To wish people would stop freaking out at threadworms?

[Inkandbone]

Sorry if I sound a bit brusque but I've clicked on at least three screamy threads about threadworms, oh god, oh no, how awful, how disgusting, I must burn the contents of my house followed by my own children.

And thousands more in search engines.

Here is the thing. They are totally, entirely, absolutely NORMAL. They are no more or less disgusting than any other parasite type thing - nuts or whatever- very common in children and very easy to treat.

They can be very painful for children around their bottoms because their skin is soft and sensitive. This is why you should freak out, because your child is in pain, not because 'oh, ewwww.'

All the daft over the top reactions do is perpetuate the problem as people don't talk about it thinking it's some grim, gross, horrifying thing when actually they are perfectly normal, extremely easy to treat and no matter how much you boil wash and encourage hand washing your kids may well get them for the simple reason kids put things in their mouths more than adults.

So seriously lighten the fuck up!

[silverbell64]

I totally get you OP. Calm down, it's a little problem that is easily solved.

[Wolfiefan]

Normal? Really? Grim!

[Inkandbone]

Really, it is!

[OnlyToday]

YABU . Threadworms are gross.

[Blueemeraldagain]

I think common is a better description than normal.

[Inkandbone]

Wolfie have you not noticed MOST things related to kids are grim ?!

Headlice. Nappy rash. Impetigo. Potty training. Sniffing your child's arse to establish if they are the culprit or not when a dubious odour is hovering around.

[Branleuse]

yes its normal, so are nits.

I will admit to getting freaked out the first couple of times, but now its just annoying, especially nits as theyre a faff, but worms, I just keep Ovex in the medicine cabinet, and worm all the kids regularly whether they need it or not.

[TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince]

Well some of us have a phobia of worms. Finding one on my finger after wiping my bum is possibly he most horrific thing lve ever experienced. I was terrified of going to the toilet for 2 weeks. They might be normal, but they aren't exactly nice.

[Inkandbone]

No, they ARE normal. A perfectly normal childhood pest. Just like headline, and a lot easier to get rid of. Little though I care to put down a casting vote, give me worms every time. One pill and done.

[DJBaggySmalls]

Can we add fleas to the list?

[Wolfiefan]

I've had two kids. Never had worms. I wouldn't put them under unavoidable, normal childhood ills.

[silverbell64]

That's your problem if you have a phobia about them surely.

[buttwingsham]

Meh we all had em last week.
4dc it's just one of those things, however the first time I cried so I'm 50:50 on this one.

[HamptonWick1974]

I remember having worms when I was little. I had an itchy bottom for ages (not sure if I told my mum). I remember looking at my poo (in the toilet). It was ALIVE with tiny thin white things, I was fascinated!!!! Well that's how I remember it, over 40 years later. Not sure if I was treated or they just disappeared.

Anytime someone says they have an itchy bum in this house we all down an Ovex. Job done. I have heard that prizing a childs buttocks apart in the night and shining a torch up the bum region will let you know if they have worms. WHO WOULD DO THAT? Ovex is your friend.

We've never encounter Nits thank the Lord, as that's much more work!

[Gammeldragz]

YANBU, if more people talked about it like nits they would be spotted and treated earlier and maybe kids would wash their hands more (maybe)

[chitofftheshovel]

I agree totally. It happens, it's not an indication of class or wealth, it's a normal part of childhood/adulthood.

Although you'd have thought not to see the way my SIL reacted when her snowflake had them when we were all staying at my mums house. It really was almost a house burning, children slaying, situation.

[Inkandbone]

No, they aren't nice, but plenty of things aren't nice. None of my pregnancies were nice as I was constantly vomiting, then I shat myself giving birth to the odious little beasts and one of them gave me a tear. Then they all poo, wee, are sick, get rashes in strange places, and have little hangers on attach themselves to them.

It is normal. By all means, no one needs to start a campaign to save the worms. But honestly there is no need for all the screaming grouchy

[buttwingsham]

Wolfe I think you've been lucky. On a mums night out from school they came up in conversation (as they do!) and over 50% of the mums said one of their kids had had them.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

Where do you get Ovex? Is it a prescription drug?

[Inkandbone]

Yes, but Wolfie, just because YOUR kids haven't had them, doesn't mean they aren't an entirely normal part of childhood. Somehow, mine haven't ever had headlice but that doesn't mean that I am not well aware it's very normal for kids to pick them up.

That's not a stealth boast. All mine have had worms.

[HalfPintPixie]

I agree with you.

When I was little, I had threadworms once. It was made worse by the fact that I'd heard my mum talking about how gross it was having to worm our dog, so I didn't want to tell her in case she thought I was gross too!

I totally get why people are disgusted, but you're right that they're just another possible part of the never ending grossness that is having kids!

[AccrualIntentions]

My mum used to stockpile Ovex in the medicine cupboard as one or other of us would have them every 6 months or so. They're gross, obviously, but it's not a massive deal.

[HamptonWick1974]

Ovex can be purchased from Chemist. No prescription needed.

[Raver84]

I think they are utterly vile and not easy to treat insofar as the washing of every bloody cuddly toy, duvet, sheet, towel. Changing beds daily showing morning and night. Washing sheets daily for weeks and cleaning every toy and throwing away every pen in a draw full of pens isn't easy. When you have 4 is a fucking nightmare.

[Temporaryanonymity]

We have never had them in our house. Plenty of nits though.