Is anyone up? Threadworms?! Please help

[Rolypops]

7YO DD has had itchy and sore private parts for about a week, but she has fine motor issues and doesn't always wipe well at school so isn't hugely out of the ordinary. However this morning she had scratched so much she'd taken skin off her public area so I've been cleaning and applying sudocrem all day.

However about two hours ago she woke up really uncomfortable again and I've applied her cream and seen what I can only assume are bloody worms!! I am so upset I didn't realise sooner but none of my DCs have had this and I assumed you only had an itchy bottom.

Going to ring GP first thing in the morning but wtaf do I do? She is autistic so cannot know she has them or she will be hysterical. Also she's saying it hurts to wee and I'm really afraid that this means it's quite a severe case? I'm so out of my depth. What do I tell the school??

Handhold/advice would be VERY appreciated.

The medication honestly works almost instantly. It’s amazing. Also, it’s worse at night so will be better in the morning. Get the meds for the family, give the area a good rinse/wipe, wash her hands. Clean towels, surfaces and doorknobs and it should all be better by midday. Repeat in two weeks as a precaution.

Make sure you disinfect any bath toys (and of course the bath itself). It's very common for pin worms to pass from the anus to the vagina in girls. Treat the whole family. Make sure dd washes her hands a lot.

OP can’t you just say she’s had a funny tummy or has a UTI or something? If you’re so worried about your school judging you and gossiping about her then I don’t see why you need to tell them the truth?

OP teacher here. Tge whole staff will not be takking about this,believe me. They probably won't be told her name. An I code will probably be put in reg. Her class teacher may he told why but may not. Cut yourself some slack please. Hope you are get some relief soon. Hand hold

It’s very common. My DD has had them numerous times. I always tell school so they’re aware and can do a good clean. They don’t appear from no where so chances are someone else at school has probably had them and that’s where she’s caught them from. GP not required, buy the meds, it’s only sore when we urinates because she’s been scratching.

OP I’m going to be cruel to be kind here.

you don’t need the GP
you don’t have to keep her off school
you don’t have to tell school
you aren’t a shit mum

you need to calm down it is all ok!!

Almost every kid gets these. It can look terrible but it is just the same as catching any other bug. Just that these ones are visible. you haven’t don’t anything wrong at all.

The meds work quickly, need to take them again 2 weeks later. Get everyone in the family to take them. Just wash her bedding and any towels. You don’t need to go mental and boil wash the entire house though like some people say.

You haven’t been neglectful. The only thing here which is going to affect your daughter is the way you choose to deal with it. Hysteria, even if hidden from her, isn’t going to help anyone. It seems like you might be overly anxious, maybe when this settles down some help with that could be good? I hope that doesn’t sound patronising, you’re obviously a really good mum who cares a lot about her DD.

get the tablets, get on with life. Everything is ok.

I hope you've managed some sleep! Please don't fret about the school - they are so, so common.

Any teacher gossiping should be sacked! It's not a reflection on you as a parent at all. I suspect most teachers have known of kids who have had them.

I got freaked out the first time with my son. Nobody else batted an eyelid and that was nearly 20 years ago.

Please don't cry!

Oh bless you, it's just something you weren't expecting dont be so hard on yourself. It's a pain as people dont talk a out worms as they feel embarrassed but If a child has night time itching that's the firs thing to rule out and you will know now for the future. I think the stats are that 1 in ten school aged kids has these at any time, its really common. The discomfort is high especially if they are in the vagina. I have a couple of bottles of ovex in the cupboard on standby so I can treat quickly if needed As you are rural and have no transport probably a good idea to stock up in future. Teachers unlikely to think anything of it, just looe a child getting nits. The treatment is good but she is likely to still have some this evening if you treat this morning of there were lots, But then by the next night will likely be free of them.
Just lots of washing bedding and soft toys over the next couple if days and keeping nails short if you can.
It'll be OK.

am sure it's not vaginal pain. it will be sore when she owes because she's irritated the skin around the area through scratching.

Op in girls the worms can travel towards the vagina which causes more itching and pain around that area, this is normal. You said your daughter may be upset by GP visit and a visit is not necessary.

