Can an itchy bottom mean anything other than worms?

[CrapBag]

DS has been complaining that his bottom is itching and he has been scratching it, not so much today though I have noticed. Looked at his poo and can't see anything and when he was asleep last night me and DH looked at his bottom as a website said they may come out in warm slightly damp conditions like when you are in bed.

Is it bloody worms? I have never ever dealt with them before. Do we need to take him to the doctors? I don't really want to treat him unless we know for sure. He said last week that he saw some blood and he said he is finding it difficult to go to the toilet but when I asked him again about the blood he said he hasn't been bleeding.

He has had eczema since 6 weeks old but never on his bum, he is 5.

He also has some large spots on his bum that are not related to the itching. Any ideas?

[catlady1]

It could be constipation, especially if he is straining to go or his poo is very hard, that would explain the bleeding too. Could possibly be piles but more likely to be a small tear due to hard/large poo. Worms are fairly unlikely if you're reasonably hygienic and he hasn't been eating mud or anything recently, even if you have pets that have worms it's still quite hard to catch them.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

It might be itching healing fissures?

Does it itch all the time, or just at night?

[atrcts]

It could be one of many things (other than threadworm), or even a combination of problems together.

Constipation can cause little tears internally, which can itch as they heal. Lactulose is a good remedy for this as its gentle, and of course extra fluids and fibre in the diet.

If there's any redness around the anus when you look closely, it could be thrush or a bacterial infection, both can be sorted with antibiotic and anti fungal creams, and both cause itching.

Best bet is to trundle off to the GP for a diagnosis. Or if you aren't comfortable with that maybe buy worming treatment from a chemist - which works in a few days - and if there's still itching then you can rule that out for sure!

[WhatEverZen]

I had something very similar with my ds a while ago.

Does your ds wipe his own bum? And if so, is he doing it properly? that can contribute to the itching all around bum area which then leads to inflammation and the spots. We tackled the red spots / bumps with diprobase cream from the gp.

Hope that helps

[CrapBag]

Itches all the time, not sure if he scratches at night, we see him doing it in the day, it looks red and we have used nappy rash cream as we don't really know what to do.

We are hygenic and I am anal about making sure hand washing after toilet etc, no eating mud either. I thought they were easy to catch, I am wrong then luckily.

I thought fissure too after he said about it being difficult to go. I get them a lot but thats after his difficult birth and bad tear.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

If he is wiping himself after a poo maybe get him some moist wipes to make it easier for him to be thorough?

[CautionaryWhale]

Could be a fissure yes but the idea of worms being fairly unlikely is very misleading given their prevalence in the UK - yes, strict hygiene is a great deterrent to prevent reinfection but like nits worms do not discriminate...
eggs can be found on school taps/door handles/toys etc so if one child has them in nursery they can spread irrespective of hand-washing especially if you have a nail-biter or thumbsucker.

The itching would be at night not day and scratching in sleep would cause reinfection if fingers in mouth.
Strict hygiene - clean pjs and sheets, buttock washing every morning prevents reinfection but every family member needs treating - pripsen is like a vile milkshake - ovex is a very easy tablet - available over the counter.

You will not see them necessarily in your child's faeces but at night if he says he is itching and you part his buttocks slightly then they are unmissable. Also a little cream/vaseline on and around the anus is advisable anyway. Would not bother with the tape test - would give an ovex asap in jam or yoghurt if prob with tablet taking.

Not sure why earth or animals were mentioned as threadworms do not come from animals at all.

If piles or a fissure then anusol type cream would relieve but you need to get a prescription for some kind of lubricant/cream a child can have.

[CrapBag]

Have just asked him and he says it itches in the night and the day. So if he is itching in the day does that mean it isn't worms and they only itch at night? We only looked one night but there was nothing there then.

We do use those moist toilet wipes as well so he can get properly clean.

[unlucky83]

Threadworms are a nightmare ...a plague - especially if you have a nail biter...and easy to catch and like headlice. Schools don't tell other parents (although if you tell they are supposed to make sure bathrooms are cleaned thoroughly and things like play sand are thrown away ...)
I would say that unless they are really badly infected you won't see them in their poo - or even lots round their anus...
I am very aware of them - I have only once ever seen one outside anus first time I realised they had them and it grossed me out ..if I get told they have an itchy bum I will have a damn good look - sorry this might be TMI - but I even get them to strain a bit so I can check just inside anus (by eye - no prodding etc) - and often that's when I see one or two...
I give them Ovex (you can get banana flavoured liquid as well as the tablets) - then another dose 2 weeks later.
Get them to wash their hands before they eat, when they get home from school, in the morning (you can wash their bottoms too)... discourage nail biting/finger sucking - and IME you will still get them!
I hate them....past bothering with the daily bed changing etc..makes not a blind bit of difference - they go back to school and get them again...

[CrapBag]

Thanks for your replies. DS also complained that his willy was sore so we took him to the docs and he has a bit of an infection. Doc reckons it was a bit of eczema that DS scratched and it has become a bit infected. Got some antibiotics and canesten. Doc reckons DS could have scratched the front, then the back and spread it. Makes sense. So we are trying this treatment and doc said if he is still itching then treat for worms. No one else in the house has itching so hopefully it is just this infection.