Stomach Problems

Worms

Thread worms: If you notice your child scratching her bottom, examine her stools for thread-like worms. Thread worms are the most common infecting worms. The female crawls through the anus and lays her eggs in the surrounding skin. When your child scratches her bottom, the eggs may get under her nails and are ingested again when she puts her hands into her mouth.

Your doctor will prescribe a single-dose treatment that will destroy both the worms and the eggs. Since worms are highly infectious, all members of the family should take the anti-worm treatment. Repeat the dose after a fortnight. Make sure that you keep your child's nails short and ensure that she washes her hands after she goes to the bathroom.

Toxocara: Dogs and cats are carriers of this roundworm. Your child is most likely to get infected when she plays in areas where animals may have defecated. These worms are usually ingested by the child when she puts her dirty hands into her mouth. The worms enter the bloodstream through the intestinal wall and travel to the lungs. They are coughed up, swallowed, and then they continue to develop in the intestines. There are usually no symptoms. However, if your child has more than one worm, it may result in abdominal pain and a loss of appetite.