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Original poster

OMG, it's happened, worms are in my house! Help me

99 replies

Wormsarehere · 30/06/2021 22:26

DS has worms, I'm horrified!!
I've already run off to the pharmacy to get ovex for us all plus another dose for in 2 weeks time but I'm worried my DD, will get it and she's only 18 months so will phone the doctors in the morning to get her something.

I need practical advice, how did you get rid it (and the shame ☹)???

OP posts:
Cheeeeislifenow · 30/06/2021 22:29

Why shame? It's no one's fault. Take meds as described plenty of hand washing, nails trimmed and hot washes on all of the bedding.

irresistibleoverwhelm · 30/06/2021 22:33

Primary school and nursery kids seem to pick them up all the time, I think one estimate is that 40-50 percent of them are infected at any given time!

You get used to regular Ovexing as a parent tbh Grin I now just worm us all every six months as a routine job.

Original poster
Wormsarehere · 30/06/2021 22:34

I know it's silly to feel shame but I can't help it.
How often do I wash sheets and towels? Everyday?

OP posts:
irresistibleoverwhelm · 30/06/2021 22:34

Oh and at least it only costs ten quid OTC. Apparently in the US it’s extortionate!

irresistibleoverwhelm · 30/06/2021 22:35

Just hot wash when you ovex and vacuum - I honestly don’t know how much good it does, though.

Northernsoullover · 30/06/2021 22:38

I've never boil washed and carried out extra cleaning. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm quite open about it. Just never, ever, ever not have a supply of over or equivalent in the house. I learned that very quickly.

ShitPoetryClub · 30/06/2021 22:38

Poor little mite. Think it helps to bathe him in the morning, and wear pants under PJ'S. As well as the measures already advised.

OnTheBrink1 · 30/06/2021 22:46

I used to always have ovex in the house and worked everyone regularly- it seemed to be every 6 weeks at one point which cost a fortune as there are 5 of us.

OnTheBrink1 · 30/06/2021 22:46

Wormed not worked

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 30/06/2021 22:49

Yeah it's horrible to think about but what arebyou ashamed of ffs! It's something that can't be helped.

The chemist should have asked if you had a young child and given you the liquid form of ovex. The whole family need to be treated at the same time.

Ds1 has brought them home several times.

Our chemists won't even give a second dose bow unless you go back because the first didn't clear them up. I either lie, buy my own or go to another chemist.

EastWestWhosBest · 30/06/2021 22:49

DH went through a phase of getting worms. He’s a nail biter and works in a primary school.

I never did any extra cleaning or hot washes. Just Ovex over the counter.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 30/06/2021 22:51

Also wash hands regularly, you should wash all bedding, and hoover around mattresses. Your supposed to wear underwear to bed, have a bath first thing in the mornin, and wash hands regularly. Usually though the 2 doses is enough to get rid without having to be too extreme.

WaterBottle123 · 30/06/2021 22:53

Ffs there is no need to shove drugs into kids every six weeks! Mine have never had worms abs we're pretty grubby.

Just marketing shite.

Flamingdingus · 30/06/2021 22:54

I remember Vaseline smeared round the anus eases the itching. Poor babies. No need for shame, they are so very contagious.

Original poster
Wormsarehere · 30/06/2021 22:54

Yeah he's a rad upset, especially when I checked his bum before bed and I found one. He was meant to have a sleep over at his cousins house this weekend but I've said that can't happen as it wouldn't be fair to them (family of 5), he would share a bed as they top and tail.

I did read about morning showers so that's happening even though DS hates showers.

But what about the bedding etc? I was under the impression I'd be having to wash this every day?

And the eggs??? I feel like they're everywhere!! I rubbed my eye and almost freaked out!! Then I read someone had them in his nose and throat!!! And you know when you feel itchy...... I feel itchy.... but I know it's in my mind!!

I'm just really worried about my DD as she's only 18 months old, my DS is ok because I've spoken to him, explained all about being careful, hand washing, telling me if he itches etc but I can explain it to him, I can't explain it to an 18 months old ☹

OP posts:
Thismummyruns · 30/06/2021 22:58

Oh my god. We've had them numerous times. The first time was horrendous, I'm slightly obsessive anyway but it took me to a new level.

