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Children's health

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Original poster

SO MANY threadworms! Ahh! Ovex didn’t work. What now?

23 replies

Brownleafgreenleaf · 04/04/2022 19:41

My 8 year old DS is ridden with threadworms. We noticed last week that DC had them and treated with ovex on Thursday.

8 year old has had a lot of urgent trips to the toilet since then, and every time there are many, many live worms in his stools and on his bum.

He’s already pooped twice this evening. The second time I can’t believe how many worms (live) there were crawling on him and in his stool. There were SO MANY. It’s getting far worse.

He is freaking out as he can feel them, I am (quietly) freaking out as I can’t seem to get rid of them!

I just came back from the late pharmacy but they say he can’t take another dose of ovex yet. What do I do?!

I’ve been washing everything on 60, but the worms are getting worse

Help!!!

OP posts:

Porcupineintherough · 04/04/2022 20:51

Well the good news is that the ovex is working, that's why they are coming out. Hang in there and treat again as soon as you are allowed to. And remind him about washing his hands properly every time he goes to the loo. And keep his nails short.

Original poster

Brownleafgreenleaf · 04/04/2022 20:54

Really? That’s very good to hear as I thought it wasn’t as should they all be dead by now?

He’s had two more urgent poos this evening, so many (SO MANY) live worms came out in them, and around his bum. It’s hurting and he’s pretty distressed about it. Although he’s very determined to wash his hands a lot from now on!

OP posts:

Porcupineintherough · 04/04/2022 20:58

They die when they come out, adult worms cant live outside the human body, they want to be nicely tucked up in his intestines shedding eggs. Ovex is evicting them. Sounds you are at the low point, things should get better - but dont forget to re-treat in a few weeks (that shouldn't be so bad).

tpmumtobe · 04/04/2022 21:00

My DS was riddled with worms throughout primary. He was (and still is) a nose picker so he was continually reinfecting himself. We found 3/4 days after he took the first dose of meds was always worse than when they were first spotted. By the time the meds kicked in they were everywhere in a mass exodus. Hang in there, try and get him to have a shower every morning to wash away the escapees and eggs, and give him the second dose as soon as you're allowed to finish them off. That usually does it. Good luck!

dementedpixie · 04/04/2022 21:08

Ovex starves them rather than killing them chemically. Hopefully if they are being expelled he will be rid of them soon.

Darhon · 04/04/2022 21:12

Yeah, as they start to die they can’t continue the life cycle or cling on inside so they start to come out, often ending up with still, dead ones after a while. Been there, got the t-shirt having had 3 kids. 40% of under 10s are apparently infected at any one time. It’s awful when you first see them but it’s pretty standard stuff.

Timide · 04/04/2022 21:19

Sorry to interrupt but how do you know when you need some treatment? Is it only when they become visible? Are there other symptoms?

AnyFucker · 04/04/2022 21:20

What the bloody hell used to happen before Ovex ?

Imagine ! Living with threadworms all the time !

dementedpixie · 04/04/2022 21:22

You used to get pripsen powder when I was younger and it did kill them. Was discontinued though. Only seems to be ovex these days

dementedpixie · 04/04/2022 21:23

@Timide

Sorry to interrupt but how do you know when you need some treatment? Is it only when they become visible? Are there other symptoms?

Normally itchy bum and disturbed sleep and being visible in their poo.

Porcupineintherough · 04/04/2022 21:23

Before ovex? Various herbal concoctions of varying efficacy. Or if you were unlucky (or desperate) turpentine. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

ISeeTheLight · 04/04/2022 21:24

You have my sympathy. DD gets them regularly. We now wash her bedding daily when she has them, new pyjamas every time, and a bath in the morning and in the evening. If anything it helps with the itching. It's grim.

HandlebarLadyTash · 04/04/2022 21:31

I used to buy 5 bottles a time from an online pharmacy. Then would dose the kids every half term even if I hadn't seen anything- it was the only way to keep it under control (nailbiters)
6 doses in a bottle is not enough and really pricey. One happy occasion (years ago) the doctor prescribed me a massive bottle of non ovex branded medicine.

TheDaydreamBelievers · 04/04/2022 21:35

Remember also to get him to wear pants overnight so he doesn't scratch his bum in his sleep. I also find Vaseline on the ahem affected area prevents itching and pain overnight

idril · 04/04/2022 21:37

My daughter was prescribed 1 per day for 5 days by a gastroenterologist consultant for persistent threadworms. We were seeing him for something else but mentioned the worms and he said that the OTC dose often doesn't work. The 5-day treatment did work.

Original poster

Brownleafgreenleaf · 04/04/2022 21:51

This is all very helpful, thank you! It’s making me feel a lot better! Poor DS.

Showers every morning it is for a while!

OP posts:

Original poster

Brownleafgreenleaf · 04/04/2022 21:53

@idril

That’s interesting! The pharmacist said no to another dose this soon. And when I said I’d get some for the two-week mark, clearly didn’t want me to have them and said “no come back for those as you might not need them”, as if she didn’t trust that i wouldn’t just go ahead and give him them now! I wonder why she was so reluctant?

OP posts:

Seriouslymole · 04/04/2022 21:57

Been there, done that, still doing it on occasions. One pharmacist said to me once if Ovex didn’t get rid of them to give them 5 days consecutively.

Original poster

Brownleafgreenleaf · 05/04/2022 21:00

Same (insane!) amount of worms again tonight! And this is 5 days since the ovex!

Thank you for your tips. We’re doing daily hair washes, daily bedding changes for the kids, morning showers and washing their towels after every use, sending the hoover round constantly - my hands are so dry from all the hand washing! It’s feeling very sterile in this house at the moment!

OP posts:

Megogs · 05/04/2022 21:06

When my daughter had a bad case we took her to see a private Paediatrician as we didn't know what the problem was at the time. The paed prescribed a dose of Ovex twice a day for 3 days as one dose won't always kill them. It worked a treat.

boatgirl81 · 05/04/2022 21:09

Raw garlic is good for killing worms, great for the immune system in general

Tm22 · 04/06/2022 13:23

@Brownleafgreenleaf how is your son doing now? Have they gone? Did you need additional doses? X

roava · 22/08/2022 11:50

I'm just jumping on this thread as I was panic googling and I've found it really helpful.

So last Friday I realised I had these dreaded things so went to the pharmacy and bought Ovex. Took it along with the rest of the family and am now all clear as far as i can tell(it's Monday). However, my 5 yo daughter who hadn't mentioned anything about itching or anything like that started to get worms come out in her poo. This morning OH.MY.GOD I'm not exaggerating there was a mass exodus. There had to be hundreds in there, I was nearly sick. I was also really alarmed as as I said she's not said anything about any itching or discomfort at all and clearly she's had them a while.

Anyway in a state of shock I called the doctor who has advised that she will need to take another dose of OVEX this Friday (so after one week) and then all of us will need to take a second dose on the following Friday (after 2 weeks)

I just can't believe she never said anything. I feel absolutely terrible for her and feel like a neglectful parent as I still wipe her bum after a poo and I'd never seen any.

Anyway I hope OP doesn't mind me jumping on the thread. Will keep you posted how we get on

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