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Original poster

Baby has worms ?

17 replies

jacobsgirl · 10/04/2018 12:18

Hi everyone just looking for advice I feel so guilty

Was changing my little boys nappy and notices one small white tapeworm looking thing in his stool

He doesn't seem in discomfort or anything and I genuinely wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't paying close attention .

I'm worried he's had them for ages and I've not noticed I feel like a terrible mum.

What do I do? I'm obviously going to phone his gp right away but I've never had experience with this ? Is it really serious ? What will the gp give him ?

I always thought our hygiene was really good and now I'm extra paranoid ?

Any advice for what I can do in the meantime before he gets to the gp ?

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 10/04/2018 12:19

How old is he / is he on solid food?

(Remembering various bean sprout or worm threads)

Original poster
jacobsgirl · 10/04/2018 12:20

He's 8 months and he eats solid food yeah

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 10/04/2018 12:24

I gather you mean threadworm rather than tapeworm. Was it moving? Could it have been undigested food? Do you have any other children? I don't think there is anything you can give a baby of that age but the rest of the family should get treated. You can buy worm treatments over the counter (normally ovex) and they are ok for adults and children over 2

brownelephant · 10/04/2018 12:25

did you feed banana?

Original poster
jacobsgirl · 10/04/2018 12:27

I'm not sure what type of worm it is tapeworm is the only one I've ever heard of

It was small white and moving yes about the width of a threat and maybe 1cm long

He's my first and only child

I didn't feed him any banana no :(

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 10/04/2018 12:29

sounds more like threadworm then. See link above

sleepyhead · 10/04/2018 12:30

Was it moving? If not, unlikely to be a worm.

If it was, it's probably threadworms and they're harmless (although revolting to think about). They can cause itching around the anus which then gets eggs onto fingers, which then go in child's mouth and the cycle starts again.

Unless you've got other small children or are around small children (not babies) a lot though I doubt it would be worms.

ShowOfHands · 10/04/2018 12:31

I think he's too young for treatment and you'll need impeccable hygiene to break the life cycle. You need to treat yourselves (Ovex over the counter).

They're threadworms, not tapeworm and 40% of primary aged children have them at any given time, most without symptoms. They're very, very common.

sleepyhead · 10/04/2018 12:31

xpost - threadworms. Get yourself to the pharmacist (you'll probably have to see GP to get anything prescribed for an 8 month old though) for advice.

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 10/04/2018 12:31

Its likely that you and/or your partner have them but haven't realised. They are annoying blighters and ypu will have to be massively on top of hygiene. Go on the NHS website and it will tell you what things to do. Treat yourself and partner with ovex.

Original poster
jacobsgirl · 10/04/2018 12:32

Thanks everyone I actually feel so bad !

Didn't realise they were so common though !

OP posts:
TartanDr3ams · 10/04/2018 12:32

Stop panicking. Thread worm is super common -having worked with children for over 10yr its safe to say ALOT of children get threadworm 3-4 times while growing up. Its juat not something people often discuss cause its seen as "dirty". It could be simply a tiny cluster of eggs bought in on someones shoes..kids put everything in their mouths. The gp will give you a short course of meds (for everyone in your house) and advise you to wash all bedding, towels and hoover thoroughly. Its not serious and really easy to treat.

sleepyhead · 10/04/2018 12:33

The fact that he wears a nappy should help as he won't be able to scratch and the eggs will end up in the nappy, so if you get treated yourself and are scrupulously hygienic from now on it should break the cycle.

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 10/04/2018 12:34

Should have added, my DS had them when he was 10 months old. He'd got them off my older children. They were treated with ovex and I was impeccable with the hygiene, they soon went away with DS. I showered or bathed him morning and night for three weeks to wash Any eggs away.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 10/04/2018 12:35

It won’t be a tapeworm, think you mean threadworms. Do any of your family have threadworms? They’re very easily spread - does he go to nursery? They’re very easily treatable (albeit quite time consuming).

Was it alive/moving? I’d keep checking his nappy, and also try to check around his anus at night when he’s asleep as they travel out to lay eggs. This will give you a definite answer and you can start treatment. I’m not sure if the age restrictions of Ovex but your GP or pharmacist can advise, and you need to follow these instructions meticulously:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/threadworms/

Original poster
jacobsgirl · 10/04/2018 12:54

He spends a lot of time with his auntie and uncle who are only 10 and 11 so perhaps it was via that?

Defos going to gp x

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