Getting rid of threadworms <shudder>

[Tinkjon]

Urgh, urgh, URGH. Suspected that DD had threadworms a few weeks ago and now I have them too and they are seriously freaking me out I am so squeamish about wriggly insecty things - all I can think about is "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here"

Anyway, having read several (often contradictory) things about the best way to get rid of them, do MNers think what I'm doing is enough to stop reinfestation? We've all taken Mebendazole and will take another dose in 2 weeks but re-infestation is what I'm paranoid about. I've washed all bedding, vacuumed mattresses and damp-dusted/vacuumed as much as I can. Then we all have a wash each morning and have clean underwear, clean towels and clean pyjamas each day. So, how long do I have to do all this for? If the medicine we took kills off the worms in a few days then do I only need to vacuum/damp-dust/wash bedding etc. for those few days, as after that there won't be anymore eggs around? Or do I have to do it every day for 2 weeks? (if so, I don't understand why?) I've got a 3-month old baby as well as DD and I'm exhausted enough as it is, without having to add 3 hours of cleaning to the workload!! And my last question - I suppose I have to tell the school, right?

Grateful for any advice!

I read an article that suggested that 70% of schoolkids have worms (and nits) at any stage!(eurk) I ward them off by eating loads of garlic, it's anti-parasitic (and anti-bacterial/viral/fungal as well) - the medicine works in 2-3 days, so just change the bedding etc in 3 days, then all the eggs should be dead. You can change it all agin in a few more days to be sure, and get the garlic bread out.

ds had it too. We didn't see any but he was having a itchy wriggling sensation and dh had it too. So we all took the treatment. Problem with doing cleaning all the time is that your child can get re-infected by the kids at school, then the whole thing starts again. This is what happened with ds.

Seemingly the eggs can survive up to 2 weeks out of the body,on surfaces/bedding,dust etc.Also you can be reinfected by -wait for it- breathing in airborne eggs.
We've got them too,just confirmed last night by catching one,though I suspected for a while.
Lots of natural remedies such as carrots/pumpkin seeds and as mentioned above garlic-google and you'll get more.One way to get the kids to take garlic cos they are never going to eat it is to stick a peeled clove in each shoe and let them mash it up-the oil seemingly is absorbed into the body this way-but I'm going to slice it up and put it in their socks and let them go to bed with them on.
I feel like I've been thrown into a battle zone and don't know where to start firing first. My kids are going to associate Santa's visit this year with the smell of bleach and garlic.Good luck in destroying the fiends

Personally I would not tell the school. Never heard of anyone doing so. Unlike nits we have never had any "warning" notices or letters that "worms" are going around. You are treating your child which is the main thing. So cant see the point of telling school.

I know that the eggs can survive for 2 weeks or so, which is perhaps why some people tell you to clean for 2 weeks - but if the existing worms are killed off about 3 days after taking the meds, then there aren't going to be any more eggs being laid so I don't see why cleaning like a madwoman for 2 weeks is necessary. Or maybe I'm just looking for an excuse not to do it

Re. the school, I just thought they should maybe make really sure that each kid washes their hands after using the toilet, and before lunch/snacks etc. (DD is in Reception, so not like they're all going to do it without being told).

I heard of this method, you may find it too horribly graphic and disgusting, but here goes: The worms come out at night to lay eggs, hence tickly wriggling feeling, and then go back in. Remedy: thick smear of vaseline on anus at bedtime & clean pants. Worms come out and cant get back in, then die. Wash off each morning.

Sasquatch, no worries, I would do ANYTHING to get rid of the little f*ers And can we please refrain from using the word "wriggling"?

Apparently, drinking pomegranate juice also works. It paralyses the worms which you then pass out with your daily constitutionals!

I heard of the vaseline thing too - sellotape also works! They used to use this in hospitals!