Nearly 900 children suffer dangerous complications from cat and dog worms

Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital said that since the beginning of the year, the hospital has detected nearly 900 children testing positive for cat and dog worm infections.

Parasite test - Photo: BVCC

A typical case is NQT (9 years old, Tam Hop commune) who went to the doctor with a rash on his hands, stomach, and buttocks that lasted for a long time without any clear cause. Although he had applied dermatological medicine for more than two weeks, there was no improvement, accompanied by a dull stomach ache, making his family worried and took him to the hospital for a check-up.

Similarly, baby N.D.A. (43 months old, Ha Tinh province) was taken to the doctor with symptoms such as itchy skin, hives, insomnia at night and prolonged abdominal pain. Doctors suspected a parasitic infection and ordered blood tests and diagnostic imaging.

The results showed that both children had high eosinophil counts and were positive for roundworms and tapeworms. The children were treated with specific drugs combined with symptom control.

Doctor Vuong Thi Minh Nguyet, head of the examination department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, said that almost every day the department receives children coming for examination with symptoms of itching, rash, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. Many parents are subjective, thinking that this is just a skin disease and self-treat at home or at a dermatology clinic, leading to late diagnosis and treatment.

"Worms and parasites can live inside and outside the intestines, in many different organs such as the blood, lungs, liver, eyes, and nervous system, causing damage to multiple organs if not detected and treated promptly," said Dr. Nguyet.

According to statistics from the Department of Hematology and Microbiology of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, among the test samples, the number of dog tapeworm and cat and dog roundworm infections accounted for the highest percentage. The Department has implemented many specialized tests to help diagnose early diseases caused by parasites, including: dog tapeworm, cat and dog roundworm, eelworm, large liver fluke, small liver fluke...

According to Professor Dr. Nguyen Van De, an expert on parasitic diseases, parasites can affect the immune system, impair body functions, cause bone marrow dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, thermoregulation disorders (prolonged fever), malnutrition, anemia, poisoning, fever, edema, allergies, bleeding...

Parents should take their children to get tested for worms if they have symptoms of itchy skin; persistent rash; loss of appetite, slow weight gain; dull or intermittent abdominal pain; sleep disorders, fussiness; or behavioral changes.

To prevent parasitic diseases in children, doctors recommend: regular deworming for children and pets; limiting children from playing in places at risk of contamination (unsanitary soil and sand); washing hands before eating and after playing; not letting pets lick children's hands or faces; taking children for regular health check-ups, especially when there are suspicious symptoms.

HA TUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gan-900-tre-bi-bien-chung-nguy-hiem-do-giún-san-cho-meo-20250710231227371.htm