I washed her bedding EVERYDAY for a week (like I had nothing better to do), obsessively hoovered and wet wipes her bedroom surfaces and went through a shit load of Dettol spray (it made me feel better!).

The 2nd time I was 2 month's pregnant- again, obsessively OTT only this time it was winter and I couldn't keep up with the washing so I bagged up all her teddies that I could and stored them in the garage for at least a monthBlush Absolutely batshit.

Scared for life Grin

Original poster
Wormsarehere · 30/06/2021 22:58

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

Yeah it's horrible to think about but what arebyou ashamed of ffs! It's something that can't be helped.

The chemist should have asked if you had a young child and given you the liquid form of ovex. The whole family need to be treated at the same time.

Ds1 has brought them home several times.

Our chemists won't even give a second dose bow unless you go back because the first didn't clear them up. I either lie, buy my own or go to another chemist.

She didn't ask, I told her I had an 18 month old and she just said Ovex is not for under 2s, she didn't offer anything else. I'll give my regular pharmacy a call in the morning instead of the GP then as I went to a late night one this evening.
OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 30/06/2021 23:00

Genuinely, 40% of young dc have them at any given time and most people don't even know. It's horrible when it happens but just take the meds and do some extra cleaning of bedding and towels. They're easy to eradicate thankfully, the difficulty is that classmates almost certainly have them so they could come back.

Flamingdingus · 30/06/2021 23:02

@Wormsarehere

Yeah he's a rad upset, especially when I checked his bum before bed and I found one. He was meant to have a sleep over at his cousins house this weekend but I've said that can't happen as it wouldn't be fair to them (family of 5), he would share a bed as they top and tail.

I did read about morning showers so that's happening even though DS hates showers.

But what about the bedding etc? I was under the impression I'd be having to wash this every day?

And the eggs??? I feel like they're everywhere!! I rubbed my eye and almost freaked out!! Then I read someone had them in his nose and throat!!! And you know when you feel itchy...... I feel itchy.... but I know it's in my mind!!

I'm just really worried about my DD as she's only 18 months old, my DS is ok because I've spoken to him, explained all about being careful, hand washing, telling me if he itches etc but I can explain it to him, I can't explain it to an 18 months old ☹

Your little one will love the extra hand washing/water play. Ensure nails are short and keep them in clothes where it's hard for them to touch their bottom to scratch. That's where the eggs are so they get on the hands after a scratch and then into the mouth either directly or by touching food.

Try the Vaseline trick as well. It slows down the worms' wriggles so they itch less. It'll be fine, you've caught it very early.

Thehenbunringsock · 30/06/2021 23:02

Please don't pass on this "shame" nonsense to your kid. Would you be ashamed for catching a cold?

It's one of those things. Treat it like you'd treat any other minor ailment.

Original poster
Wormsarehere · 30/06/2021 23:02

I know I shouldn't be ashamed, it's normal and all that but I still can't help it, it freaks me out.

OP posts:
Duckypoohs · 30/06/2021 23:03

I don't ever remember being wormed, or my kids having worms Confused. Are we just doomed and riddled or is it like that molluscum contagiusum that only ever seemed to exist on here. The middle class equivalent of morgellons disease.

CointreauVersial · 30/06/2021 23:07

Ahh, don't worry, take the tablets, wash the clothes/towels regularly, and they'll disappear. We've all had them.

You are right, though - under 2s you normally have to get something from the GP as there's nothing in the pharmacy.

Original poster
Wormsarehere · 30/06/2021 23:07

@Thehenbunringsock

Please don't pass on this "shame" nonsense to your kid. Would you be ashamed for catching a cold?

It's one of those things. Treat it like you'd treat any other minor ailment.

Don't worry, I haven't followed my son around like Septa Unella following Cercei shouting "shame". I've just explained to him the importance of hand washing, we now have to do his shower in the morning and to tell me when he itches.

I try really hard not to pass on my crazy ways

OP posts:
ForeverFloating · 30/06/2021 23:08

My eldest brought it home from primary a few times, passed it to me twice! Ovex does the trick, I changed bedding and hoovered daily, got dc straight into a bath upon waking etc. Thankfully it’s been years since I’ve had to deal with it.
I remember having them as a child and was too embarrassed to tell my parents, I suffered for months! Horrible things.