how often to treat for worms in DC ?

[momofha]

Have been looking online for ages now but cannot find how often you should treat for worms in a DC!! All I can find is that as a matter of course one should worm your children in the Spring. I have just wormed the whole family after a "suspected" case of worms in my DD but we have LOADS of animals, whom I have also wormed at the same time, so worried it could be picked up again. How long does the worming meds protect for?

What!? I've never wormed my children! Are you really meant to do it regularly prophylactically?

I'd would only treat if they had worms.

My web search come up with that children should be wormed, as a matter of course, in Spring/Summer as it is common for them to get worms then and sometimes hard to detect early on so can be passed on to the next child before being detected.

Common? Mine have never had worms! Where have you read this?

Are you getting children mixed up with sheep?
Children should only be wormed if they actually have worms. You can do a lot to prevent worms by making sure your DC's nails are short and that they wash their hands often.

Haha CrackFox

A pharmacist friend of mine said that she sells as much, if not more, worm treatments as nit treatments - that's apparently how common they are. Apparently 60% of preschool age children have had them I heard. Seems very high to me though. I was horrified when my DS had them and hadn't heard of people/children getting them. Its not recommended (at least according to Dr and pharmacist) to treat prophylactically. Treat the person with worms, and at same time treat rest of family. But then don't treat again unless you suspect worms. As far as animal worms and kiddy worms I think they are different things. I thought that kiddy worms affect kiddys and animal worms only affect animals? But my memory's a bit vague on that...

As far as length of time worming meds protect for - they don't unfortunately. Once the medication is out of their system by a day or so and they're exposed again then they'll get worms again (same with animals). So that's why in addition to the worm treatment you should really do a good spring clean of your house and bedding/towels etc as the eggs live in dust for a good few weeks and its those little buggers that can be ingested again and cause a reinfection. Yuck! But we've only had worms once but treatment and cleaning regime worked for us....we're worm free now!

I think your first sentence, OP: "Have been looking online for ages now but cannot find how often you should treat for worms in a DC!! " can probably be explained by the fact that it clearly isn't that important to worm your children regularly, or there would be more about it online!

Your children will not get threadworms from your animals and I would only treat if they have symptoms. I am also not aware that it is a seasonal thing .

Animals need 'worming' regularly, children do not! And the worms are v different things!

Unfortunately, we've had worms several times (the first time in France where I encountered what must have been the only French pharmacist not to speak ANY English ((FWIW, my French is reasonable but intestinal worms defeated me!).

And (also unfortunately) I can also confirm that kiddie worms do not affect just kiddies...

I have never wormed my children either and (touch wood) they havent had them ....yet! They are 3 and 6.

I need to start previewing my posts...

Buttonmoon - Yes kiddy worms do indeed affect adults....apparently. Ewwwww.....makes me squirm even now!

while we are on the subject....do you really need to actuall ysee one to confirm they are present. DD (3) has been complaining her bottom is "sore" and keep trying to itch. Does this sound like worms?

It does, yes. I found having a look at bedtime confirmed my fears. They come out at night to lay their eggs.

I have checked but didn't see anything. I know I am stating the obvious but this is awful...do I just keep on looking until I see one or if she continues to be itchy do I assume the worst and dose her? Is it harmful to dose with out an infestation?

No it can't be harmful because everyone in the family should be treated, whether they have symptoms or not. I would probably treat, and or try to check their poo .

I've read something somewhere about checking using sellotape (I don't think its just that brand ). However if a site recommended worming kids regularly, I would expect its probably American as they have a different attitude to lots of medical issues to the UK.

I think you have to check in a specific way - wait until they've been asleep maybe an hour or so and then use a flash light to check the bumhole - I'm sure I read that the worms are attracted to the light - altho' could just be cos its dark and otherwise you can't see. But has to be after a period of relative stillness/asleepness in the child as that's when the worms are active. You might also check for redness around the bottomhole as I noticed this with my DS (and myself...ick!) because the itchyness is irritation from the worm secretions...more ick!

Heard about sellotape method too - first thing in the morning - but think that's mostly for if you can then send it off for analysis by a lab (ie in America they might do that)- as not sure you'd be able to see the eggs without magnification? But don't know for sure. You can't see the eggs when they're in dust around the house certainly.

I don't think it can harm to give a dose (usually 2 some time apart with Ovex), but would need to treat the whole family (unless very young babies). And clean the house/sheets etc. thoroughly. Has she been saying its been itchy and sore for a while - or just a few days? If its short period could be a bit sore/grazed from a big poo and a bit of Sudocrem might sort it out. But if its been a while - then yup, could be worms!!!

Thank you - Yes she has been saying this for a few days so I think it's off to te chemist - I can't spend another evening looking at her backside!

But vaseline on the bumhole

then the worms get stuck and can't lay their eggs

wash bums religiously

and hands

Resurrects thread

Does anyone know of any over-the-counter remedies I could get for my 2yo DS since I have just found a wormy blighter this evening.

just ask at the pharmacy

ovex