Worms?

Ah, the worms! We haven’t talked about them for almost a month!

“My niece is coming to stay but her mammy found a worm in her pooh at least she thinks its a worm she gave her the 1st dose of worming last night its my daughters birthday tomorrow hence her cousin coming to stay she’s the only one coming so id feel really guilty cancelling anyways my question is will she still be contagious tomorrow? Will we have to take worming tablets too?”

There is a lot of guessing here. But, she does indeed have worms, she is contagious in the sense that since she will be staying in your home, there is a good chance she could pass worms on to your family. (read below for how worms are transmitted from person to person.) So, you have to make that call. If she comes over, even if you are maniacal about hygiene, there is a chance that worms are in your future.

When you are concerned about worms, you can always get information from sources you can trust: GP or chemist are good places to start.

As an overview, let’s just first say that worms are way, way, way overdiagnosed and blamed for silly symptoms in children, everything from nose picking to hyperactivity. It is a bit of folk medicine that has persisted after we as a country have changed lifestyle (i.e. modern sanitation)

The commonest worm in Irish children in a pinworm or threadworm, though it is unusual for seeing the worm to be the first symptom. Usually children are plagued with itchy anus (sometimes vagina in girls).

You can discuss it with your chemist and s/he can dispense treatment without a GP.

However, if you are not sure what you are seeing in stool, I strongly recommend popping into GP. Why? Mucus or undigested bananas in baby or toddler poo is often confused for worms by worried mammies! THe mucus can form itself into jelly-ropes that are worm size and shape. If it is a less common worm, like tapeworm, you should work through with your GP’s help where you got from so you can make a hygiene or lifestyle change.

So let’s talk pin worms [also called threadworms]

What are pinworms? Pinworms are small worms that can live in people’s intestines. Pinworm infections usually affect school-age children.

People who have pinworms can have intense itching around their anus. That’s because the female worms lay their eggs in the folds of skin around the anus.

People catch pinworms when they swallow pinworm eggs.

This can happen when someone with a pinworm infection scratches their anus, touches things that other people might touch, and leaves eggs behind. Then, when someone touches the eggs and touches their mouth, they can swallow the eggs without knowing. [yes, wash your hands. wash your children’s hands. teach them to not put their fingers in their mouths.]

What are the symptoms of pinworms? Many people with pinworms don’t have any symptoms. When people do have symptoms, the most common symptom is itching around the anus. The itching happens most often at night and can cause trouble sleeping. Some people with a severe case of pinworms might also have belly pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Sometimes, if it’s not clear what’s going on, GP will have you do a “tape” test. This test involves taking a piece of sellotape and pressing it on the skin around your anus. If you have pinworms, the eggs will stick to the tape. The doctor can look at the tape under a microscope or send it to lab to see if there are pinworm eggs on the tape. (You can’t see the eggs by just looking at the tape.) It is best to apply the tape at night or first thing in the morning before you bathe. It usually isn’t necessary though.

How are pinworms treated? Pinworms are treated with medicine, often called the “worm dose”. Then, they take another pill 2 weeks later. You can also get these from your chemist. That second dose 2 weeks later is often what families forget to do, and lead to problems!

If you have pinworms, your GP or chemist will probably suggest all the people who live in the home to take the medicine. This is because pinworms spread easily between people in the same home.

Even after you are treated, the pinworms might still come back.

Is there anything else I should do? If you or anyone in your family has pinworms, you all should:

●Keep your fingernails clipped short.
●Wash your hands and have your children wash hands often with soap and water.
●Take a shower or bath every day. (In the morning is best.)
●Wash your clothes, towels, and bed linens often.
● Teach your children not to scratch around anus or between legs.

Worms will continually reinfect the household if they aren’t correctly/thoroughly treated and removed in your family and home.

If you are having trouble getting rid of worms, go to GP and make sure that there isn’t something else going on.

Good advice found on that found here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/e/enterobiasis