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Children's health

Worms - aargh!!

11 replies

TheCrackFox · 16/09/2008 12:01

Just noticed DS2 has worms. Boak!!

I am a worm virgin.

What do I do now?

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kiddiz · 16/09/2008 12:45

You can buy otc treatment from the chemist or you can get it on prescription from gp which ever is easier for you. Boots own brand are cheaper than branded. It's recommended that you treat the whole family and wash his sheets and towels and underwear in a hot wash if possible.
I agree they're pretty revolting but easily treated. Good luck!

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kiddiz · 16/09/2008 12:48

BTW my GP prescribed some pretty revolting powder that you had to mix in water and drink. I found it very difficult to get my dcs to take it. The chewable tablets from Boots were much easier and if your dcs are old enough you can just swallow them like a tablet which my older two prefer.

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TheCrackFox · 16/09/2008 14:03

Hi Kiddiz, thank you for the advice. I have just been to the chemist (luckily literally across the road) and got some tablets. I don't know which I find more revolting, nits or worms, but at least it seems straight forward in treating them.

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Madsometimes · 17/09/2008 09:52

dd1 just had worms too! I was also a worm virgin. She kept complaining about an itching bottom, but every time I looked there was nothing there and skin did not seem irritated at all. Then I read that worms come out to lay eggs at night, when the child is asleep. So when she was asleep I went to check on her. The poor thing had got a wet flannel and stuffed it down her pants. I saw one worm on her bottom. I treated the whole family and sterilised all linen, towels and especially the offending flannel

I was slightly miffed about the school. The medication clearly states that worms are a non serious infection, and a treated child is well enough for school, but that schools should be informed. When I phoned the school, they said they had never had a case of worms before and that she had to be kept off. Obviously everyone else just keeps this to themselves.

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Elibean · 17/09/2008 10:52

Madsometimes, I think in RL people basically don't like thinking, talking about, or admitting to worms - nits yes, worms no. Maybe its to do with bottoms and being British or something?! I had a similar experience a year ago when dd1 had worms at pre-school - in reverse: they brushed it off as 'oh well it happens' and didn't want to put up a notice or hand out a letter or supervise handwashing. Until I asked them to

CrackFox, cut fingernails v short, do lots of handwashing esp before meals, pants under PJs at night, and wash bedding and towels daily for a couple of days at least - and hoover/damp dust after treating. Some people do the cleaning/washing thing daily for 6 weeks, but I found a moderate approach more than enough

Still waiting for the nits here, dd having started Reception now.....

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Elibean · 17/09/2008 10:53

Oh, and I would re-treat automatically after 14 days - re-infection is v v common.

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iwantasecondone · 17/09/2008 11:05

It occurred to me this morning that maybe the reason DS is soooo wriggly in the night could be because he has worms. He is only 6 months, but as he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth I can see how it could happen. How on earth do you check an infant at night? By the time you've got them up, undone vest and sleepsuit and nappy...what am I looking for?

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Elibean · 17/09/2008 12:39

I would think you'd be looking for worms in nappy - they'd be easy to spot there! Small, threadlike, wiggly white things.

That said, I only ever saw a couple in toilet bowl with dd1, and never saw any on her at night (did check). Have never seen any in dd2's nappy, so assume she's not had them.

But wriggling at night can be due to sooo many things at 6 months...reflux, wind, teeth, eczema, being too hot/cold, the stimulation of various milestones like sitting up/crawling.....

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likessleep · 17/09/2008 12:53

I had worms as a child ... 'pripsen' has given me a lifelong aversion to strawberry milkshakes

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maidamess · 17/09/2008 13:05

I asked my sons school to do a flyer about worms too, as he has caught them 5 times now!! So someone is spreading them!

They were quite happy too, but I think it should have the same publicity as head lice.

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TheCrackFox · 18/09/2008 19:15

Oh, bloody hell, don't tell me that maidamess. 5 times!

I have now boil washed the entire house, hoovered, damp dusted and generally disinfected. What joy.

Will defo do the 2nd dose in 2 weeks time.

I only noticed the worms in his potty. He didn't seem to be itchy at night or anything. Just thinking about makes my teeth itch.

Aarrrgghh! Boak!