do I need to keep DS1 off school until he has taken the treatment for threadworms?

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I have read several threads but not sure what to do:

DS1 complained of an itchy bottom tonight and I checked him and saw a couple of threadworms. We put him to bed with tight pants on under his pyjamas. Do I need to keep him of school (he's 5) tomorrow until he has taken whatever the pharmacist gives me tomorrow?

Reading through the threads, the medicine desn't kill the eggs anyway so I would have thought that if I go through hygiene rules with him again and cut his nails short and make sure he is super clean that he is not putting anyone else at risk?

I was going to take DD1 into school and take DS1 to the pharmacy first but does it make any difference if I buy it and treat him tomorrow night? Also do I treat DD2 who is 1 but has no symptoms?

Thanks very much - think we are lucky that this is the first time we have had this reading the other threads.

There are no guidelines as to whether a child can attend school with worms where I live so it's best to check with the school. He'll need a bath every night and morning, change bed sheets every day and remember to keep his nails clean and short. All of the family need treatment, whether they are showing symptoms or not. Wash sheets and towels in a hot wash. It doesn't matter when he takes the medicine but you need to check with the school that it's ok for him to go.

We have this in our class at school at the moment. The child in question was allowed in school and the teacher just put up a leafletabout it in the window to warn other parents.

my DS1 had worms last week, and the advice from my doctor and school was to keep them home until the entire family had been treated.

one lot of meds each, and the next day they all went back to school.

medicine however is vile. tastes not too bad going down, but the aftertaste.....!!!

No need for the horrid medcine. Get the tablets - one tablet to be taken by all members of family, and that is it.

I'd treat asap simply as it means less irration for DS.

definatly get the tablets for adults (boots do an orange flavour one) and the medicine we used was called vermox and cant have tasted too bad because my three fuss pots all took it without any complaints.

thanks for all the replies - much appreciated.

Will check with the school in the morning and pop to the chemists when it opens.

he probably got them from school in the first place. Some experts estimate that as many as a third of primary school children can have them in school at any one time (although that figure sounds very high). dd has had them before. After treating with the tablets to avoid reinfestation ensure that the follow up dose is given 2 weeks afterwards, wash all bed linen and give house a good hoover and dust (eggs can actually live for quite a while in house dust apparently). Also worth explaining the importance of handwashing after using toilet and before eating...kids can be little so and sos for thinking they can get away with it at school

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=362&sectionId=9

see this link too

no, no, no!

It is estimated that anywhere between 60-70% of kids have worms at any one time- so half the class would be off! It's not like nits where the lice can be easily transferred- if he washes his hands after using the loo etc that's enough.

However, not all parents treat worms properly, so the odds is he will get them again quite soon- mine did!

quick update - the school's policy is that they must be treated so we were at the pharmacy straight after dropping off DD1 at school.

We had the choice of a banana suspension or an orange tablet. I gave DS1 the choice as he normally refuses all medicine no matter how ill he is and he is a very strong 5 yr old! He choose the tablet and we went back to the car and had a joint swallowing session. He was back at school for 9.15!

When we had the hygiene chat last night he said that there was no soap in the boy's toilets - I mentioned this to the school this morning and when we arrived the class was having a talk on the importance of washing hands etc. Apparently there wasn't any soap in either set of toilets and as the cleaning cupboard was empty, the cleaner hadn't refilled it or let anyone know. The children have been told to say straightaway if it runs out.

Hopefully everyone will be careful and we won't get any more. Off now to strip beds, etc!

Thanks again for all replies.