Should a four-year-old child be dewormed for roundworms?
Nov 23, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
Children who live in environments with poor hygiene or who are frequently exposed to objects that may carry roundworm eggs, such as pet feces or contaminated soil, are at relatively higher risk of roundworm infection; in such cases, preventive deworming treatment may be considered. Children living in environments with good hygiene and who have not shown any symptoms associated with roundworm infection may not require deworming.
Deworming refers to taking anthelmintic medication orally. Generally speaking, if a four-year-old child is at high risk of infection, oral deworming medication may be considered. If the child is not infected, oral deworming medication may be temporarily unnecessary. The analysis is as follows:
If a child lives in an environment with poor hygiene or frequently comes into contact with objects that may carry roundworm eggs, such as pet feces or contaminated soil, the risk of roundworm infection will be relatively high, and oral deworming medication may then be considered. Before administering deworming medication, the child should be taken to the hospital for relevant examinations to confirm whether a roundworm infection exists.
Children living in environments with good hygiene conditions who maintain good personal hygiene, have a balanced diet, and do not display any symptoms associated with roundworm infection, such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or weight loss, may not require oral deworming medication. Administering deworming medication to children blindly may not only be unnecessary but could also pose risks of drug side effects.
Parents should educate their children to develop good hygiene habits and undergo regular physical examinations to reduce the risk of infection.
