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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Ovex threadworm hell -4 days

78 replies

Humblebumbleoh · 31/01/2021 00:14

I have read literally every thread (shudder at the word) on the entire sodding internet about these little bastards.

They’re supposed to be dead ‘within a few days’ after taking ovex. It’s been four and I’ve checked and they’re still there!!

Someone please tell me they die soon?!

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 31/01/2021 00:18

Ovex deprives them of sugars so they starve to death which is why it takes a few days. Fingers crossed they die soon

Original poster

Humblebumbleoh · 31/01/2021 00:20

I know
@dementedpixie I thought ‘a few days’ was about three tho...genuinely worried how long it’s going to take for them to starve!!

OP posts:

Sh05 · 31/01/2021 01:40

I don't know how accurate this is but my mum always instructed us to cut out as much milk and sugar as we could when our eldest got threadworms. It was ages ago (he is17 now), but I do remember giving him only one dose of the medicine and being rid of the suckers within a day or two.
I remember he used to get them once every year from nursery through infants. It was always in the winter which made laundry soo difficult

Original poster

Humblebumbleoh · 31/01/2021 07:22

I just want to know how long they survive after taking the meds 😫

OP posts:

Shell7272 · 31/01/2021 07:52

My daughter used to get them quite a bit when she was younger and it was a nightmare I know. I’m sure I remember a couple of times them still being alive around 4/5 days after ovex but they will die and don’t forget the second dose just to make sure you finish them off.

sHREDDIES19 · 31/01/2021 08:24

I feel your pain! I had them last year and was absolutely horrified😳 Bought the family pack just in case and we all had a dose of the medication. Noticed they went away in a day or so. But I made the mistake of not taking a second dose! Next time around took the dose waited two weeks then took another dose and that did the trick.

fiorentina · 31/01/2021 08:44

We had similar to you once - still alive 5 days later and the pharmacist told us to take a second dose at that point and we took a third a fortnight after the first. She told us that in bad cases you can take a tablet a day for several days, plus the dose 2 weeks later. I’m not a pharmacist, just recalling what we were told. They are evil little fuckers, I hate them! Hope they go soon.

Moo678 · 31/01/2021 08:48

Are you sure they’re still alive? I’ve seen dead ones a few days after taking ovex . Also seen live ones 48 hrs after but they are obviously less wriggly and on their last legs! I hate them so much. One of the few benefits of lockdown is we haven’t had worms or head lice for over a year!

Original poster

Humblebumbleoh · 31/01/2021 09:08

They’re still alive 🤢 if they’re not gone tonight I’ll call doctors tomorrow, the leaflet does say if symptoms haven’t gone after a ‘few days’ to call - but that’s what’s confusing me - if the meds are so foolproof why don’t they work in all cases?

OP posts:

DameCelia · 31/01/2021 09:17

Depends how many you've got, depends what you're eating, depends on lots of things.
Have you tried a liberal application of vaseline around your anus and surrounding areas? Can help reduce the itching sensation.

Franticbutterfly · 31/01/2021 09:21

As well as the ovex I'd recommend feeding your children raw carrots, pumpkin seeds, and pineapple. Papaya is also good but tastes like hell so it'll be hard to get them to eat that.

NichyNoo · 31/01/2021 09:25

I wouldn’t phone the doctor yet over this. You need to take the second dose and then see what happens.

Original poster

Humblebumbleoh · 31/01/2021 21:32

OH MY GOD THEY’RE STILL THERE

OP posts:

RoseHipps · 31/01/2021 21:46

I’m with you OP. I’m not sure if this is for you or your children but my child had it recently and I was up most nights nearly all night with her (5years old) as she was so distressed. After three or so days of taking the first dose she settled down, then it returned again within a week, despite us all taking ovex, steaming the carpets, cleaning the bed sheets every day, washing pyjamas and towels every day etc. I feel for you.

SidekickSally · 31/01/2021 22:05

I remember going through this a while ago. A 2 dose course taken 2 weeks apart worked temporarily but then the worms reappeared after another 2 weeks. I figured that because the ovex only kills live worms and not eggs that some of the eggs hatched after the last dose had worn off, despite scrupulous cleaning etc. In the end I read somewhere that someone had taken an ovex dose once every 2 weeks for 4 months or so to make sure every last hatched egg was killed. It did work, I haven’t had them back ever. Not sure if I’d recommend long term use like this in kids due to side effects. This was only my experience.

HandlebarLadyTash · 31/01/2021 23:17

Really bad luck to catch them in lockdown, my kids are nailbiters and in normal years we get them at least once or twice. They were getting them so often I would dose them at the start of the end of term holidays.
I'd take a second dose now & another in two weeks, restrict sugar ,& change pants & sheets regularly.
Horrible but harmless.
When I mentioned worms to kids friends they had not heard of them, which always surprised me. I think some kids/adults must carry them but they dont get bothered by them. My kids were picking them up from somewhere & school seems the obvious place.
Ovex is cheaper online I used to buy 4 bottles at a time. I once, ages ago when the very young one had them got a prescription for a massive bottle of non branded treatment from the pharmacy. It's a shame that ovex is the only over the counter medicine availble as it's quite pricey when dosing the whole family twice.

peakygal · 31/01/2021 23:20

The only thing I found that works is the Vermox chew tablet. They are a nightmare

Original poster

Humblebumbleoh · 01/02/2021 08:54

My kids are in school. It just be where they’ve had them from. I’m not waiting another week to give them the second dose I’ll do it tomorrow

OP posts:

Runnerduck34 · 01/02/2021 12:07

I feel your pain, yes give them a second dose tomorrow, I have given my DC an early second dose in the same situation, it didn't do any harm and was thankfully effective

MotherExtraordinaire · 01/02/2021 15:10

It depends if reinfecting themselves or not. If you have cleaned all the bedlinen, wiped doors handles and high usage points like banisters etc.
Cut finger nails. No sharing of cutlery, food, towels etc.

Tangledtresses · 01/02/2021 15:21

Ooh yes you have to boil wash all sheets , bedding, pants, flannels, steam mop everything!

As the eggs can live for a long time

But new tooth brushes and scrub the bathroom with bleach including the bath, might be better to shower for a bit 😬

Cut their nails short too

Chocowally · 01/02/2021 15:22

Solidarity here - we’ve just a bout with DC1 (almost 6 year old). He got them at school before Christmas. I thought he had eczema at first so was slow to treat which I think meant a more established case. Should have known better as he had them a year ago and we had ovex in the house.

We are on third dose of ovex. Think it’s finally working.

We have also been showering him in the morning and evening to wash away eggs. Eggs don’t get killed by ovex. Most eggs laid overnight even while ovex killing adult worms. We take off dirty pants in shower, was and put on clean pants in shower so everything contained.

We’ve also done a throrough clean, put his much loved Lego into quarantine (eggs live up to two weeks outside body) and coached him on better hand washing. And all other household members taken ovex.

Good luck!

musicinspring1 · 01/02/2021 15:26

I feel your pain. Have you also hot washed all bedding , soft toys in bed , pyjamas , towels for the whole family and did the whole family take the treatment whether or not they had them ? That helps !

WineIsMyMainVice · 01/02/2021 17:06

You also need to put all towels, bed sheets & night wear on a hot wash. Make sure kids fingernails are kept short.
It’s a nightmare!
Good luck.

OhWhyNot · 01/02/2021 17:10

I found the liquid to work better than the tablets

took second dose about five days after

I sympathise

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