How to get rid of worms in your child naturally

Home Remedies for Pinworms: Do They Work?

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The basics

Pinworm infection is the most common intestinal parasite infection in the United States. It often occurs in school-aged children, partly because they’re generally less diligent about hand washing. Young children often share items and brush up against each other while playing, which can put them at risk for reinfection.

You can easily ingest these parasites without knowing it. After ingestion, they can travel through your digestive system and lay their eggs in the skin folds near your anus. This may cause you to experience burning or extreme itchiness around your anus. Some people won’t experience any symptoms.

If you or a loved one has a pinworm infection, everyone in your household should be treated.

Although remedies to treat pinworms exist, they aren’t a recommended first-line treatment. Support for the use of these home remedies is primarily anecdotal. This means that scientific data doesn’t support the use of home remedies for pinworms.

What may work for someone else may not work for you. If you have allergies, you should be careful when trying home remedies. If you’re concerned about a potential reaction, you should test the remedy on a small patch of skin before applying it to the affected area.

Here are three home remedies that you can try to treat your pinworm infection:

Raw garlic

Garlic is said to kill any existing eggs and prevent female pinworms from laying more eggs. You can ingest it in small doses or apply it topically like a salve. If you wish to ingest the garlic, dice up a clove and mix it into pasta or sprinkle it on bread. You can also eat the garlic on its own.

To create a salve, chop up a few cloves of garlic and grind them into a paste. Mix the garlic paste with a small amount of petroleum jelly or other base oil. Dip a clean cotton swab into the mixture and apply the salve to your anus. Do not use if you have sensitive skin, if the area has a burning sensation, or if you have broken skin, hemorrhoids, or inflammation in the area.

Coconut oil

Coconut is said to have antibacterial and antiviral properties that may help clear a pinworm infection. This treatment requires a two-step approach. Swallow a teaspoon of pure coconut oil each morning. Before you go to bed, rub a small amount of coconut oil into the affected area.

Raw carrots

It’s thought that eating a cup of raw, shredded carrots twice per day can help your body push the worms through your intestines. This is because the fiber-rich carrots can improve digestion and promote bowel movement.

If you think that you or a loved one may have a pinworm infection, you should skip the home remedies and seek immediate medical attention. Pinworms are contagious, and delaying treatment can put those around you at risk.

If you do choose to try a home remedy, you should discontinue use and consult your doctor if:

• your symptoms persist
• you experience stomach cramps
• blood is present in your urine or stool

Your doctor can determine what’s causing your symptoms and determine whether you have successfully cleared the infection.

Pyrantel pamoate is in most over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for pinworms. This includes Reese’s Pinworm Medicine and Pin-X. Prescription-strength medications are also available. Your doctor may prescribe a two-dose treatment of mebendazole or albendazole to help you clear the infection. The second dose of medication is typically given two weeks after the first dose.

You’ll also need to make adjustments to your personal hygiene and home care. Follow these tips:

• Wash your hands regularly.
• Keep your fingernails short, and refrain from biting your nails.
• Wear tight underwear.
• Wash your underwear in hot water each day.
• Change your sleepwear regularly.
• Mop or vacuum the floors in all living spaces.
• Wash all linens and bedding in hot water.

If you’re using a home remedy and your symptoms haven’t subsided within a few days, you should consult your doctor. If you believe your body has cleared the infection, you should still follow up with your doctor to ensure that your condition is no longer contagious.

If you’re using an OTC medication, your symptoms will likely subside within three days of your first dose. The infection is still considered contagious for the following three weeks. This is because any eggs that have been laid can hatch and further the spread of the infection. You should take your medication correctly and consistently to get rid of the pinworms.

Frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water is the best way to prevent reinfection. You should always wash your hands:

• after using the bathroom
• after changing a diaper
• before eating
• before touching your mouth

You may also consider keeping your nails short. Pinworm eggs can become trapped under your nails. You can later ingest them if your hands haven’t been washed properly. Keeping your nails short may help prevent this. Learn more about pinworm infections and how to prevent them.

Home Remedies For Worms | Deworming Kids With Natural Medicines

Check out our list of natural deworming home remedies suggested by Ayurvedic consultant Dr Niveditha Srinivasamurthy to effectively get rid of worms in your child

Sujatha Das, mom of 7-year-old Saumen, is at a loss when her son gets up at night complaining of stomach aches and itching in his anal region. Close inspection reveals that he has intestinal worms. Before starting medicines for deworming, Sujatha decides to try out some natural remedies.

