I feel so dirty, worms

[changedmynickname]

Have just found a worm on my tissue when I wipe myself. I am itchy but thought I was having a reaction to my towel as I am on my period atm. I must have caught them from my kids, none of them are moaning about itchy bottoms though. Dd1 is always coming home with dirty, muddy hands. I keep telling her to wash her hands. I can't work out how I have caught them, I don't suck my fingers, bite my nails, and I am always washing my hands. Oh well off to the chemist tomorrow.

Don't feel bad, I bet a lot of people on here have had them! I caught them off my dd2, who picked them up at school. You probably caught them off a towel (they can survive away from the body for quite a while) or from inhaling the eggs (yuk, I know). But as well as being common, it doesn't mean you are dirty (or that your dd is either) - like nits/headlice, they are very easily caught and passed on

I know, just feel dirty. I can't believe I have them.. yuk!

They're gross and horrid, but everyone seems to get them eventually.

You can get them via airborne transmission, if that helps. The eggs are designed to dry up and float in the air. You breathe them in, then your lungs helpfully evict them, and you swallow them with other stuff from your lungs (happens all the time). Then you have worms.

So I need to treat the whole family, and wash all bedding, what about pillows and quilts? And do I sent the kids to school?

ds2 had these a couple of months ago. It was really awful for him, so I have some idea how you're feeling.

You can get stuff from the chemist over the counter or go to the gp. You need to treat the whole family, including any other adults. It's 2 doses each, two weeks apart. Worth a trip to the gp tbh as kids will get it free and therefore cost you less. Mine gave enought to treat all 7 of us and I didn't have to fork out!

Wash all duvet covers, pillow cases, and towels which you have used at 60 degrees. Don't share towels with anyone else. Be scrupulous about handwashing, that goes for everyone else too - make sure they always wash hands before eating, always. Keep everyone's nails short as poss too.

No need to keep kids off school - I called the school and said my child was in class so-and-so but didn't give his name - they can then send out bog standard advice/warning letters similar to the head lice ones to make parents aware and be vigilant.

Takes 2 nights for the itching to go after the first dose of meds. I found it helped ds to have a warm bath and then to put some nappy cream all round his bumhole to alleviate the itching.

Everyone gets 'em, just like nits!

Do I have to cut my nails?? My hands look horrible with short nails lol

If you don't want to cut them, then make sure you scrub them well underneath with water as hot as you can bear. I meant the kids though really as they can't be trusted to wash under them properly!

So if I shot out at 8am in the morning to tesco's and got some treatment stuff, I could send them to school in the morning.

You can send them to school anyway, it's not as contagious as, say, headlice. Do warn the school, though, so other parents are on the lookout for symptoms.

ok, I will get the stuff tomorrow after the school run and treat dh, myself and dd2, wash all bedding in the morning and then treat the other 2 when they come home.

Oh you filthy mare.

Just kidding. My family has just been wormed. I hosted a wedding reception last week and had nightmares in the build up about the bride catching worms during her stay.

Oh joyous motherhood.

PMSL Spidermama. I have just got rid of nits too.. I feel like a scuzzy mum now..