threadworms - is it too late to treat and what happens if it is?

[nellieloula]

Hello - I can't believe how slow I've been on this, but think my DS (4 today!) and DD (17mths) have had worms - DS was complaining about a 'stingy bottom', but not itchy so I didn't think of worms - he says it has all gone now; but I think I've seen some worms in DD's nappy. So they have probably both had it and I've just missed it. What happens if someone has had worms that haven't been treated?? should I treat them anyway?? I know the eggs can take a while to hatch can't they?? So I think I probably should...Feel completely negligent. If anyone can help, I would be really appreciative. Off to boil towels and sheets, scrub hands and then make a birthday cake!

tbh I think that if they've had them - then they've still got them. I'm fairly sure they don;t go away without treatment. the tablets don;t have side effects so dose everyone up and get on with those hot washes. pesky little buggers. (btw not sure how young you can take them - you'll need to check with your littlest still in nappies)

They won't go away, you have to treat them. And be very clean at home - hot wash everything, hoover daily, damp dust daily, for 6 weeks. pants at bedtime, short nails. Clean toys. EVERYTHING, lol.

The 4 year old can have Ovex; the small one needs pripsen i think.

i would take them to the gp or if you have a good pharmacist have a chat as the four yr old should be fine with over the counter stuff but i would want to check the little one had the correct dose

i think you have to treat it as it doesnt go on its own

Pripsen piperazine (not mebendazole) for the little one, and Ovex for ds - yes, as everyone says, if they've had them they almost certainly still have them (especially ds as he isn't in nappies) so do treat!

And treat the rest of the family too, adults included. I would also re-dose in two weeks as per instructions, regardless of symptoms, and do a good clean after both doses - I didn't damp dust/hoover daily after initial blitz, but did keep changing pants and pjs, and washing bottoms in the morning, and changing bedding and towels more frequently than usual.

You don't have to boil wash (tis a myth, apparently) but don't overstuff washer or dryer, so the eggs can drain away properly.

And as for negligent, nooo, of course you're not....they are hard to spot sometimes, and even when you do, its hard to believe what you're seeing and let it be 'real', iyswim. No harm done, just go for it now

thanks all so much. the things we endure! better get on a-washing - good job there isn't anything else to do - at least it takes my mind off thinking about it. thanks again.

my dd1 had worms over the summer, and we completely miss them, she had become so impossible, waking up screaming in the night, scratching till she bled, barely eating a thing... we put it all down to her eczema and being jealous of the new baby...

as soon as she took the drugs she changed into a completely different child- we had to treat ourselves too. the drugs have no side effects, and they work- so just do it!

DD has just been diagnoised with worms - poor thing has been complaining for a few weeks on and off - only when Mum mentioned worms did I take her to doctor-he perscribed meds but just said to use on both kids - and to make sure they wash hands etc.. never metioned anything about changing bedclothes, toys etc... so DD has just be put to bed - after nice clean bath and clean jammies ( ever night this is the case) but I didn't change her bed and she has the sames toys she has every night - she is sleeping for now but should I lift her and change the bed and remove the toys? also should adults in the house be treated also. Another question when does the itchy stop, when should she be free from the pain so we can get some sleep?

thanks in advance.

From bitter experience, yes the adults need treated too, and all the other children, unless you are sure their hands never go in their mouths at all, ever!

Change the bedding tommorrow. You may find it easier to ask them to wear underwear at night under their pyjamas. then you can just wash the night underwear every day.

Wash their backside with flannels every morning and then wash the flannels every day, and damp dust too. I am a slattern though and found one initial panic clean then damp dusty every other day worked for us.

Good luck!

it is just the thought of something living inside DD - have just changed DS bed and our bed as she slept with me last night as she was so upset. I have just taken a dose too and have told hubby he must also - Doc only give us a 30ml bottle so will phone tomorrow for more to do us in a fortnight - I did a real good clean yesterday as I was off work -just never changed the beds, only hers to change tomorrow now - what should I do about the teddys etc in her room! I am a poccle - and will worry about the house not being clean enough. How long does the little blithers take to die so she can get back to normal?
I feel as if I am crawling now - and my hands are so dry from constantly washing them!!

thanks again

My doc said they only come out at night and to check his bottom whilst he slept.

She also said that all of us must be treated

Hello - does anyone know when the worms should have gone by? We've all had two doses of ovex/pripsen but I can still see threads in DD's nappy - not moving, but still quite a lot of them.....could this just be dead ones being flushed out??? so sick of this now!! thanks

I don't know for sure, but am guessing your dd is the one taking Pripsen? If so, it doesn't kill them, just paralyzes them giving the body time to poo them out....so not quite as effective.

I think I would go to GP and ask for advice at this point, tbh - unless her last dose of Prisen was yesterday.