• get the meds from pharmacy
• bath before bed
• apply Vaseline to the area
• wedge a cotton ball on the anal area before bed and tell her not to touch. (This can stop them coming out and travelling it works really well.

Make sure all bedding is washed, nails cut short etc and I would treat the whole family.

I'm assuming your making this seem worse than it is due to lack of sleep OP. It isn't that big a deal.

You don't need to tell anyone or go to the GP. Go get the meds for the whole family. You can get the liquid or the tablets. They'll take a couple of days to die. Make sure the whole family are treated again in a couple of weeks. Wash her bedding and damp dust all touchpoints and make sure she showers immediately on getting up to remove the eggs.

I used to give mine a packet of baby wipes and a bag to take to bed until the itching stopped. It's the glue that causes the itching so needs to be removed.

make sure she washes before bed
cut her finger nails
wears knickers in bed
no need to miss school for this

Agree with the others - the medication works quickly. Also, once they know it works and the frustration will be over, it helps them not stress all night!

if she needs to rest today you could keep her off, but you don’t need to. Just say she has picked up a big and is unwell and was up all night. You can say that with no qualms and let them assume sickness if you like. You will have to take 48 hours in that case though!

if you are worried about attendance, let her sleep in and take her in for afternoon registration.

phone conversation with GP to put your kind at rest maybe.

get OVEX asap. You can get tablets or liquid.

barrier methods are also good for future reference. I’ve never tried the cotton wool ball but makes sense. I have done a thick thick thick layer of sudocrem or Vaseline.

also a onesie style pyjama set was handy when they were little. Zip them in and it’s much harder to scratch.

i empathise, it’s gross!

Don’t take her to GP if it will upset her. They will only prescribe OVEX!

Ask pharmacist for an antihistamine for her as well

Christ don't waste a GOs time with this.
She doesn't need to see one and doesn't need to miss school. They are worse at night. Dose her up with stuff from the pharmacy and send her on her way. Nobody needs to know, not even your DD.

Worm meds available otc, 2 doses 2 weeks apart, wash bedding, pj's and hand's carefully, including cleaning under her nails. They won't cause painful wee so she needs to be checked for a uti.

No need to tell school, they won't be phased but it's just not something to concern them with. No need to miss school unless you get a gps appointment for the uti

Only speak to the go if you are breastfeeding or have a baby under one.
If you can iron knickers, sheets and towels for a couple of weeks to kill eggs after the hot wash. Put her in knickers at night if not already until this is over.
Deep clean bathroom and if you can steam her mattress, keep nails short.
Had this with my pre schooler and I got it, baby and oh didn’t. 2 doses and good hygiene and nothing since.

If she has pain in her vulval area this is perfectly normal. I remember having them as a child and it was excruciating. Luckily when I had that same pain at the age of 45 🙄 I knew what it was. I'm blaming the university library keyboards for that dose.

For just worms over the counter tablets are the way to go.

But this is a child who’s saying it hurts to pee and has scratched all the skin off. Do not feel bad about taking her to the GP, you are not wasting their time.

I used to buy ovex 4 bottles at the time online to save money. Both my kids were nailbiters and would regularly get worms. It can take a few days to work on the wriggly bastards. Please don't worry too much.

Pain is common with worms. I'd get to the pharmacy this morning and get the medication. Some pharmacies have schemes to give it for free for the whole family.

Most areas you will be waiting much longer to see the GP, than being able to get to the pharmacy. The medication given will be no different.

If you feel you need to see the GP as well, maybe book an appointment with them too.

The good thing is now you’ve recognised it once you’ll be able to give her the meds in future at the slightest hint of an itchy bum and nip it in the bud.

lots of kids have it and aren’t symptomatic so please don’t blame yourself. Isn’t it 1 in 3 at anytime or something?

You are majorly catastrophising and hopefully you’ll feel better in the morning. Some of the stats are primary school children and worms are quite grim- most of them will have had them at some point even if they haven’t realised. Get the medication and wash bedding. Make sure she’s wearing pants at night as helps to contain and change first thing in the morning after a shower to try and limit eggs.

You don’t need to keep her off but If she’s not right you can just tell the school she’s under the weather but let’s be honest they’re not doing that much this week anyway.