Worm infestations in kids are a common occurrence. Like Sujatha's son, many kids suffer from it.

Deworming in children

The process of removal of worms from the intestine with the aid of medication is known as deworming. Deworming is essential for kids as it helps in relieving the symptoms and discomfort caused by worm infestation.

What causes worm infestation in children?

Kids often come in contact with worm-infested toys, objects, or dust while playing, which can lead to worm infestation. They can also get it through close contact with other kids who have pinworms. Sharing clothes or other personal items with kids who have worms can also be the cause of infestation.

Sometimes, worm eggs get lodged in the fingernails of children. When they put their hands in their mouths, the eggs get transferred. Once ingested, they travel all the way to the small intestine where they hatch resulting, in a worm infestation.

The most common type of intestinal worm is threadworm or pinworm.

Diagnosing worms

Doctors use various methods to diagnose a worm infestation. Here are some of the diagnostic methods:

• Tape test: A clear tape is placed around the child's anus. This tape is then directly examined under the microscope to check for the presence of pinworms.
• Parasite stool test: Worms, larvae, and eggs can be identified by examination of the stool sample.
• Endoscopy: The small intestine is directly checked for the presence of parasites by inserting an optical fiber cable with a camera through the mouth and passing it through the esophagus and stomach.
• Colonoscopy: In this method, a fiber-optic cable with a camera is inserted via the rectum into the small intestine to inspect any parasites that are large enough to be visible.
• Blood tests: This test is performed to look for parasites that are present in the blood.

Home remedies for worms in kids

There are many home remedies that are effective against worms in children. Here is a list of some home remedies that you can use to deworm your child naturally.

1. Turmeric

Turmeric or haldi is hailed as the most easily available antiseptic in any household. It is also effective in dealing with all kinds of intestinal worms.

How to have it

Give your kid a glass of buttermilk with one spoon of turmeric once every day. Continue this for a week or so to flush out the intestinal worms. Alternatively, you can do it by putting one spoon of turmeric into a glass of warm water.

The anti-parasitic properties found in coconut and its oil make it an effective treatment for worm infestation. Both coconut and its oil are used to treat intestinal worms in children.

How to have it

Give one teaspoon of coconut oil to the child first thing in the morning for a week. It should be followed by a cup of warm water. Eating a tablespoon of grated coconut daily for a week or 10 days is also said to take care of the worm infestation problem in children.

The triglycerides present in extra-virgin coconut oil help in removing the worms from the child's body. Coconut oil also boosts a child's immunity and prevents recurrence.

Traditionally, bitter gourd and its juice are used to treat parasites in the tummy. Children should be encouraged to eat bitter gourd at least once a week as a preventive measure.

How to have it

Cut and soak the bitter gourd in water for an hour with salt and turmeric. This will reduce its bitterness. It can also be boiled along with a potato and salt. Then mash the bitter gourd with the potato and feed it to the child. Another effective way is to juice one bitter gourd and mix it with water and honey (honey should be given only to children above two years of age). The child suffering from worms should have it at least twice a day to get some relief.

The neem leaves are known to have strong anti-parasitical properties and can be used effectively in treating worm infestation.

How to have it

These days, dried neem flowers are available. These can be added to rasam, sambar, or any curries as tempering. Neem leaves can also be shallow fried in little oil or ghee. Sprinkle a pinch of salt or rock salt. Remove it when crisp. Try to feed these crisp leaves to your child with rice.

Dried neem powder can also be used to cure worm problems in children. Mix one teaspoon of the powder in warm milk and add some honey. Ask your kid to drink this, preferably on empty stomach for one week. You can continue to feed your child this drink until the worms are completely gone.

A pod of garlic is packed with many worm-fighting properties. Hailed as one of the best natural dewormers for kids, garlic can be safely used to kill parasites from the body without any side effects.

How to have it

Crush 2-3 garlic cloves, add it to one cup of milk, and bring it to a boil. Give it to your child to flush out the worms present in his tummy.

Or, soak 2-3 cloves of raw garlic in honey and give one teaspoon of the infused honey to your child on an empty stomach.

The enzyme papain present in raw papaya is potent enough to destroy intestinal worms. Papaya seeds are also useful in expelling worms from the stomach.

How to have it

Grate firm raw papaya and mix it with warm milk along with one tablespoon of honey. Make your child drink this until he is free from worm infestation.

