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Children

Parasitic infection or infestation can occur in children of all ages. Infants, toddlers, and very young children in day care settings are at risk for the parasitic disease called giardiasis that causes diarrhea and is spread through contaminated feces. Pinworm infection (enterobiasis) also occurs among preschool and young school age children. Both preschool and school age children can become infested with head lice (pediculosis) or scabies, both of which are spread by close person-to-person contact as is common during childhood play.

 Kids in wading pools
 Accidentally swallowing contaminated recreational water is one way children can get cryptosporidiosis, a parasitic disease.

Children of all ages can develop parasitic diseases such as giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis from swallowing contaminated water during swimming, playing, and other activities in contaminated recreational water (e.g. pools, fountains, lakes, rivers and streams, etc.). Pets and other animals can be a potential source of parasites that can affect children. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that is spread by contact with infected cat feces found in litter boxes and soil. Toxocariasis is a disease caused by a parasitic roundworm that is common in the intestines of dogs and cats.

One of the most important ways to help prevent these parasitic diseases is to teach children the importance of washing hands correctly with soap and warm water, particularly after using the toilet.

Children in malaria-endemic countries are at high risk of the ill effects of malaria infection. The majority of the world's malaria deaths are in African children under 5 years of age. They should receive treatment with an appropriate antimalarial drug within 24 hours of symptom onset, as well as sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net throughout the year.

Children in the United States are also at high risk for malaria infection when traveling to a malaria-endemic country. Children should be sure to take antimalarial drugs before, during, and after the trip, use repellant, sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net or in an air-conditioned room, and wear protective clothing.

Related Parasitic Diseases

For more information on some of the parasitic diseases that are of particular relevance for children, please select from the list below.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



A

Ancylostomiasis (Hookworm, Cutaneous Larva Migrans [CLM])

Angiostrongyliasis (Angiostrongylus Infection)

Ascariasis (Ascaris Infection, Intestinal Roundworms)

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B

Baylisascariasis (Baylisascaris Infection, Racoon Roundworm)

Blastocystis hominis Infection

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C

CLM (Cutaneous Larva Migrans, Ancylostomiasis, Hookworm Infection)

Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium Infection)

Cutaneous Larva Migrans (CLM, Ancylostomiasis, Hookworm)

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D

Dientamoeba fragilis Infection

Dipylidium caninum Infection (dog or cat tapeworm infection)

Dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum Infection)

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E

Endolimax nana Infection (Nonpathogenic Intestinal Amebae Infection)

Entamoeba coli Infection (Nonpathogenic Intestinal Amebae Infection)

Entamoeba dispar Infection (Nonpathogenic Intestinal Amebae Infection)

Entamoeba hartmanni Infection (Nonpathogenic Intestinal Amebae Infection)

Entamoeba polecki Infection

Enterobiasis (Pinworm Infection)

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F

Fascioliasis (Fasciola Infection)

Fasciolopsiasis (Fasciolopsis Infection)

Filariasis (Lymphatic Filariasis, Elephantiasis)

Foodborne Diseases

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G

Giardiasis (Giardia Infection)

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H

Head Lice Infestation (Pediculosis)

Hymenolepiasis (Hymenolepis Infection)

Hookworm Infection (Ancylostomiasis, Cutaneous Larva Migrans [CLM])

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I

Intestinal Roundworms (Ascariasis, Ascaris Infection)

Iodamoeba buetschlii Infection (Nonpathogenic Intestinal Amebae Infection)

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L

Lice Infestation (Body lice, Head lice, Pubic lice)

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M

Mite Infestation (Scabies)

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N

Nonpathogenic Intestinal Amebae Infection

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O

Ocular Larva Migrans (Toxocariasis, Toxocara Infection, Visceral Larva Migrans)

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P

Pediculosis (Head Lice Infestation)

Pinworm Infection (Enterobiasis)

Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia (PCP) previously Pneumocystis carinii

Pubic Lice Infestation ("Crabs")

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R

Raccoon Roundworm Infection (Baylisascariasis, Baylisascaris Infection)

Recreational Water

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S

Scabies (Mite Infestation)

Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia)

Sleeping Sickness (Trypanosomiasis, African Sleeping Sickness)

Strongyloidiasis (Strongyloides Infection)

Swimmer's Itch (Cercarial Dermatitis)

Swimming Pools

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T

Toxocariasis (Toxocara Infection, Ocular Larva Migrans, Visceral Larva Migrans)

Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma Infection)

Trichinellosis (Trichinosis)

Trichinosis (Trichinellosis)

Trichuriasis (Whipworm Infection, Trichuris Infection)

Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping Sickness, Sleeping Sickness)

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V

Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxocariasis, Toxocara Infection, Ocular Larva Migrans)

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W

Waterborne Diseases

Whipworm Infection (Trichuriasis, Trichuris Infection)

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Z

Zoonotic Diseases (Diseases spread from animals to people)

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Page last modified: May 16, 2008
Page last reviewed: October 5, 2007
Content Source:
Division of Parasitic Diseases (DPD)
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
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