Do threadworms hurt?

[BornToFolk]

DS (4.5) woke up in the night complaining of a sore bottom. He also said it itched but it seemed to be the pain bothering him more than the itching. My first thought was threadworms but I couldn't see any symptoms. He wasn't scratching and I couldn't see anything when I checked (it's a glamorous life, isn't it...examining your child's bum in the middle of the night!)

He did seem to be in pain but I gave him some Calpol and he settled back to sleep. He had a big poo this morning but afterwards still said it hurt. I did think that he might just be a little constipated but he was adamant that his bottom hurt not his tummy.

Might it be threadworms? Any other ideas? I did phone NHS Direct last night but missed the call back as we'd both gone back to sleep

Threadworms dont hurt no....has he been constipated at all? He could have a fissure...I would see the GP with him tbh....

YES - Thread worms CAN hurt - well sort of - though IME its more common that this happens with girls, but I'm sure if your DS has sensitive skin around his bottom then he can be affected too.

Its not the worms themselves that hurting, but the glue that they use to hold the eggs together/stick to skin etc - my own DD was in absolute agony every time she caught them, because they crawled forward to her "front bits" & the sensitive skin there was badly irritated by this "glue" red raw, sore like very bad nappy rash & the only relief she got was from sitting in a cooled bath with a few drops of lavender or tea tree oil. - the only saving grace was that they tend to come out - like clock work - every evening just after going to bed & that would be the time DD would be screaming -

I eventually worked out that once she was clean & cooled from the bath, putting Metanium cream around her bottom & bits as you would for nappy rash, acted as a barrier cream & helped stop the soreness

HTH

Not constipated no (being vegetarian helps on that front!)

I couldn't see any signs of redness or soreness last night or this morning when I checked again. No sign of the worms either, can you actually see them around the bum?

Best place to spot them is in the toilet or potty - let them go in the dark & put the light on quickly &you should sot them if you are ready - they don't like the light, so IME are only readily visible in stools if theres a really bad infestation - they usually hide inside it[green].

DD was red & sore straight off, took a day or so for it to become obvious, initially were were pretty flummoxed as to the cause, but speaking to our chemist was helpful.

You can only see them when they come out to lay eggs like clockwork every night - is your DS complaining at the same time every night - just after going to bed ?? - sadly the timing doesn't help, as its too easy to think our DCs are just playing up & wanting extra "up" time - if you look closely at the time he gets upset & irritated, or wipe him then, you may well see them - though they are very difficult to spot as just look like fine bits of rolled up tissue or cotton threads, they are slightly translucent too, so that doesn't help

Sorry that should read - DD was'nt red & sore straight off,