Child keeps putting hand down back of trousers and scratching bottom

[Mayrose33]

Son is 6 years old, this has been going on for about a year where we he is putting his hand down the back of his trousers and underwear and scratching at his bottom. He will sometimes put his hand into his mouth after and eat what im assuming is tried poo. He says his bottom is itchy, we have been trying to get this sorted but it continues. He wipes his own bottom but we regularly check and rewipe. Ive noticed skid marks in his pants sometimes so hes probably not always wiping everything away
Im worried its become a habit now.
We've tired creams but he says it feels wet and gets very upset.
We previously used worming medication incase this was the cause.
Really struggling as he was doing it today in the park with other kids about and worried he will be picked on soon

What has the GP said?

Last time we spoke to the GP he was the one that mentioned worms though it was really only guesswork. It was just a TC should we insist they see him in person?

I would re worm. The whole family have to take the meds 2 weeks apart.

Even if it is worms (have you checked?) eating poo is definitely non-typical behaviour and should probably be investigated

Yes thats very worrying also.
He regularly picks his nose and eats it and also bites his nails all the time, in wondering if it could be an anxiety thing?
Should we just make a GP appointment, dont want to worm again without knowing what's actually going on

The whole family need to be treated for worms as a PP has said. Biting nails is a typical for threadworms to infest the person as the invisible eggs get wedged into nails - coupled with scratching a bottom, makes it especially likely. Nails should be kept short. I’m not medical but suffered constantly as a child with threadworm, and to the point where the minute the first worm appeared, I knew that ‘itch’ the minute it appeared. Why I was so susceptible, I have no idea as our house was so clean. Everyone washed their hands so God only knows where I kept repeatedly picking them up from. I hope you get some help OP.

Thank you, sorry you went through that. Definitely will try and get a look at his poop, is there any othet way to see if its worms. His sister is still in nappies, would we see the worms in her nappy if she had worms too?

Check his bum at night- worms are usually more active then.

You almost certainly will not see the worms. I’ve only seen them once and my feral children have acquired worms many, many times. Just worm him and all of you. Then again exactly 2 weeks later (this is key). If it’s worked, I’d chuck in an extra dose 2 weeks after that for good measure.

Also you need to keep him clean. If he’s not wiping properly, you need to do it. It’s just something you need to stay on top of.

agree with @mindutopia - also wash towels and bedding as people can scratch their bottoms without realising during the night and the invisible eggs can hang around in the material. Short nails are absolutely vital though, as is washing hands after the toilet and before eating.

Yes it was worms,
Medication give and sheets thrown out tbh.
Seems to have resolved
Feel bad I didnt realize that was what it was