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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the school are ignoring a bloody threadworm epidemic

30 replies

Blardythreadworms · 26/01/2017 22:53

DD has them again Angry

Older DD and DS both also had them when they were using the early years toilets. Never caught them again once they moved to KS2 toilets.

Nobody else in the house has them or has caught them. If it was a case of her catching them repeatedly from home someone else in the family would have them surely?

She only ever catches them during school terms. This is the 6 time in 18 mths Angry

So now the whole house needs bleaching again, bedding, teddies everything needs to go through a hot wash. I know the drill off by heart.

The school flatly refused to send a letter out. I've had kids at the school for over 8 years and there has never been one letter about threadworms. Over a thousands about bloody nits though.

Receptionist looked disgusted when I went in to ask them again to send a letter out. I explained what advice I had been given, that in schools things like playdough are massive harbingers of eggs etc, toilets need a deep clean with bleach, surfaces need deep cleaning. Again it's been ignored. Apparently nobody else has said their children have them.

OP posts:
KnackeredHag · 26/01/2017 23:20

Nothing of any use to add other than I share your pain. We've been fighting them on and off for a few years. To be fair both nursery and school have been good in letting other parents know, however, like nits, unless everyone is being treated the unwanted visitors just reappear. It's frustrating to say the least.

Rulerruler · 27/01/2017 04:09

Would it be possible to contact the local authority's school nursing team? They may be able to override the school somehow and demand a letter be sent out in the interests of public health? I think ours are contactable through the local hospital.

TitaniasCloset · 27/01/2017 04:19

I think you have to take this further OP. That's just gross and must be so annoying. Something in the school is spreading it, they need to do a deep clean and send letters out. Maybe close the classes for a couple of days while they get on top of it. That's not normal.

user1477282676 · 27/01/2017 04:20

YANBU. But teach DD NEVER to put her fingers in her mouth and ALWAYS to wash them when she goes to the toilet.

Andbabymakesthree · 27/01/2017 04:23

School nurse. Meet with head. Explain what they need to do. Ask her to deal with receptionists lack of knowledge.

I raised it in a parent forum one. The ignorance from parents and teaching staff was ridiculous!

MuteButtonisOn · 27/01/2017 06:45

Worms are just one of those things according to some mnetters Hmm. However I'd be on the phone to the school nursing team faster than you can say ' old school bossy boots type please the school is not taking health seriously'.

TheBeastInMsRooneysRoom · 27/01/2017 06:48

In the meantime, train your kids to wash hands with soap (whilst humming happy birthday so it's long enough and thorough) and never to put fingers in mouths. They can't catch them if they don't ingest them. That's why the rest of your family don't catch it from the youngest.

SerialReJoiner · 27/01/2017 06:50

Definitely escalate your concerns. That sounds awful.

RoganJosh · 27/01/2017 06:51

As an aside, we always found that if you double dose (second one two weeks after first), you don't need to clean the house and teddies.

Trifleorbust · 27/01/2017 06:53

If no-one else has them, it is not an epidemic. Have you spoken to any other parents?

picklemepopcorn · 27/01/2017 06:55

Some people seem to be more susceptible than others. It is possible that most other people are not getting them. I know it's gross... I believe in Oz And Nz they worm children as a matter of routine.

StarOnTheTree · 27/01/2017 07:26

I now worm my whole family regularly, about every 4 months. DD3 hasn't had them again since I started doing this.

Original poster
Blardythreadworms · 27/01/2017 08:26

Other kids do have them but aren't telling the school because of embarrassment factor Hmm

OP posts:
halcyondays · 27/01/2017 08:35

Other people may well have them but haven't said anything. Easier said than done to get kids to stop putting fingers in their mouths unfortunately.

Trifleorbust · 27/01/2017 08:54

Then what can the school do? People need to get over it and be responsible. The school can't take the word of one parent that threadworm is rife.

Original poster
Blardythreadworms · 27/01/2017 09:28

The school can do a deep clean of the whole toilet area, walls, handles. Remind the children about washing thoroughly. Throw away the play dough! There's plenty they can do.

OP posts:
Original poster
Blardythreadworms · 27/01/2017 09:29

Get over it and be responsible Hmm

What do you think treating your child and your home is? You'd be happy with your child repeatedly being infected? What a ridiculous thing to say

OP posts:
PeridotPassion · 27/01/2017 09:31

Maybe close the classes for a couple of days while they get on top of it

Seriously? For threadworms?!? What would you do with nits, burn it to the ground? Grin

It's all very well them deep cleaning but it's unlikely to prevent re-infection. You only need one untreated kid to not wash hands after using the toilet and boom, the eggs are spread again everywhere and they just as soon not have bothered.

Witchend · 27/01/2017 09:33

I think the statistics are something like 50% of under 10s have threadworms at any one point.
So yes, there probably are around 50% of primary school children at any primary in the country who have them. I wouldn't bother telling the school, just treat mine when they had them.

When ds was about 5yo, he'd just had them and been very interested in the fact he had worms coming out of his bottom. We were walking to school and there was a large earthworm in the middle of the path that I restored to the grass.
"OOh," says ds, "I wonder whose bottom that one fell out of!" Grin

TheFairyCaravan · 27/01/2017 09:34

Do they have sand? When I was doing my childcare qualifications we were told playdough and sand were the bigggest culprits for threadworms. We made our own playdough, most places do, and used to chuck it out on a regular basis.

Mumzypopz · 27/01/2017 09:36

Schools can't close the classes for a couple of days!!!! Would cause uproar. Just do a clean at home and treat with medicine. At any one time, schools will have kids on the premises with worms or nits. They can't do deep cleans every day.

Original poster
Blardythreadworms · 27/01/2017 09:38

No but they can send a letter out?

Or get hot water in the sinks! DD says the water is stone cold and there are only 3 taps, all of which are cold

OP posts:
Mumzypopz · 27/01/2017 09:42

We've never ever had a letter about worms....They prob need to keep water temp a certain level in case kids run it too long and burn themselves.

Trifleorbust · 27/01/2017 09:43

I am not saying you should be responsible, OP. I am saying the parents who are neglecting to tell the school about their children carrying a contagious illness are irresponsible. You are so busy blaming the school you are not placing the blame where it belongs. Embarrassment is no excuse for not informing the school of the problem.

ToastyFingers · 27/01/2017 14:28

Make a lovely big cake full of ovex for DD to bring in and share with all the other children (not really obviously).