DS has had threadworms for over a *year*. Do we need to tell school, his friends, etc?

[Rumbled]

I feel awful about it. He's been suffering at night for over a year. But because he has a little anal fissure (which we have been to the doctor about twice), all his discomfort has been put down to that. Several bedtime checks revealed nothing. Last night I had another good look with a torch, several hours into his sleep, and saw three of the little buggers squirming about. Poor DS.

I have spoken to the doctor today, who is preparing a prescription for DS. I will take the medicine too and wash and wipe everything, and have talked to DS about hand washing. What I'm wondering, because DS has likely had this for such a long time, is if I should be telling DS's school and his friends' mums.

Also, he is a thumbsucker and a nailbiter (no surprises he got it, then). I wouldn't expect him to stop sucking his thumb, because it helps him sleep. But how can I discourage his nailbiting?

He's six, BTW.

Thanks for any ideas.

Perhaps now is the time to tell him that his thumbsucking is causing the issue and see it as a time to stop? Friend of mine gave their dd a dummy at this point to stop the constant reinfection.

Cut nails incredibly short and use nil bite stuff to help remind him?

I would tell the school, and they can always send a note home. That way, he can remain anonymous.

As for nailbiting, difficult if you still allow thumbsucking - either use anti nail biting paint or trim his nails so close that there is nothing to bite?

Yes, do tell school. Dunno about mentioning how long he's had them, some people might not take in the 'we didn't know' bit.

Sorry to hear the threadworms have been missed, how miserable for you and ds.

Think you need to wash bedding and towels etc. on high temperatures and keep ds's separate from everyone else's too. NHS Direct website probably has good advice.

I would consider treating every member of the family too!

Thanks CarGirl. I'm torn on this. I'm in the they'll-quit-when-they're-ready camp. Replacing itchy bum distress with withdrawal of comforter distress doesn't seem like progress, overall. He started biting his nails just over a year ago, which ties in with this itching starting. I'd rather focus on discouraging that, which he does all day regardless of how recently he's washed his hands, unlike the thumb sucking which is only after a bedtime wash.

Thanks for more posts. DS and I are the only members of the household. I have told his dad and suggested he gets treated too, since he has DS regularly.

Tell friends too?

He's more likely to scratch his bottom at night, and the worms come out at night - so he's more likely to reinfect then, that's the only thing.

Telling friends is a difficult one, I guess you should, but reactions will vary, particularly if they've never had it themselves. My sister (no children) freaked when I told her mine had head lice.

My DS had threadworm about a month ago. We all took the tablets and then another one 2 weeks later to try and avoid re-infection. Make sure you use separate towels and wash after 1 use and put pants on him in bed under pyjamas. Apparently the eggs can even live in the dust in childrens bedrooms and they can breathe them in and get re-infected that way . No hope for us then as I am a bit of a slattern.

I'm sure I read on the internet that at any one time 1 in 3 school age children has threadworms so that means 10 children in DD's class could have it, (DS is at playgroup), and knowing the hygiene levels at school in the loos - yikes, doesn't bear thinking about.

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't bother telling friends. Threadworms are so common that a reasonable proportion of randomly-selected six-year-olds will have them at any given time. I know there are plenty of Mumsnetters who just worm the whole family every few months, and I tend to worm mine if DS seems to have an itchy bottom; it seems to do the trick even though I've never seen a worm. I'd probably mention it to the school because a gentle reminder of the threadworm issue may be helpful for a lot of parents.

agree with professor.. it is very common, someone quoted to me you can catch them from door knobs.
do you wash and dry his bottom every night?> or give him a bath ? and keep taking the medicine,

i wouldnt tell school.

I agree that if you tell school it might encourage everyone to have a look/watch their child - there might be someone else in your situation, who doesn't realize their child has them. But no need to mention how long for. I would also tell friends whom he hangs out with a lot so they can check too - I would be grateful for the info and certainly don't know anyone who would react badly. I really sympathize with you - DS had nits for at least a week, maybe longer before I realized and was riddled and I felt terrible. I had also been scratching like crazy for about 5 days too and thought it was a reaction to shampoo, doh, how stupid am I?

I think the thumb sucking thing is tricky because as pp says, he probably scratches at night - I know this is when my son scratches his eczema - and then sticks his thumb back in his mouth. If you made him wear tight-ish pants at night, would this help. Or as pp says, a dummy???