Leaflet: Threadworms in Children – STAR Clinic

They are very common in children and are easily spread. You may see them in the poo as tiny white threads or around the anus. The worms usually come out at night causing extreme itching around the  anus. If the worms move forward they can cause pain and itching in the vaginal area. They are often associated with irritability and waking at night.

You don’t need to stay off school, nursery or work with threadworms.

You can buy the medicine to treat threadworms over the counter in any pharmacy. The treatment is a single dose and it is important that everyone in the family is treated, regardless of having any symptoms.

Tell the pharmacist is you need to treat a child who is under 2 years old or if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

It is important to know the medicine kills the worms but it doesn’t kill the eggs. Eggs can live for 2 weeks outside the body. Threadworms spread when their eggs are swallowed. They lay eggs around the anus, which make it itchy. The eggs get stuck on your fingers when you scratch. They can then pass on to anything you touch and if someone else touches the surface and touches their mouth they will be infected.

Things you can do to stop this:

• Good hand washing particularly before meals and after using toilet or changing nappies

• Rinse toothbrushes before using them, clean any changing surface

• Bathe or shower every morning

• Wash bedding, sleepwear and soft toys (at normal temperature)

• Make sure children wear underwear at night and change next morning

• Don’t share towels

Threadworm infection is not serious but causes unpleasant itching if untreated. Some children have repeated episodes despite treatment. If this happens it is important to seek medical advice as a second dose of the medicine 2 weeks after the first may be necessary.