The composition includes only natural ingredients;
Does not cause side effects;
Absolutely safe;
Protects the liver, heart, lungs, stomach, skin from parasites;
Removes waste products of parasites from the body.
Effectively destroys most types of helminths in 21 days.

There is now a preferential program for free packaging. Read expert opinion.

Read further:

Pyrantel for pinworms: medicine in the form of tablets and suspensions, how to take

Tablets for ascariasis of wide and narrow spectrum of action: a review of drugs

Prevention of worms in children from 1 year to 6 years and older with medications and folk remedies

Anti-worm suspension for children: description, instructions for use, contraindications

Pyrantel for worms (suspension and tablets): instructions for use for children and adults

Medicines for worms for children and adults: list of the best drugs for the treatment of helminthiases

General signs of worms in a child

Helminths are very dangerous for a child’s body, because the products of their vital activity and decay can cause serious intoxication and allergies, even toxic shock. In addition, helminths deprive the child of what is vital for full growth and development: vitamins and minerals. Their deficiency in the body also reduces the child's immunity, making him vulnerable to other diseases.

Worm infestation in children most often occurs in the warm season - late spring, summer and autumn, when children spend a lot of time outside, eat fresh, unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries with dirty hands and play with yard animals.

Symptoms of worms in children can be so unnoticeable or mild that a person does not feel that he is a carrier of the infestation. The activity of parasites is activated under unfavorable circumstances, with a decrease in the standard of living, and a decline in immunity. It is quite possible that worms are the cause of the appearance of some pathologies of internal organs and oncological processes.

The first symptoms of helminthic infestation in children are weakness and irritability. The child is capricious, sleeps poorly, complains of abdominal discomfort and headaches. There are changes in appetite: it either decreases or increases. Attacks of nausea and vomiting are also typical, and stool disturbances are observed (constipation alternating with diarrhea). Also, sometimes children may experience an increase in body temperature for no reason (up to 37.3 °C). In some cases, allergies to helminth waste products cause skin itching and rashes. Infected children have pale skin and dark circles around the eyes.

A clinical blood test for helminthic lesions of the body usually shows a high level of eosinophils, which indicates an allergic reaction. A decrease in hemoglobin is characteristic.

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brucellosis. Parasites. Link
Corbel MJ Parasitic diseases // World Health Organization. Link
Young EJ Best matches for intestinal parasites // Clinical Infectious Diseases. — 1995. Vol. 21. - P. 283-290. Link
Yushchuk N.D., Vengerov Yu.A. Infectious diseases: textbook. — 2nd edition. - M.: Medicine, 2003. - 544 p.
Prevalence of parasitic diseases among the population, 2009 / Kokolova L. M., Reshetnikov A. D., Platonov T. A., Verkhovtseva L. A.
Helminths of domestic carnivores of the Voronezh region, 2011 / Nikulin P. I., Romashov B. V.

An article for patients with a doctor-diagnosed disease. Does not replace a doctor's appointment and cannot be used for self-diagnosis.

The best stories from our readers

Topic: Parasites are to blame for all troubles!

From: Lyudmila S. ()

To: Administration Noparasites.ru

Not long ago my health condition worsened. I began to feel constant fatigue, headaches, laziness and some kind of endless apathy appeared. Problems also appeared with the gastrointestinal tract: bloating, diarrhea, pain and bad breath.

I thought it was because of the hard work and hoped that it would go away on its own. But every day I felt worse. The doctors couldn’t really say anything either. Everything seems to be normal, but I feel like my body is not healthy.

I decided to go to a private clinic. Here I was advised, in addition to general tests, to get tested for parasites. So in one of the tests they found parasites in me. According to doctors, these were worms, which 90% of people have and almost everyone is infected, to a greater or lesser extent.

I was prescribed a course of antiparasitic medications. But it didn’t give me any results. A week later, a friend sent me a link to an article where some parasitologist shared real tips on fighting parasites. This article literally saved my life. I followed all the advice that was there and after a couple of days I felt much better!

Digestion improved, headaches went away and the vital energy that I so lacked appeared. To be sure, I took the tests again and no parasites were found!

Anyone who wants to cleanse their body of parasites, no matter what types of these creatures live in you, read this article, I’m 100% sure it will help you! Go to article>>>

Still have questions? Ask them in our Anonymous group on VK

How to get rid of parasites in a week. The answer is here!

A reliable and effective remedy for combating worms. Removes all parasites in 21 days.

Go to website

Reviews

Read online

Symptoms that 100% indicate parasites! Take the Test.

How to rid your body of life-threatening parasites before it’s too late!

Website

To get a consultation

The doctor tells how to quickly get rid of parasites for adults and children!

A parasitologist explains what effective methods exist to combat helminths.