ASD and worms

[FrazzledAl]

My DD is 5, she has a diagnosis of autism, Pica and severe speech impairment. She has picked up thread/pinworms and it's a fricking nightmare. We've treated with ovex liquid and washed bedding and toys etc but the itching is driving the poor poppet insane. She doesn't really understand when I explain/stop her from itching and Everytime I take my eyes off her she's itching and goodness knows what shes touching, but the hands are always in her mouth. She's awake at midnight screaming in distress with the discomfort and then that's it she's awake for the day. I don't know what to do. I feel like we're going to be trapped in a cycle of constantly having the worms as I can't stop the itching and hands in the mouth (despite my absolute best efforts). Has anyone had similar? Any tips? Tell me you got rid of them and it didn't go on forever!!

I feel so awful when she's so distressed and doesn't understand why and why I can't make it stop 😫

Hi OP, my son is autistic too and we’ve had issues with threadworm quite a few times as like your daughter he’s a hands in his mouth but scratching type child 🙈 however I realised last year that I don’t think it’s always actually thread worm but more what I named “itchy bum anxiety” I noticed a link between him being overly stressed/not regulated and him complaining at bedtime that his bum is it itchy. It’s tricky because sometimes I think it might be actual threadworm but not always. I really feel for you because they just don’t understand keeping your hands out your mouth thing at all. Think it’s just a storm you have to ride unfortunately-I get it-it’s an absolute nightmare when at bedtime they’re having a meltdown over it.

I have no idea if this is appropriate but it's a suggestion, could you put a tiny amount of bitter bite or whatever its called these days, the stuff to stop nail biting on a few nails, it might discourage the fingers in mouth enough to break the habit and break the cycle of the worms