Ground papaya seeds mixed with warm milk or water also help in getting rid of worms. Get your child to drink it first thing in the morning, for three days in a row. You can also ask your child to gulp the seeds as a whole so that she does not taste the bitterness.

Here are some products to help your child get relief from pain, and for you to learn more about kids' health.   Kids deworming syrups Baby colic relief Books on kids' health

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on worm infestation

1. What are the signs of worms in a child?

You may notice tiny thread-like worms on your child's undergarments or in the toilet after he uses the bathroom. Itching around the anus during the night is another sign.

2. Can babies get worms?

Yes. Your baby can come in contact with a worm-infested surface or item while crawling or playing outdoors. Also, an infected person with improper hygiene can pass on the worms to the baby during handling.

3. How often should I deworm my child?

It is essential to get rid of worms as these nasty parasites can affect your child's health and well-being. It is a good practice to deworm children every six months after the age of two. Repeat treatments are required as only the adult worms are eliminated but the eggs stay on the body leading to reinfection.

4. Why is it important to deworm children?

Worm infestation can cause children to fall sick resulting in loss of attendance in school. Also, their growth and performance are affected. Regular deworming helps to keep children in good health as well as stops the spread of infestation in the community.

step-by-step instructions with expert advice

Worms are most often found in the gastrointestinal tract, primarily on the walls and in the intestinal lumen. They cause a lot of discomfort and can appear after eating raw meat, contaminated water, or because of unwashed hands. The most common types of intestinal worms are roundworms, pinworms, whipworms, flukes and tapeworms.

Signs of intestinal parasites may include:

• loss of appetite;
• abdominal pain;
• diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
• gas, bloating;
• weakness;
• fatigue;
• weight loss;
• persistent cough.

People who once had worms know how hard it is to get rid of them. There are many over-the-counter medications available to kill intestinal parasites, but they come with side effects. In the meantime, there are home remedies to get rid of stomach worms naturally.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 880 million children need treatment for intestinal worms. Roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale) are the most common intestinal parasites. They are often found in poor countries. They are mainly transmitted through eggs present in human feces. People living in tropical and subtropical regions suffer the most. However, in Russia, worms are also not uncommon.

- Most often, infection with helminths occurs during meals, - says gastroenterologist Marat Zinnatullin. - Unwashed vegetables and fruits, touching food with dirty hands, poorly purified water, insufficient heat treatment of fish and meat - all these are sources of parasites. Helminth eggs are also transmitted through bedding and underwear. The presence of pets in the house requires strict adherence to hygiene rules: cats and dogs are often carriers of helminths.

Infected people become lethargic and often fall ill. Therefore, it is important to deal with parasites in a timely manner. Here are a few proven ones.

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Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitacin, which is antiparasitic in nature.

Fry 1 tbsp. spoon pumpkin seeds and mix them with half a glass of water and coconut milk. Take on an empty stomach for a week.

Garlic

It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Eat 1-2 cloves of garlic on an empty stomach during the week.

Carrot

It is rich in beta-carotene and has an antioxidant effect.

Eat carrots every morning for a week.

Apple cider vinegar

A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of warm water will also help get rid of worms. The course of admission is 1 week.

Turmeric

Turmeric is well known to have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.

Add 1 tbsp buttermilk to a glass. spoonful of turmeric and drink. The course of treatment is 1 week.

Clove

This spice is also famous for its antimicrobial properties.

Steep 2-3 cloves in a glass of boiling water, let cool and drink.

Papaya

The fruits of this tropical tree have an anthelmintic effect.

Add 1 tbsp to a glass of warm milk. a spoonful of crushed raw papaya and 1 teaspoon of honey. Take on an empty stomach for a week.

Coconut

It also has an anthelmintic effect.

Add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of shredded coconut for breakfast during the week.

Medicines

Intestinal parasites, in particular pinworms, can be eliminated with medication. But the whole family should take them.

So, there are remedies for pinworms based on mebendazole. They kill parasites, but cannot destroy their eggs. And piperazine adipate paralyzes parasites, after which they leave the intestines naturally. It is usually prescribed along with hay - this herb has a laxative effect and helps to get rid of worms faster.

Prevention of worm infestation

To prevent or reduce the risk of intestinal worms, it is important to develop good hygiene practices, such as washing hands regularly with soap and hot water before and after going to the toilet and before preparing or eating food.

Popular Questions and Answers

Gastroenterologist Marat Zinnatullin answered typical questions about worm infestation .