Itchy bottom

[colette]

My 5yr old dd complains of an itchy bottom - this has been going on for about 2 weeks. When I looked it looked slightly red around her (for want of a better word) back passage. I used nappy cream which doesn't seem to help. It seems to be at it's worst when we are putting her to bed .
Any suggestions - in my worst moments I think could it be worms? This may be because I am a bit parasite obsessed as at the weekend we discovered poor dd had headlice. Now the head itching at teatime has stopped but the bottom itching persists
Any ideas

Colette I've no experience of this but it really does sound like threadworms - the redness could be caused by her scratching and I believe the worms are most active at night.
It's a lot easier to eradicate than head lice I think! Not sure whether you can get the medicine - single dose pill, called something like Ovex - over the counter or you have to see a doctor first. Good luck and hope she gets better soon.

I know ,I know - not a great lunchtime subject

Thanks Marina,
Our posts crossed. Maybe I will have to take her to the Drs.

Does sound like threadworms, colette.

Have a look at NHS Direct .

(We've had 'em!)

DD2 went through a phase where she wouldn't drink much. Consequently, her poos were absolutely enormous when they came out and and really stretched her ...emm..... bottom hole. That made her bottom itchy, although she always blamed it on me and my Kandoos. You'd have noticed threadworms in the poo, wouldn't you????

Only if she made a point of inspecting it, carla!

Oh god!! Another job for dh
I am hoping it is something to do with dehydration/constipation as you said Carla. When she is at school I don't think she drinks enough. I will have a look later...or ask dh

Janh Having read your link - thanks
Do you think I should take her to the drs or see if they disappear by themselves?

The trouble with worms is that the child tends to reinfect itself - unless you can guarantee she never puts her fingers in her mouth? Has she definitely got them then? If she has she will probably be upset at the idea, my kids were, so be prepared to do lots of playing down, as with nits!

I don't think you need to see the doctor to get a prescription - you should be able to ask for one by phone. Or ring your HV first to ask what's the best thing to do. They will recommend that everybody takes it, and it's a 2-stage thing (like nits again). Good luck - it's one of the rites of passage of having school-age children!

Colette, worms are not as big a deal as they seem. My dd1 has had them 3x since starting school. You can get tablets or medicine over the counter (which I now always have in!). And that will knock them on the head. Change any bedding as any eggs can re-infect within 7 days. For us, I know it's worms when she complains of any itchy bum after bath time or from 9pm-midnight. The female (large) worm comes out of their bottoms when it's hot and looks like a piece of thread/cotton. The male worms are much smaller. I think dd has got them since school as they don't always wash their hands properly every time. Apparently up to 40% of kids have worms at any one time. Good Luck, hth.

Just read the link...20%!

BTW, you don't always see them in the poo unless the infection is heavy. I found them easy to eradicate in my 3 year old, but hellish to get rid of in myself and the baby. We had them for over a year, on and off, despite stringent hygeine measures, so be warned.