Threadworms help me 😭

[Cp927]

Hi I really need some help! My daughter got diagnosed yesterday with worms, she woke in the night completely distressed and they were in her FRONT passage! We haven’t noticed any before now, she goes to nursery and other places like soft play, the park, theme parks etc so I have no clue where she could have possibly picked them up! I have a few questions if you guys could please help me 😭🙏🏻

1. I feel so gross and embarrassed by of all this, I feel like I’ve failed my daughter…. Question is could I have done more to prevent her getting these?😞
2. i have a 7 month old who’s hands are constantly in her mouth, im going to medicate her, wash her bum every morning, clean and anti bac her cot, clean her clothes, anything else??
3. im going to wash all of our beddings, towels, flannels, medicate all of us, wash everyday & shower / bath everyday, Hoover everyday anything else??
4. can worms live in water? So can me 2 kids share a bath or do I need to bath them separately?
5. Do I need to get rid of and buy new toothbrushes?
6. do I need to wash all my walls in the house ? Can their eggs latch to walls / wood?
7. how on esrth do I wash all their toys? I’m thinking plastic toys in the bath with hot water and Milton, soft toys in the wash and paper/card toys wipe with anti bac any other tips?
8. I’m going to go and anti bac all my car too, babies pram & car seats… have I missed anything out??
9. how long do I need to do this? Do I need to do these cleans daily??

sorry if I sound ridiculous… I’ve never experienced anything like this before 😩

Calm down. It’s a very common thing, it is NOT dirty it’s just a thing like nits that is easily dealt with.

first off, get some tablets to kill them. All members of the household need to take them.

ensure you and your DC wash your hands and clean your nails regularly to get rid of the eggs.

your DC will scratch and they will then put their hands in their mouths. Try not to pass out with horror they will grow out of that.

you do not need to replace toothbrushes or burn sheets.

To be honest if they’re prone to getting them because they bite their nails or have their hands in their mouth it’s difficult to prevent them. I did all this stuff the first couple of times and it’s so stressful. The last time or two I’ve just given everyone the tablets, changed and washed all the bedsheets and nightwear and hoovered everywhere. Then give a follow up dose around 2 weeks later to catch any strays. They can catch them very easily from others and in settings outside the home so lots extra handwashing is good but not to be obsessive over it.

Ps it’s very common just people don’t really talk about it.

I have found some people on here get a bit ott about them and feed a bit of anxiety in others. I’ve always been able to give a tablet (to the whole family) and then it’s been done. I also try and get the offending child to have a morning shower in addition to night time bath. I do spend a lot of time reminding the children about handwashing though and then make sure to do a follow up dose a few weeks later. It’s that point I think that’s quite critical and step people often miss.

I respect you for highlighting that I’m overreacting 🤣I needed that, it felt / feels like an absolutely horrifying situation! Plus they look horrifying too which adds the anxiety 🤣😭I’m glad to know they’re as common at nits… Google tells you different stuff from do nothing at all to burn the house down and leave the country it’s a confusing place 🥲 I have another question for you tho… my 7 month old, would you give the medication to her too? It says it’s “not licensed” so doesn’t recommend but I’ve also read that people do give it them, I’m willing too but want to make sure I’m doing the right thing?

Would you recommend doing the second dose even if there are no symptoms??

Right?!! If anything googling it and looking into it has scared me a lot more than I initially was 🥲 Okay thank you! Shower in the morning and shower at night is highly noted… something I’ll deffo do! Once I give us all the medication is it mainly just trying to remove the eggs purely? Or do I need to still do something to remove the worms?

You should always do the second dose. That’s much more important than any of this disinfecting toys rubbish. The second dose catches any new worms that weren’t properly formed in the time since the initial dose.

Okay brilliant thank you so much!! If she was to continue feeling itchy or I suspected it hadn’t fully worked for any reason would you repeat the process??

YES, changing the toothbrushes is necessary!
other than bedding/towels and a thorough bathroom clean no need to worry about walls.
You can put things that are difficult to wash in the freezer for 3 days.

Vaseline can help! With the itching. I always smother it on them! First time I freaked out, now it’s just a thing with primary kids! Use flannels/smaller towels to dry as saves washing so many big towels!! Definitely do the 2nd dose x

You have to do the second dose. Otherwise you could end up with a re-infection.

As for the 7mo, you need to ask the pharmacist. When I last had to pick up some Ovex they asked if everyone taking it was aged 2 and over.

Make sure you treat everyone in the household as well. So yourself and your partner as well as the child (consult a professional about the baby though!)

You can get it prescribed for children over 6 months. About mebendazole Brand names: Ovex, VermoxThis kills the worms. You can buy mebendazole from a pharmacy for adults and children aged 2 years and over. It's also available on prescription for children aged 6 months and over. It comes as chewable tablets or a liquid that you swallow.

Get the liquid ovex.
Put surreal or similar as a barrier to stop them migrating into her vagina. That’s tha absolute worst.
My Dd went though several years of them popping up every so often. We only ever knew when she complained of pain in her vagina. All we ever found was one worm in there every time. Getting it out was not fun.

I'd say all that is a little OTT. I've had them twice (6 or so months apart so not the same time), assuming from my toddler as I've never had them before having a kid! I do bite my nails..
All I did was take the Ovex tablets, and wash bedding. Nothing else and they went away no problem both times!