Symptoms

The usual symptoms of intestinal worms are diarrhoea, foul breath, dark circles under the eyes, constant desire for food, restlessness at night with bad dreams, anemia and headache. Infants and young children are likely to be irritated all the time and are prone to throw tantrums at the slightest excuse.

Roundworms may give rise to inflammation of the intestine lungs. The usual symptoms are diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, loss of weight, fever, nervousness and irritability. Children with hookworm disease appear pale and are often weak. Threadworms may cause an intense itching in the areas around the anus. Tapeworms and roundworms may cause convulsion in children.

Threadworms infection which is very common in children, may cause periodic bouts of diarrhoea, itching around anal area, alternating with constipation, loss of weight, cough and fever.

Treatment

The modern medical system prescribes drugs to kill the parasites. They may give temporary relief, but they are more likely to harm the digestive process and create other complications. Nature cure methods, on the other hand, aim at strengthening the intestine so as to purge the parasites.

The treatment for intestinal worms should begin with diet. The child-patient should be kept on exclusive diet of fresh fruits for two days or so. If possible, a small warm-water enema, mixed with the juice of half a fresh lime, may be administered daily during this period to cleanse the bowels. This would help expel mucus and threadworms from the intestine. Bed clothes of the patient must be exposed to sun everyday and he should stay in a well-ventilated room.

After spending two or three days on exclusive fresh fruit diet, the child may be allowed to take raw and boiled vegetables in addition to fruits. This diet may be continued for two or three days, after which he may be allowed to have porridge, or gruel. Thereafter, he may gradually embark upon a well-balanced light diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, mil and wholemeal bread. The diet should include fatty foods such as butter, cream and oil, refined foods and all flesh foods. This diet should be continued till the parasites are completely eliminated. Mud pack sand cold compresses applied to lower part of the abdomen will help in the initial stages of the treatment.