Threadworm (sorry)

[prisscalledwanda]

Three year old is complaining of an itchy bottom. This is new for me. Will I definitely be able to see worms in his poo if that's the problem? I can't see any but not sure if that's because they aren't there or because I don't really know what I'm looking for. I guess my question is - will I know if I see them?!
Thanks in advance .

Not always, it can be hard to see so as a precaution you could give him the medication and wash all bedding. Everyone in the house has to take the medication

In my experience, by the time you actually see worms you’ve got a pretty big infestation going on. We have had worms several times, I’m pretty certain one of my children was in a class with another child who wasn’t being treated as it kept coming back.

one thing that is very effective is to put a smear of Vaseline over the anus and surrounding skin at night; this makes it difficult for the worms to lay their eggs, which causes the itching, which in turn leads to eggs being spread by children who scratch. I have dealt with minor worm problems this way a couple of times now, but tbh you may as well treat.

if it’s a bad case you are better off dosing 3x, and 10 days apart, rather than the fortnight.

They usually do appear in the poo. The itching is the mucus the eggs/worms secrete.

If you shine a torch at the anus area you can sometimes see them because they wriggle out.

Have children and family treated anyway. Change and wash bedsheets etc.

It is easy to treat: get the stuff from the chemist, treat the whole family, do it again in two weeks. Wash all the bedding and clothes at a hot temp to kill all the eggs. Cut their fingernails and scrub under them and keep really monitoring them cleaning their hands and keeping them out of their mouths.

Ok that's pretty unanimous. Will treat the family. Thanks all! Appreciate the help