Small boy + itchy bum =

[travellingwilbury]

worms possibly , but apparently to make sure I have to wait until he is asleep and then shine a torch up his bottom .

Surely there must be an easier way to diagnose .

[thisisyesterday]

yes, you don't have to have seen them, GP diagnosed ds1 without looking for them!

[nickytwotimes]

What a fun evening activity that will be.

Could you examine under his fingernails after he has scratched?

Or just use the worming stuff as part of a process of elimination?

[travellingwilbury]

So do I just assume he has got worms because he keeps scratching his bum ?

The joys of motherhood !

[TheChewyToffeeMum]

You might see thread worms on his pyjama bottoms or pants or in his poos.

You could try the sellotape test - put a piece of tape (micropore-type dressing tape probably more comfortable) over his anus before he goes to bed and remove in the morning - you will see either worms or small white eggs on the tape as they only come out at night!

[travellingwilbury]

nicky , thats why I thought , poor boy would get a bit of a schok if he woke up to see me crouching with a torch .

Years of therapy ahead me thinks .

[cyb]

dose him up anyway, he could be shedding worm eggs left right and centre. And put vaseline around bum hole they cant lay eggs in that

[iwantavuvezela]

If his bum is itchy at night time then its probaby worms, this is when they come out! It might be worth giving him the treatment (and all others in the family) and i would highly recommend taking another dose (i think its 10 days or 2 weeks afterwards) I didnt and my daughter got reinfected! so then had to do it twice.
If its worms you will probably see them in the poos, usually the treatment will help flush them out.

[thisisyesterday]

i just went to gp and said- itchy bottom, worse at night

she said, yes, probably worms, here/'s a prescription.
took ovex, itching stopped

i think it's unliekly to be anything else tbh!

[HeadingHome]

It's worms.

Don't give him the bad memories of "my friend" whos mum used to do AWAKE examinations with a torch...

[travellingwilbury]

Living the dream ay ?

[changeforthebetter]

OMG . I think he would be totally traumatised. If anyone mentions itchy bums I just assume that small children do not always wash their hands and that they grub about in soil and are in contact with other kids who do likewise. I get the stuff straight from the chemist (Ovex?) and treat all of us.

[Nickoka]

I wouldn't wait. My daughter was so distressed at night with the itching.

Just buy a family pack of something like Ovex from the chemist and all take them asap.

[travellingwilbury]

Ok thanks for all the advice , it doesn't seem to get worse at night though .

It won't do any harm to give him the meds anyway will it ? And change sheets , towels .

Anything else I need to think about it ?

[nickytwotimes]

If it's not that, maybe thrush? I get it on my bum (TMI!) and have a hydrocortisone/canasten type combo cream. Also cut down on sugar.

But worms does sound most likely.

Enjoy!

[TheChewyToffeeMum]

Some people can get eczema type rashes on the bottom too - clears up with steroid cream. If Ovex doesn't work take him to the GP and get them to have a look.

[cyb]

the meds contain a mild laxative so just be on your guard toilet wise