Threadworm questions

[Abigwhale]

I have ocd (diagnosed, seeking treatment) around threadworms. I’ve had an email today from school saying there is a case in my child’s class. I know how to spot the signs and I know how to search for them but I have some questions if any more expert mums can help:
How do you clean every toy? We’ve got so many toys, Lego and all sorts with little parts!
How do you wash them in the morning? If I bath them will the worm eggs not just be floating in the bath?
How can I physically clean every single surface?
And finally are they really easy to get rid of?

Thanks

Stay away from google.

One dose of ovex and then another two weeks later should eradicate any worms.

You cannot clean everything.

Threadworms are unpleasant but ultimately in an otherwise healthy child with a good diet not life threatening.

Just take ovex for a couple weeks. No need to clean everything. If there are any eggs, they will either die for lack of a host after 2 weeks or die because you are protected by the ovex. Then they are no more harmful than a speck of dust to you.

Yes as per above. I’ve never cleaned any toys etc. What’s the statistic? 40% of primary age children have them at any one time. Just two doses of over a couple of weeks apart works every time.

I don't clean anything at all anymore. I think we know when we get them in my family, as it feels quite, shall we say "wriggly", when they are on their way out. So I doubt there will be many eggs lying around our house. We all get a dose of Ovex in the morning (so always have one ready) which works during the day and no more wriggling that night. You can dose again after 2 weeks in case you have ingested eggs which had not developed yet to worms in your gut. But we don't bother with this either anymore. We get them 2-3 times a year. It's frustrating but it will end when they get older.

One thing that is worth doing is teaching your children to wash their hands before they eat. But you are probably already doing that. Be careful not to pass on your anxiety to your children though, that would be worse for them than having worms.....!

Thanks everyone. I’m hoping it’s one of those where the thought of it is worse than actually having it.

scrub nails, clean bottoms, wear pants at night.
break the cycle

Short nails for DC helps prevent them getting it too. I always find when I let DS1's nails get too long he brings them home - yuck.

Agree no sense washing every toy. And to stay away from google as there is some batshit insane stuff on there.

A wipe over the bum/vulva area with a warm cloth is enough to get rid of that itchy stuff where they lay the eggs at night. Then stick the cloth in the wash. Also when you do the washing, wash your hands after you've put the dirty things in the washing machine, especially if you've handled pants, pyjamas and bedsheets.

Teach the habits of washing hands after toilet, before eating.preparing food and when you first get home.

And yes always have enough ovex on hand to dose everyone over 2.

The first time is awful, after that it becomes routine.

I'm late 40s and always have Ovex handy since I got threadworms two years ago. I think I got them from a shared (by many) computer keyboard but it could have been anywhere. I didn't go OTT with the washing as I always wear pjs to bed. One dose sorted it but I did take the follow up.

Thanks all.

Hi there. I appreciate this is an old set of messages but I wondered if it might be ok to email you as I am in exactly the same position as you and struggling quite a bit. Thanks