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General health

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Original poster

oh yuck - threadworms

23 replies

2under2 · 05/02/2004 18:38

dd (2.5 yrs) has threadworms - I went out and bought Ovex as soon as I realised. It's been over 24 hours since she took it and the little blighters are still alive and well. Someone tell me they'll all be dead soon please! I am so grossed out I have to brace myself for every nappy change.

OP posts:

Janstar · 05/02/2004 18:58

They have a life-cycle of 2 weeks. If you doubt that they are gone after 2 weeks, give dd another dose. That usually ensures a complete wipeout.

Beccarollover · 05/02/2004 18:58

What do they look like?

Janstar · 05/02/2004 18:58

And don't be worried - most kids get this at some time or another and it is not serious - just yukky as you say.

Janstar · 05/02/2004 18:59

As the name suggests - like little pieces of white thread.

mears · 05/02/2004 18:59

I use Vermox myself. You get it free on presciption. Ideally the whole family should be treated. Don't know if Ovex takes a bit longer to work - don't worry too muck. They are harmless really

Original poster

2under2 · 05/02/2004 19:28

should I tell nursery that she's got them? She's in nappies 24/7 so she shouldn't be able to pass them on to anyone - it's not like she can scratch her bum.

OP posts:

Carla · 05/02/2004 19:49

Think it would be fair to, after all, we're all (supposedly) to tell them if they've got nits, et al. I was old enough (6 or 7) to realise I had them (threadworms) myself and tell my mum about it, hence the current complete paranoia about head lice. Mmmm - I know head lice'll come Just one of the things you've got to put up with with childhood.

XXX2under2

Carla · 05/02/2004 19:51

Meant to say 'or anything moving about one's body'!!!

squirmyworm · 05/02/2004 22:39

good luck 2under2 - I had them a few years ago (double yuk - really freaked me out) and ovex zapped them within a couple of days. hang on in there

ratherdelicatematter · 28/06/2004 02:45

name change because this really is too much information (not troll just a bit embarrased )
DS2 - 4 has threadworms, am going to get pripsen or ovex etc from chemist and I know that whole family has to be dosed.

However I am BF 8 month old baby and I read on the internet that these medicines are not recommended for BF'ing mothers

BUT that babies over 3 months can take the medicine.
So why can't I take a medicine, do you see what I mean?

And does that mean that if I am passing the medicine on to him in the breastmilk does he have to take a dose of his own at all.?

Think of me washing all the linen and hoovering every surface of the house tomorrow, Oh joy.

ratherdelicatematter · 28/06/2004 12:21

anyone?

Marina · 28/06/2004 12:25

The only thing I can think of is that the medicine has been proven to be safe for babies and is therefore licensed as an over-the-counter remedy as such, whereas, there is no licence for over-the-counter sales to b/f mums. Almost every over-the-counter drug says "Consult GP if b/f", or so it seems to me.
I would say that as you don't know for sure how much active ingredient will get through in your milk, that you double-check with your GP on this one. Time-consuming hassle - but it might mean a free prescription for your dose...

MancMum · 28/06/2004 12:33

I had worms when I gave birth to my daughter and talked to the HV about taking Ovex as they were realy annoying me and destroying what little sleep I was getting! She phoned the hospital labs who phoned the manufacturers and they said that it was OK to take it when b/fing - they are just being over cautious on the literature and they are considering saying that it is OK. I took it - worms went and I slept - what I call a result!!

I took just one dose and then went hyper on hygience - boiled all the bath toys as these are most common place for them to hide, washed all door handles and cut finger nails of everyone in house!

Am about to start again as DS has them again - he seems to attract them - for what it is worth, in my experience, Vermox from docs works far better and faster than Ovex - I have just run out and will be back at doctors asking for some more today!!

ratherdelicatematter · 28/06/2004 12:40

thanks for that advice, much appreciated

ratherdelicatematter · 28/06/2004 12:41

But does that mean baby doesn't have to have a dose?

MancMum · 28/06/2004 14:37

I never gave my baby a dose but then she was only 1 week old. I would push your HV to do what mine did and talk to manufacturer - I am pretty sure that there would be no need to give it to a baby unless they had it - I went with the manic hygience with the baby - ie washed my hands loads before touching her to feed/change her..

geekgrrl · 28/06/2004 18:57

all of us except ds (3 months at the time and breastfed) had them. I took Ovex in a moment of panic - was so disgusted that waiting to talk to the GP wasn't an option. It'd be hard to miss an infection in a baby when you get to inspect everything that's in their nappy.

ratherdelicatematter · 13/07/2004 12:17

Hello again
Well the rest of the family are clear but we think the baby may have them. She wouldn't settle at all between midnight and 3am and kept on drawing her legs up and wriggling.
Can't see any evidence of them in her nappies but I would like to treat her just to eliminate the idea that she may have them.
What have other people used to treat babies of 9 months old please?

suzywong · 13/07/2004 14:15

Now you've all finished breakfast can anyone face this question.
Please

suzywong · 13/07/2004 14:17

Damnation!
Haste has revealed my shameful secret and pathetic attempts at subtefuge (that and trying to cue the Toy Story2 DVD up to the right scene for DS1 while simultaneously posting)

So come on then who knows how to get these little critters away from my baby?

soyabean · 13/07/2004 14:21

RDM it does sound like your baby has them..I would have thought your GP could find out for you if its OK to give a half dose or whatever. Its not an option for the baby to be awake and squirmg half the night ids it. You do have my sympathy. I took Ovex while prgnanat without even thinking about it then panicked and went to the GPO but she said really it was fine, the leaflets are just overcautiously covering the drugs company, just as Marina said. Good luck. Horrible things, touch wood, none of mine have had them in the last 2 years.

SueW · 14/07/2004 00:24

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

PamT · 14/07/2004 00:47

When our family had these visitors when I was pg, the doctor refused to give me anything to treat them and told me to rely on hygiene instead. Keep nails short and wash hands well was the most important instruction. They work their way through your body to lay eggs within 2 weeks and only survive if the eggs (from around your anus) are ingested again.

I argued with him that I couldn't stop a 3 year old from putting his fingers in his mouth so he relented and gave DS1 some treatment.

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