I'm having a bit of a meltdown! Threadworms

[FreakOut9]

Dd had worms she done meds on Monday so I'm hoping that's them dead and going to treat again In 2 weeks. The problem is since we found out on Sunday night I can't stop panicking thinking everyone is going to get them including our 4 month old son. My daughter is the only one with symptoms but whole family apart from baby has took meds as he's not old enough yet. Dread to think if he did as 6 weeks cleaning and washing my hands like this is not good. Done all advice wash bedding, damp dust, clean down hard surfaces all that everyday for the last 3 days. Problem is I can't stop cleaning. But just realised we've been having showers every morning but not the baby. I've been cleaning his bum and gave him a bath every other day. Should I be showering him daily too? He hasn't showed any signs of threadworms. Would he be fine as he's getting his bum changed all the time? Or should I shower him too? As I said I'm having a meltdown and about it, lots of anxiety and I'm gonna get an appointment with doctor for that, but was just hoping someone could help ease my mind a little

As he's still too young to be picking things up and putting them in his mouth, and you have been so careful with the cleaning and with treating the rest of the family, it is highly unlikely that the baby is at much risk of getting them.

One if my dc was very prone to threadworms. Because we'd never heard of them before, we did not recognise the very first infestation for several weeks, by which time it had spread to other members of the family. Baby dc3 was a few months old, and I could not be treated either, as I was breastfeeding. Neither of us caught it - though I totally understand your anxiety, because I worried, too.

Over the next years there were several other infestations of threadworms, which we caught much earlier, and which didn't spread to other members of the family. Dc3 and I couldn't be treated until they were 2y old, but we never caught threadworms.

I was not as meticulous as you are, either. Hot-washed bedding, PJs and pants for two weeks until both doses of medicine had been taken, continuing with trimmed nails and plenty of hand-washing for a couple of months after. That was all.

He can and does put all things in his mouth. If it's in his hands I've been boil washing his toys in the morning just incase but worried about soft furnishing, blancets, muslins, toys his sister's is picking up for him or toys and mats I know they've been on together over the last couple of week. I haven't really eating or drank much since knowing what it is. I just can't stop panicking. It's gonna spread to us all

Your anxiety over this is extreme. It will not spread to you all, because you have been meticulous in treatment and cleanliness.

Because your baby is not yet mobile, you are in control of what he can reach, and those things are clean. The eggs only survive for a couple of weeks, which is why the treatment is two doses, two weeks apart. No more eggs will have been deposited after the first dose. So you do not need to clean repeatedly.

I felt like this too. I completely freaked out. I am already a clean freak but this just topped it.

This might not make you feel better, so sorry but Dd caught them at 4 months. DS had caught them and somehow Dd ended up with a very minor case (only seem 2 in her stool and never seen anymore), she wasn’t restless at night or anything I was just checking her poo all the time. I think it’s because Ds has autism and was often touching her dummies, her toys, lying on her play mat etc. They would sometimes share a bath too.

Doctors can treat babies. The medication isn’t licensed for babies but can be used. Often they want to make sure babies definitely have them before treating rather than treating as a precaution.

For weeks and months afterwards I was so paranoid about them. It was ruling my life. I was cleaning more than normal. It took me a good year or two until after they went away to calm down a bit so please don’t let this rule your life.

The good news is that DS and DD are now nearly 9 and 5 and we haven’t had them since!! Well I thought DD did once but it turned out to be strong bits of orange in her stool.

I tend to change bedding weekly. I have always changed bedding regularly but I really do make sure it’s weekly, as well as cushion covers and throws just in case.

Short nails, hand washing.

Regularly wiping surfaces and mopping floors. Vacuuming thoroughly too.

Also wiping remotes and iPads, phones etc.

My two have always been bathed daily anyway so didn’t have to change that.

While they have them onesies are great so they can’t itch.

Sunlight is meant to kill the eggs but I’m
Not sure how legit this is.