Features of asthenic syndrome in children with ascariasis

Intestinal helminthic infections have various adverse effects on the health of children. Ascariasis is one of the most common intestinal helminthics. Long parasitism of the roundworm in the body of the child leads to the formation astheno-vegetative syndrome, lag in physical, mental and intellectual development.

The aim of our study was to investigate the featuers of manifestations of asthenic syndrome in children of different age groups with intestinal stage of ascariasis. The results of 133 children observations (age from 1 to 18 years) with intestinal stage of ascariasis were presented in our research. Rate the overall status of children with identifying syndromes related to manifestations of worm infestations, particular attention was paid to the terms of clinical symptoms appearance of he disease. The study showed that the asthenic syndrome occurs in 3 times more often in children with intestinal stage of ascariasis, compared to the relatively healthy children (p < 0.01). The most characteristic symptoms of asthenic syndrome were slackness and fatigue (62.4%), irritability (64.66%), capriciousness and hysterical states (61.65%), decreased memory and attention (43.61%), emotional lability (34%) and headache (25.56%). In preschool children more frequently (p < 0.01) were recorded capriciousness and hysterical state (over 75%). Complaints about the deterioration of memory and attention deficits (55.56–76.47%) were observed in school-age children more frequently (p < 0.01). Young people significantly more common complainted on headaches (62.5%; p < 0.05). Slackness, fatigue and irritability occurred significantly more frequently (p < 0.01) among all age groups of children with ascariasis.