Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
PivotPivotPivottt · 01/02/2021 17:32

My 3 year old had them recently and it took about 6 days for them to go away with Ovex.

xmaselves · 01/02/2021 17:59

Vermox and Ovex are the same thing both contain mebendazole.
Please follow the instructions and be patient it will work if you give it time. Everyone in the household must be scrupulous with hand hygiene for 6 weeks and bath or shower as soon as you get up every morning with individual towels to prevent re-infection.

Coronawireless · 01/02/2021 18:02

Are you seeing them in the stools?
If so, the meds are working. You don’t normally see many worms in the stools because they cling on to the gut during a bowel movement. The meds weaken them and they start falling out when you poo.
Can take a few days to clear them all if you’ve had a heavy infestation.
The more you see, the more it’s working!

Lilo29 · 01/02/2021 18:08

Yes it can take longer than the said 3 days so don’t panic. Just keep with the the hygiene measures and re -treat 2 weeks after first dose. On the plus side DS had them twice a couple W years apart (so wasn’t due to re-infection) but has shown them sign of them in many years since then.

Best to wait a week or two for second dose as it. Doing it tomorrow is pointless. The point of the second dose is to kill any eggs that aren’t hatched when you done the first dose so tomorrow is too soon I think? If you do it tomorrow you’ll still have to do it again in a week or two imo.

Original poster
Humblebumbleoh · 01/02/2021 21:21

They’re still there. Alive and on the anus. It’s been over six days!! This isn’t a reinfection as they’re already adults, these just haven’t been killed by ovex! So what will a second dose do the first hasn’t?! I’m losing it over here

OP posts:
DameCelia · 02/02/2021 10:51

@op
Do you understand how the lifecycle of worms works? And how Ovex works.
The worms you're seeing now have hatched from eggs since you took the medicine.
The medicine doesn't kill eggs, you have to do that with hot washing, damp dusting, washing every morning etc

Original poster
Humblebumbleoh · 02/02/2021 12:53

@DameCelia yes, very familiar. The worms I’m seeing in the anus are adult which mean they’re at least 2 weeks old, not newly hatched. So the first dose of ovex didn’t kill them for some reason.
What I don’t understand is why I need to wait another week to take the ovex again, when there are clearly alive worms there now?

OP posts:
GloGirl · 02/02/2021 12:58

Trim their nails, wash all the sheets, regular hand washing. We started to use germaloid cream I think whilst not prescribed for children I couldnt cope with them having itchy arses for another second.

If youve tried the pill form, take the liquid - or vice versa. Both are available from the chemist.

Wash all bedding, towels, underwear.

Burn sage and place crystals around the house. Half kidding but I was.very close to calling a goddamn priest it was THE WORST OF TIMES

HeidiHaughton · 02/02/2021 13:03

Just keep dosing. We had a run of them here years ago. I dosed everyone every couple of days for my own peace of mind. Cost me a small fortune in medicine but worth it. IIRC it took three weeks for the last of them to go. Agree on using liquid and tablets alternating if one doesn't seem to work. Tight underpants on at bedtime so they can't scratch.

IDontLikeZombies · 02/02/2021 13:26

Hello, Worm War 2 veteran here. Don't damp dust, it just spreads the eggs everywhere. The eggs are very sensitive to dehydration and not very sensitive to cleaning products so if you damp dust you're adding moisture which actually helps them survive.
My full proof method of worm eradication is:

  1. Ovex before bed for the whole family on the day you spot the first one.
  2. Clean pants and pyjamas every night for 2 weeks.
  3. Everyone has to have a shower with a thorough bum wash as soon as they get up, towels and pyjamas go into a bin bag in the bathroom.
  4. Beds changed every day for the first 3-4 days.
  5. Windows all open and heating turned up as high as you can afford - this dries out the eggs and they die. This is the secret of how to get rid of them and is way easier than scrubbing the whole house.
  6. Either hot wash the pyjamas, towels and bed linen or keep sealed in the bags for at least 3 weeks, whichever is better for you.
Original poster
Humblebumbleoh · 02/02/2021 14:30

How long did you heat the house @IDontLikeZombies? What’s the reasoning behind having windows open too?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 02/02/2021 15:25

www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/threadworms#treating-threadworms

Nhs says damp dust as that will pick up dust plus eggs - rinse cloth out regularly. Says nothing about heating the house.

IDontLikeZombies · 02/02/2021 16:59

The open windows keep a draught going, dries the wee buggers out faster. I did it until a couple of days after everyone stopped having symptoms.
We tried the damp dusting but it didn't work as well for us. We had multiple infections, sometimes every couple of weeks when I did that but maybe just 3 or 4 in the last few years since I tried dehydrating them. DS is an anxious chewer of nails, sleeves, bag straps, etc so he's a magnet for worms but the drying them out seems to keep them at bay for us. I don't think its received wisdom but it's the best thing I've found.

Ookkaayy · 03/02/2021 18:41

@Humblebumbleoh Do you have them or the children? Have you spoken to your Doctor?

I have found the children seem to get rid of them pretty easily but can take longer for adults.

Original poster
Humblebumbleoh · 03/02/2021 18:48

Me @Ookkaayy, can’t see any in the kids. I dosed us all again this morning, thought what the hell!!

OP posts:
VestaTilley · 03/02/2021 19:04

Make sure you’re boil washing all bed sheets, towels and hoovering the mattresses too. Trim finger nails and keep washing hands.

BBS20 · 03/02/2021 21:46

I have sent you a PM not sure if you've seen it.

thissemicharmedlife · 03/02/2021 21:59

Ugh we had them last year but luckily the ovex worked. I’ve heard they’re so common in young children that some drs actually recommend all families taking a dose once or twice a year as routine

Original poster
Humblebumbleoh · 04/02/2021 20:01

The fuckers are still there. 8 days and counting.

OP posts:
Ookkaayy · 04/02/2021 21:09

Speak to your doctor - They might give you something stronger?

MNCar · 04/02/2021 21:19

Ask GP for albendazole.

Try pumpkin seeds

And black walnut.

Buzzinwithbez · 04/02/2021 21:22

Take some ground pumpkin seeds, about a tablespoon offer day for the lifecycle. It paralyses them, so should stop the discomfort pretty quickly. While paralysed, they just pass. Carrots are supposed to do the same but I've never had any luck.

I've used pumpkin seeds successfully a few times, including while pregnant when I didn't want to take ovex

MNCar · 04/02/2021 21:23

Don’t think they can prescribe piperazine anymore but ask!

dementedpixie · 04/02/2021 21:29

Pripsen was discontinued years ago

HandlebarLadyTash · 04/02/2021 21:40

Dose again, reduce sugar
Bulk buy ovex from an online pharmacy