Oh the horror

[meladeso]

Two weeks ago DC1 woke screaming and eventually we clocked he had threadworm I will never unsee it .

Cue a trip for DH to late night pharmacy, a lot of distraction and we survived the rest of the night.

I later thought about it and realised (yes I know I’m an idiot) that he’s had it weeks, and that I think I have it too. I thought I just had a thrush-like irritation going on around my bottom (sorry about this).

So we dosed him up, we all took the pills too as directed, and kept an eye on little DC2, who was showing no signs.

Seemed all fine.

A week later she starts up with it. So we all take another dose. And as per instructions, wash and launder every bloody thing again.

Here’s the thing - I’m certain I still have it. I have a frequent, if not constant crawling sensation. It’s driving me insane.

I took another dose today which is not the guidance but I’m honestly starting to freak out.

I feel queasy at the thought of it, it’s putting me off food, I am repulsed, I can’t sleep for feeling it and thinking about it, and it’s not exactly conducive to a love life.

I googled today and got the horror stories of people saying they can’t get rid of it and that you should be taking meds every day, and all sorts of things.

It’s making me feel ill and I don’t feel comfortable talking much about it with DH as I hate the thought of him thinking too much about me having it.

I know we’re all grown ups and it’s fairly common, but come on, it’s not very appealing is it!

It’s getting me down so much.

Aibu to ask you lot to talk to me about it please? Any experience with it? Words of reassurance?

Sorry my post should have said you should launder daily for for 2 weeks not 6! We did it and they didn't recur but it was a massive hassle. We only washed for those who had worms not everyone in the house. We washed bedding, towels and pajamas and cleaned door handles and surfaces.

Just googled Loa loa. I was not likely to, but now I shall definitely never travel to West Africa

And keep all pants, pajamas separate from other dirty clothes dont put them in a washing basket with other things as the eggs can live on surfaces and pass to other clothes etc.

Also be extra extra vigilant about handwashing.

If raw garlic is too strong for the kids then crush it, mix it with a spoonful of honey and encourage them to swallow quickly with a gulp of water. But it should help. And safe to do as often as you like, as sort of a preventative/treatment.
I wouldn't give frequent wormers to a dog, never mind a child or myself. For an actual case of them, yes, but as a preventative... no.

I was fine reading this thread until the word 'hatchlings' (retch)

Sorry! Don't google them.....

You don't need to be obsessive about the laundry. Wash the bedding and towels at the first signs of an outbreak and wear underpants in bed for a couple of days. Then so long as you have taken the medication correctly you won't need to keep washing things.

Jeez so now I'm scratching my head and shifting in my seat [vom]

All you can do is keeping treating and washing and remember it'll all stop once they can wash their hands.

It's fine to chew raw garlic.

I chew raw garlic, too (often have a garlic sandwich - don't judge me)

It is very strong, but I eat a lot of spicy food and suspect that I only have about 3 tastebuds left.

I eat strong foods and heavily seasoned cuisines but fuck a duck, you all must stink! Chewing raw garlic - Even I'm not that hardcore

Have you had/have another illness at all? Or anyone in the family?
Many DD (4) had a really bad bout of shingles last year, and we couldn't keep threadworms at bay as her immune system was low. We were all fine and she kept getting re infected. Got different tablets from GP and they stopped the cycle for us.

Was conscious of washing undercrackers separately to everything else. Super short nails. Nail brushes everywhere. Chucked out toothbrushes/toothpaste and bleached the holders.

Bedding all washed. Including any soft furnishings (blankets, cushions)

Got rid of anything with potential to send me into threadworms related melt down - plasticine, sand, play dough.

And for me, I sadly chucked pots of face cream and tubs of hair conditioner. Don't think was entirely necessary (and people may argue was extremely wasteful) but threadworms make me want to just cry.

Good luck OP.

SchadenfreudePersonified and probably no parasites. . I agree with Sarah worms are common, we dose once a year, everyone does, really powerful tablets too as they're nastier bastards here in South America than thread worm, so Vaseline your crack and stop over thinking it. We also eat garlic and chillies. Why do you think spicy food is common in hot countries?

Hurty - I have a horrible feeling that I do stink

When you take the medicine you should dose the whole family whether or not they are infested. They idea is to interupt the worms lifecycle by clearing the worms from the gut. this takes time so the lack of worms in the stool does not mean that there is no infestation. A member of the family who has the infestation after the others can reinfect them even though they have taken the remedy.

