Threadworms in children
goodtoknow says: Threadworms are extremely common in children, but fairly harmless and easy to get rid of. The worms look like tiny cream threads, from 2 to 13mm long and can live for up to six weeks in the gut. Infected children scratch their bottoms, trap the eggs under the fingernails and can pass the eggs on their hands. If your child then swallows eggs they'll become infected. They hatch out in the gut and the female worms lay eggs around the anus, which cause itching so the cycle repeats itself!. A treatment drink from your pharmacy will zap threadworms. Make sure the whole family takes it.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of threadworms from patient.co.uk, read on.
Threadworms are common but are not usually serious. They can infect the gut and lay eggs around your anus which causes itch. Medication kills the worms, but not their eggs which can survive for two weeks. Hygiene measures for two weeks after taking medication prevents you from swallowing eggs to cause re-infection. All household members should be treated.
What are threadworms?
Threadworms are small, white, thread-like worms between 2 and 13 mm long. They infect human guts (intestines). They are common in children, but anyone of any age can be affected.
- Next: the life cycle of threadworms in children
Please leave a comment, tip or story in the box below
craig, 4 months
there is nothing to be ashamed of if any family member has worms , children play in the garden and mud , as a family we are strict on hygiene , but our children have had worms before , its just apart of childhood , if you are pet owners , worm your pets regular and avoid pets licking childrens faces etc ,wash hands and faces if so.
Report this commentkate, 6 months
Tell your Family that you have worms to make sure they dont get passed on to them and make sure to wash your hands after going to the toilet
Report this commenttony, 11 months
hi i we was recently notifed by our son he has worms now we have treated all the family with prepsin powder as we have a child under 2, you have to take a second dose after 14 days witch we have done and we all still have worms visable in our no 2's ( the are paralised witch is wot the ,medicine does) but its been over a week since our second dose does any1 know how long it takes for them to pass through, i still have a itchy bottom but i think im just paranoid now lol
Report this commentzara, about 1 year
ok, i've had worms for two years now and was too scared to tell my parents, eventually i told them because i wasnt getting any sleep and felt horrible! You can get ani-worm medication without a perscription from you're local pharmacy and they wont ask anything embarrasing! But dont be afraid to tell you're parents, they'll help you and there's no point in losing sleep about something small like worms. Hope this helped!
Report this commentlouise, about 1 year
my daughter has had worms five times in the last year despite medication for the whole family and me doing all the usual extra cleaning etc. She is the only one out of the four of us that seems to have had them. What should I do? Do you think that they are not going with the medication or does she just keep getting them? My mother in law says you get them from undercooked meat. Is that right cos I have also read that you can get some early form of them from walking bare foot.
Report this commentryan, about 1 year
Ive got worms and im too scared to tell anyone about it, im trying to get rid of the without any medication, im too scared to do to the doctors???????? please help send me info!!!!
Report this commentangela, about 1 year
hi my daughter has worms , has had them for mths she been to the doctors several times shes had all the pills and that but keeps getting them time after time . does salted water get rid of them?
Report this commentAlex, about 1 year
I have noticed that I have worms in the last few weeks but i've done nothing im too ashamed please help
Report this commentTash, about 1 year
hi, im almost definitley sure that i have worms as i have an itchy bum and i have seen them in my poo. i am so embarrased about this and im trying my hardest to be so hygenic so that i get rid of them. i dont want to tell my parents about this. will they go without medication? any tips? thanks
Report this commentRachael, about 1 year
i have worms, how do i get rid of them without telling anybody i have them?
Report this commentcharley, about 1 year
hi.. i think i have worms.. ive seen the same as what is written obove .. and am unsure what to do ..i do not want to tell my parents as i feel it is embarissing.. what shall i do to get rid of them with out anyone knowing ?
Report this commentOliver barker, about 1 year
I have worms and i dont know how to get rid of them. My bum is sore, my parents know and they have used mayonnaise as my gran said its helps. But i think it has made it worse as they are more common now. Any advice? Should i be using mayonnaise?
Report this commentLucy, about 1 year
i think i have worms i seen a white thing in my poo what should i doo i dont want to tell mt mom i am imbarresed and scared
Report this commentRachel, about 1 year
I don't want to go and see my doctor, or tell my family that i'm pretty sure i have worms. What shall i do!? Is there any way i can get the treatment without informing my family?
Report this commentHannah, about 1 year
Hey tori, just let your mum know she would hate you to be unconfartable and worms are no big deal they can be sorted out with just a tablet. charlotte i dont think worms cause illness , but when you are run down and not eating properly there easier to contract, they thrive on sugary and general bad foods so try to avoid this. you can usually get tablets from your local pharmacy x
Report this commentjordy, about 1 year
i think i got worm, they are about 1/4 of a inchinmy poo they are white how do i get rid of them without telling anyone? and what type of worm is it my bum is itchy
Report this commentmarie, about 1 year
i think i have worms but im not sure ive had a bad stomach for 2 days now and today i saw a thin white thing in my poo what can i do?
Report this commentjack, about 1 year
i have worms i have told my mom and she gave me a tablet and it didunt kill them what can i do its so itchy plese help me
Report this commenttori, about 1 year
i have worms and i have had them for 2 years im scared to tell my mum
Report this commentcharlotte bamford, about 1 year
my daughter has worms. and all i want to know is can it make her ill,as she is under the weather. so any info will help many thanks charlotte bamford
Report this commentross, about 1 year
i think i have worms seen things in my poo,and have become itchy round my bum please send me info on what to do
Report this comment


luckyloulou, 3 months
hi i think i have worms as iv been itchy im afraid to tell my parents about anything that goes on with me, so i dont want to tell them about this and i dont want to go to the doctors. i like to keep myself to myself so is there anyway i could personally get rid of them??
Report this comment