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Original poster

Does anyone else's child KEEP getting threadworms? I'm so fed up!

43 replies

mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 18:33

I posted on here last night about my ds's sore bum, didn't think it was worms, as we have had them several times before and there were no signs this time. UNTIL NOW.

The pesky things are back...I'm so fed up, why does he keep getting them? This will be the 5th time in 18 months!!

We are not a skanky family, we're clean, I try to oversee hand washing. I've even had them twice, not an experience I would care to repeat.

Why do the schools not approach worms as vehemently as they do nits? He is catching them off someone!

Any advice on how to avoid in the future? I'm thinking of taking out shares in Ovex.

OP posts:
TheEvilDediderata · 17/10/2007 18:49

When I was a child I also had repetitive threadworm. It didn't really clear up until my late teens.

I don't know why some kids are more susceptible, but it may be that he's catching them of something as opposed to someone.

Curiously, I used to get an attack every time I ate pork!

I still eat pork, but at 42, I'm reasonably certain I've grown out of the problem by now!

FrannyandZooey · 17/10/2007 18:59

Unless you are getting all the eggs out of your house each time you treat the family, you are probably reinfesting yourself, sorry

the eggs lie in your household dust and can be inhaled as well as ingested

Original poster
mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 19:22

Oh god, does that mean I have to deep clean everything AGAIN?? Bloody threadworm eggs. I don't see how I can possibly get rid of them all.

I have changed all beds, hoovered, dusted. They could be anywhere? Handles, bannisters, toys, shoes, clothes......if you see a massive bonfire in Surrey, its me burning everything and dancing around the bloody flames.

OP posts:
bigwombat · 17/10/2007 19:22

We've had them quite a few times too, but each attack is about a year apart so I don't think we're re-infecting ourselves. I got some stuff from the GP called Vermox - it is really effective. I usually wash all bedlinen and towels too, it's a total pain.

brimfull · 17/10/2007 19:25

Does you child suck their thumb or generally keep putting their hands in their mouth.That's how it is directly transferred so maybe try to eliminate the source.I don't think kids wash their hands properly at school ,so other children are re-infecting door handles etc.

Original poster
mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 19:25

Praps I'll try Vermox. Ovex is our threadworm treatment of choice(!) Praps we have become immune to it?

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 19:26

And yes, my ds is a novice nail biter. Drives me nuts. I think I will approach the school too, see if it can be addressed there, handwashing etc.

OP posts:
brimfull · 17/10/2007 19:31

tbh if he stopped sucking his thimb the chances of re-infecting would be greatly reduced.
Everytime he touches a door handle whatever,he will then bite his nails and the bug enters his system.
It would help if everyone washed their hands effectively but it is very hard to monitor thatin a school tbh.
If he stopped the nail biting you are going to reduce the chance of infection a lot.

brimfull · 17/10/2007 19:31

read nail biting instead of sucking his thimb sorry

Original poster
mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 19:33

OK, next question. How to stop a 4 year old bum scratching pest from biting his nails?

OP posts:
geekgirl · 17/10/2007 19:34

do you give another dose two weeks later? that works really well IME.

sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 19:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Elibean · 17/10/2007 20:33

Rats, MrsM, I responded to your original thread and am sorry that you have that nightmare clean/treat thing ahead. Do you mind me asking how you know its worms again? Only my nephew (he of the anal fissure, which is definitely there) had worms first time he had bum pain, and then had fissure later (probably as result of over scratching said bum) and my db is still wondering if its 'just' fissure now, or fissure + worms.

Oh the things we parents have to think about

I'm with you re schools and talking about worms - they're fine with nit talk, why on earth not worm talk? And action?!

Original poster
mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 20:59

geekgirl, yes I do administer second dose 2 weeks later. I don't find treating them a problem, its stopping him from catching the buggers in the first place.

Skerrymum, thanks for the health shop advice. I did wonder if it was something to do with the balance of acidity in him that made him such a welcome 'host' for the guests!

Elibean, I went to GP about sore bum, he prescribed mild anaesthetic cream for the area .Whilst applying said cream, saw three of the worms appearing, as I had just wiped him after going to the loo. YUCK. I have always seen the worms coming out, which is how I know they are def. there.

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 21:01

Oh, and yes, my ds is a nose picker. And I hate to say, an eater. No wonder he keeps bloody getting them....So I need a bulldog clip for his nose, bitter varnish to stop the nail biting and a cork up his bum. Hooray!!

OP posts:
Spiderhammer · 17/10/2007 21:03

mrsmerton it's perfectly healthy to eat boagies. There was a thread about it. It's scientifically proven to be beneficial. I tell mine to pick away but do it secretly because no-one likes to see it.

Original poster
mrsmerton · 17/10/2007 21:06

Ewwwww

OP posts:
000Laura000 · 17/10/2007 22:18

Mrs Merton
I just had a conversation today with my doctor about this.

He said that it's a good idea to take another Ovex a week after the first pill is taken... that is, instead of waiting to see if it occurs again.

He said the pills are not harmful in any way.

He also said that the "infection" does not actually do any harm. Apart from the fact that it's distressing.

If your son is being reinfected he is getting it from somewhere and its most likely that it's school. It's not your home.

I think you might have to be really assertive with the school. Can you join any parent/teacher organisations? Put pressure on them to make other parents deal with it? Maybe other parents don't know about it or are not wanting to be open about it?

My doctor said that in a group of 10 children, the chances are that at least one will have it.

laura

Elibean · 17/10/2007 22:19

Double ewwwww

I think dd1 is growing out of bogey eating (except when she has moments of wanting to shock me, rarely) and I don't care how good it was for her, I'm glad.

MrsM, thats certainly proof enough - urg! Hope they stay away this time. I wonder if its a bit like mosquitoes, which bite those of us who give off more CO2?! Maybe the prebiotics will do the trick.

000Laura000 · 17/10/2007 22:19

And sympathy....!

Elibean · 17/10/2007 22:20

Agree its more likely reinfection source is school (especially if they have a sandpit and/or playdough) than home. Yes, the eggs do hang out in dust, but sooo many people get away with one thorough clean and the double Ovex treatment, that it just makes more sense for it to be school?

sKerryMum · 17/10/2007 23:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
mrsmerton · 18/10/2007 07:21

And just to end this 'thread'....last night I discovered I too have caught them. BLOODY HELL!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your words of wisdom, and comiserations!

OP posts:
Elibean · 18/10/2007 16:29

O, Mrs M, poor you...not to make things worse for you, but speaking as one of the (apparently many) MNers who has wondered if she had them or not, at one time... how did you find out?

Elibean · 18/10/2007 16:31

And obviously, feel free to ignore - sorry if you mind me asking. Its just that I've had occasion to wonder, checked often, and never found any...but still wonder...