Good hand hygene is critical

Ignore people pedeling old wives tales abou garlic get proper treatment.

By the why, how do you persuade a baby or child to chew garlic?

Linoleum

No tastebuds, no parasite and precious few friends .. .

Oh God some of this is making me feel more sick!

Just to clarify- we did all take a second dose within less than two weeks when the little one got it.

I’m laundering a lot and following all the hand washing and nails advice.

I actually said that thing about eyelash critters to my DH the other day!

I’m trying to be grown up about it, but I am literally sitting here watching tv and can feel them it is truly awful.

The baby was ill, but she was last to get it
I just don’t understand how you ever fully escape them if the eggs keep hatching.

You can wash all you like but if the ones still alive keep laying eggs that the meds don’t kill, how the fuck do you break the cycle?

I think I just saw a comment about vaseline, am going to go back and read it.

Just so you know, anyone who is planning on eating raw garlic, your farts will kill a rhino.

Still remember finding thread worms stuck on the wall of the downstairs loo ( runs out retching )
The DC are in their 20s now , but oh ! The itching
The washing and insisting on wearing pants to bed (and wanting them to wear straight jackets)

Jesus Christ how did they get on the wall???

You should have all taken the pills at the same time. If there was a repeat dose after a week or ten days you should have all taken that together too. The repeated dosing disrupts the life cycle completely. There is medication that does the job in one dose though, iirc.

Then you should have clipped everyone's nails very short, bought a nail brush and started using it on yourselves and the DCs daily. Frequent hand washing with hot soapy water is really important. Washing hands immediately on waking in the morning will help a lot. Children scratch in their sleep.

The family should all wash hands when you come in from outside and wash hands/use the nail brush before eating anything including snacks.

You should police bottom wiping and hand washing after using the loo every single time.

Everyone needs to close the loo lid before flushing. Toothbrushes need to be put through the dishwasher, or buy new ones, and from now on keep them in a cupboard or closed container when not in use.

You should have boil washed or washed and dried at high heat all the household bedding that is in use - blankets, sheets, duvets, pillowslips. Also all sleepwear the family has been using. High heat must be used in at least one part of the washing cycle. All cuddly toys should have been washed in the washer too, and dried in the dryer, or they should have been bagged and put in the freezer for a few weeks.

Towels should be hot washed daily. Each family member should have their own towel to use until you are clear.

You should have wet mopped all linoleum, tiled or wood floors and hoovered all carpets like a maniac. You should dust all household surfaces with disposable dusting cloths and hot water, disposing as you go. Make sure you wash all exterior surfaces of your washing machine with hot water after every use as your laundry is in contact with it. Wash all toys your children have been using since you first noticed the outbreak (lego can go in the dishwasher and iirc so can playmobile), and use hot soapy water on bike handles. Or confiscate for more than two weeks. Wash all door handles. If musical instruments are used, clean as best you can. Loo seat needs to be swabbed down daily and after each use at least until you get the all clear.

When your family has an outbreak you need to be very careful that DCs' underwear is not flung around, kicked off, or thrown on the floor. It should be taken off carefully and put immediately into a laundry basket. Be careful about your own too. If possible, do the family underwear (and tights) in a separate hot wash. Wearing underwear to bed can prevent scratching and spreading eggs all over the bedding.

This may all seem like overkill but some of it is just good habits, like hand washing, keeping nails short, using the nailbrush. Some of it is specific to eradication of the eggs and adult parasites - medication and destruction by heat or keeping separate for more than two weeks (toys in freezer - they can actually go elsewhere as long as they are not touched). You don't have to go nuts, but be very thorough.

Eggs can be airborne and can live two weeks outside of a host.

bowlingshoes but that’s exactly what we did two weeks ago.* And now 5 days ago again.* And I’m still feeling it

Doilooklikeatourist Sat 28-Oct-17 21:53:14

Never saw any on the wall [gasp], but YYY to wanting to make the DCs wear straitjackets. We had an outbreak once while I was pregnant and at that time (20 years ago) the Dr wouldn't let me take the medication.

Bloody hell maths. Its worms, not the bubonic plague!

On the wall?!

Oh OP I feel for you. I bet it’s just a phantom feeling like when people mention bits. Think about something else.

The thing with washing all the toys etc. Is that they have access to toys at school/nursery and could pick it up from there anyway. Just keep handwashing.
I personally would wash any cuddly toys they have in bed but beyond that i dont think its realistic.