daughters pain below

[purplepolka]

Hoping for some help...

Over the past week my 5yo daughter has woken up crying on 2/3 occasions saying she has a pain down below. When i look she is red and looks abit swollen.

I cant use cream or talc because she says it stings so at the moment i am just using a damp towel to try and soothe her. She seems to be going for wee's as normal and doesn't seem to be feeling under the weather.

At first i thought it was possibly that she wasn't wiping herself properly but could this be something else? UTI maybe?

I am hoping to get her into the doctors but just would like to have an idea of what it might be before i go.

[Littlefish]

It could be threadworms. They can cause pain in the vulval area, particularly at night when the worms are active.

[AuditAngel]

We have a similar problem with our 4 yo. We think she doesn't wipe enough for a wee, and may wipe from back to front on a poo.

To soothe her when really red (frequently) we rinse her bottom with warm water, wash with top to toe, then rinse with clean water, pat dry then smother with Sudocrem. Clean pants to protect furniture /bed linen.

Last night her vulva was scarlet and she was crying, but today pink and healthy looking.

[AuditAngel]

Following up on Littlefish's point, previously we had this with DD, but she was was squirmy, not sleeping, and not red like I just described.

[purplepolka]

I know she struggles with wiping, when she's at home she often shouts me to go and help her but obviously she wont get help at school so it makes me wonder if this could be the cause of it.

I never thought of threadworms but having just had a quick read up on them the symptoms do match...

Hopefully i will get her into the docs tomorrow and get it sorted.

[elfycat]

DD1 had had this and it was threadworms (when I had a good look you could see them around not only her bottom, but also in her vagina and vulva). They were under a cm and extremely thin white worms that look like tiny bits of cotton thread.

The stuff to treat is everywhere. I told the pharmacist I needed to worm the kids and the older lady next to me smiled and said 'we've all been there'. Get enough to treat the whole family. The liquid is bitter in the after taste so either knock it back in one, or have dairy milk buttons for bribes if you have a 'sipper' (DD2 4yo and probably not affected). I found piriton worked for the irritation until it took effect.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

You don't need dr for worms shop rule that out first. Before you go to bed tonight get a torch and go in her room, part her bum cheeks and shine the torch, if she has worms they will be out laying eggs and will be visible. Then you can get the stuff grin the chemist, free for the kids under the minor ailments scheme.

[elfycat]

Audit DD1 was only intermittently red. She would then be pink/normal for days. Don't rule out worms. From now on I'll treat with anti-wormer if there's even a chance.

Handwashing after handling their underwear, bedding towels etc is important to prevent spread to others and reinfection.

[gamerchick]

Treat for thread worms anyway. Get the tablets for the adults and the family bottle for the kids so you have some left in the cupboard. It's the glue that causes the itching.. I use baby wipes each time they wake to remove it so they can get back to sleep.

Dammed things only announce themselves at night.

[purplepolka]

Thanks for all your help. Sure enough she woke up fine this morning so soreness, redness or swelling. I'v stripped the beds in readyness and will be getting some treatment for threadworms today, if no change I will take her to the docs next week.

[Roonerspism]

DD gets this on and off, a lot.

Pharmacist says I should only treat for worms if I had seen them. The medicine shouldn't be used on a just in case basis. I checked that night and couldn't see any worms.

What has worked for us : no bubble bath, bathe only in water, sudocreme afterwards and limit orange/orange juice.