Help! Threadworms

[user743]

This is so embarrassing but I've got threadworms. I'm 20 weeks pregnant. DS had them first and I suspect other DD caught them although never saw them. Anyway DC's and DH have taken Ovex but you can't take it if pregnant so we've been sticking to a massively strict hygiene routine and I still have them.

I can't stand it, it's making me feel disgusting and I'm so so uncomfortable at night it's stopping me sleeping. Is there anything I can do or take?

Could you look into safe natural remedies, for instance eating raw garlic suppose to help, I think garlic should be safe in pregnancy? There are herbs but don’t know about safety of those in pregnancy.

It'll take around 6 weeks I think.

Take a packet of baby wipes to bed and a carrier bag. When it itches use a wipe to take off the glue they use which causes the itching and put it in the bag to get rid of in the morning.

Personally I'd ask to speak to your GP about the treatment. It hasnt been tested on pregnant woman so they can't say it's safe. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be tbh but speak to them first.

@user743 Nothing to be embarrassed about - I've had them on a few ocassions in the past. It is horrible and sooooo itchy.
Hygiene measures will eventually work but it will take around 6 weeks.
Some doctors will say OK to take Ovex in the third trimester I think but worth asking about that one.

Just go to your local chemist and ask to speak to the pharmacist and you will be given something to take .
If you are not comfortable with that then call your GP out of hours service and you will get a call back and they will prescribe a treatment on prescription .
You have to deal with this with medication .

@avamiah Unlikely pharmacist/GP will prescribe meds as the OP is pregnant (20 wks).

@Nicknamegoeshere,
Yes you are no doubt right but she could always ask but yes a quick call to out of hours GP and I’m sure they will send a prescription to her local chemist .

@avamiah Medication for threadworm is not recommended in pregnancy so GP may well not prescribe. I know that's true for Ovex. Advice is to follow strict hygiene measures. It's rubbish for OP as this can take around six weeks.
But still worth calling GP to ask for advice definitely.

@Nicknamegoeshere,
But threadworms are awful .
I remember when my daughter had them when she was about 4 and I only saw one little white thread( worm) as she said she was itchy, well I was off to to Pharmacy and we all had to take a pill then if I remember another one in a weeks time.
It cleared up straight away.

@avamiah I agree, they are and it can be a lot worse at night. It's really rubbish. Normally medication gets rid of them quickly but the pharmacist probably won't give OP the pills you are talking about as she is pregnant.
They are always so careful with pregnant ladies and will be cautious of course - they wouldn't even let me have Strepsils during pregnancy!!

Hi,

I actually took Mebandazole at about week 8 because I suspected I had threadworms.

I did some heavy google research and decided that actually it was ok - I will share the link to a Danish study here:

enghusen.dk/torp.pdf

On the packet I took, it actually said there were no known implications for pregnant women.

But the NHS obviously prefers to be cautious so this one is up to you; just thought I’d share x

I think (looks into dusty parts of brain) piperazine can be used in pregnancy for thread worms.

Confession. I took Ovex at 10 wks with my last baby. I tried every natural remedy going. Nothing worked. I was exhausted and dangerous at work. So I read every study I could and decided to take it. Baby is two now and other than refusing to wear socks she is perfect.

You have my sympathy - threadworms are the worst.

Thanks everyone.....

It has been a good few weeks since everyone else got treated. I have been so careful washing everything bedding and towels daily.

Kids are being really good at washing their hands but I feel like I can't really do any more.

I did ask the pharmacist and my midwife and both said best not to take it but I might give it a few more weeks and if nothings changed I might just take the ovex. I can't imagine going into labour like this!!

Hey op, I had them around the same time as you in my pregnancy. The only thing that worked was eating pumpkin seeds and cleaning everything. They came back around 15 later but I'd already had my baby so got ovex (think that's what it's called) I remember how awful they were. Just whatever you do don't scratch and then touch something because they'll spread so easy!