Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

There must be a better way.... worms!

28 replies

FannyGall0ps · 11/09/2019 17:39

School have just sent round a letter about worms in the class (boak).

I’ve looked online at how to tell if your kid has worms and the advice seems to be to sneak in to their room at night and look at their bums for eggs/worms. I just can’t bring myself to do that as it seems really creepy.

It’s not as easy as ‘treat everyone just in case’ as 2 of us have stomach issues and restricted diets. Any kind of medicine/tablet can cause issues for weeks.

Does anyone else have a better way of finding out for sure if I need to treat us all?

OP posts:
sleepismysuperpower1 · 11/09/2019 17:59

are any of your children complaining that their bottoms are itchy? that is one of the first signs. worms typically come out at night, so it is best to check the dc when they are sleeping (i know, gross!), however i believe that you can also see your gp and they can do a 'tape test' to check if there are any worms present (haven't ever done this though!) some people swear by swallowing a spoonful of raw coconut oil every morning, and rubbing a small amount of coconut oil on the affected area, but i havent tried this either

Original poster
FannyGall0ps · 11/09/2019 18:14

They do scratch their bums, but not enough for me to think they have any issues.

Thank you. But would I know? Is it really obvious, like head lice level of scratching?

I don’t want to wast GP time if possible, so was hoping for a simple ‘order off the Internet’ test or something

If we all started eating / drinking coconut I think we’d have more than just the potential worms.

OP posts:
sleepismysuperpower1 · 11/09/2019 18:22

its more of them complaining that its itchy (usually worse at night), they tend to move around a lot and don't settle. someone suggested on another thread (can't find it again!) that you put clingfilm under the toilet seat when your child goes for a poo, and then check the poo for white worms. you won't always see them in the poo but you can sometimes, so would be worth a check.

sleepismysuperpower1 · 11/09/2019 18:23

i haven't seen any order off the internet tests, i think because they are so common in kids

Original poster
FannyGall0ps · 11/09/2019 18:26

That’s a great idea! I like the cling film test.

Ok I’m going to try that and see what I can see. Pretty gross, but quick and easy.

Thanks Wine

OP posts:
FFSDH · 11/09/2019 18:27

When my ds had worms he was waking up in the night as he couldn’t sleep due to itching. I had no idea about worms at the time and he asked me to look at his bum and I thought he might have something stuck up there. I nearly passed out when I saw lots of wriggly things.

I think it would be pretty hard not to notice they have them. It drove my ds to despair.

amIstupid22 · 11/09/2019 18:30

My DC has had worms a couple of times and it's always been hugely obvious, really hungry, very disturbed sleep and the itching keeping them up at night. I've never "checked" just because they are going round as in my opinion it would be really obvious.

sleepismysuperpower1 · 11/09/2019 18:31

if you do find any, make sure to wash all bed sheets and stuffed toys, vacuum and dust with a damp cloth (as the medicine only kills the worms and not the eggs, which can live out of the body for 2 weeks.) during the 2 weeks after you have given the medicine to everyone in the house, make sure your dc wear pants to bed and change them in the morning x

sleepismysuperpower1 · 11/09/2019 18:32

I think it would be pretty hard not to notice they have them. It drove my ds to despair.

they can be a little harder to notice if only a few have hatched...disgusting things

Original poster
FannyGall0ps · 11/09/2019 18:38

@FFSDH Oh god the horror! That’s just sounds horrific!!

Ok, it sounds like if they/one of them had them it’d be pretty obvious, so I’m going to put off checking the poop for now.

I’m now sat here feeling all itchy and icky. Kids are so gross!! Grin

OP posts:
Howshelaughed · 11/09/2019 18:38

You would definitely know if they had worms. They scratch their little bahookys red raw. Everything needs to be boil washed, damp dusted & hoovered. It's a nightmare. We've had them 3 times now as the parent in my child's class won't treat them. Thankfully

Howshelaughed · 11/09/2019 18:39

Thankfully all gone now.

MmmBlowholes · 11/09/2019 18:40

Your attitude to this is very childish. Lots of people get worms.

xSharonNeedlesx · 11/09/2019 18:45

I remember getting worms when I was little. It will be obvious if your dc gets them. Up in the night due to the itching and in girls they can migrate round to the front. I remember crying due to being so uncomfortable and itchy in the night.

64sNewName · 11/09/2019 18:48

To be fair though, it takes some getting used to the idea the first time you encounter them, Blowholes. I’m so blasé now (and those days are behind us anyway - hopefully) but I remember being seriously disgusted the first time I properly read up on worms in small dc.

Original poster
FannyGall0ps · 11/09/2019 18:53

Worms sound horrific and terrifying (and that’s without all the washing and cleaning involved too). If that’s childish, then I’m absolutely childish! (Pokes out tongue)

OP posts:
Original poster
FannyGall0ps · 11/09/2019 18:57

In all seriousness, I’m just after a way to see if the kids have worms so I only have to treat them if necessary. Massive thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences and advice.

It sounds like we are clear at the moment as we’ve had no nighttime waking or excessive itching.

OP posts:
jimmyhill · 11/09/2019 19:07

Everything needs to be boil washed, damp dusted & hoovered

Nonsense. Treatment for everyone kills them. Anything else is paranoia

CottonSock · 11/09/2019 19:11

I had worms as a kid and never told my mum. They went away eventually. So not always obvious (although I was suffering I was too embarrassed!). I would Check poo. I hope my kids would tell me. We try and normalize poo related discussions as they are frequent due to medical issue.

Mothersruin123 · 11/09/2019 19:19

It is a bit grim, but easily dealt with by taking the medicine as advised and washing all towels and bedding. Best thing to do is prevent them by ensuring thorough and regular hand washing for all, especially after using the toilet and before eating.

My DD has had them twice and both times the itching woke her up a couple of hours after going to sleep and when we looked we could see one or two white thread like worms. They don't need to be riddled with them to get symptoms. We keep some Ovex in the cupboard now so we can treat immediately and by the next night it's sorted. On a separate note, Metanium nappy cream stops the itching as nothing gets through that stuff, including whatever irritant the worms produce!

MmmBlowholes · 11/09/2019 19:57

It's not terrifying. You take a tablet, they die and you shit them out. Job done. So much drama.

ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia · 11/09/2019 20:28

I know this is naive and slightly changing the subject.. I don’t have any DC.
I have never known of anyone have worms, not even as I kid at school or anything.
How are they spread? Sounds like it’s a common thing?
Sounds horrific, poor kids.
Definitely feeling itchy now!

Howshelaughed · 11/09/2019 20:30

@FannyGall0ps you will honestly know if they have them. It's an itch that just doesn't go away. It drives them crazy. You take one tablet or liquid form then another dose 2 weeks later & your done. I'm so squeamish but it was fine. Keeping nails short is meant to help also.

DisneyMillie · 11/09/2019 20:54

I’ve read that a fairly high percentage of children under 10 in a class actually have them at any one time - there’s not always symptoms as they’re quite self limiting with good hygiene, especially if they wear pants to bed.

My dd has had them once (at least to our knowledge) - tablets sorted them quickly.

Drogosnextwife · 11/09/2019 20:59

Get them to poo and wee in a potty. Best way to see them because they float around in the wee. You may need to get them to do this a few times before any come out. The first time my ds got them he was riddled. He hadn't complained about an itchy bum and I only found out because I found one in my youngest nappy 🤢 gives me the absolute heebies. Now I check regularly. Also chemist's will inky give you one dose of medicine now but go back for a second after 2 weeks just to make sure.