Thread Worms Are Very Common For Children.possible Solutions!!

Threadworms are very common for children

Threadworms are the small, thin, white thread-like worms between 2 mm to 13 mm long. Threadworms are common but are not usually serious. Threadworms mainly infect our gut or intestine and they lay eggs around our anus which causes itch. Treatment includes medication and hygiene measures. The medications kill the worms but cannot destroy their egg because eggs can survive for two weeks. Therefore we also need to maintain strict hygiene for two weeks after taking medication to prevent us from swallow eggs which may cause a new infection.

The life cycle of threadworms:

Threadworms are live for about 5-6 weeks in the gut and then they  died. Before their death, the female worms are laid small eggs around the back passage (anus) of us. This tends to occur at night when we are warm and remain in the bed. Their eggs are too small so that we can’t see it without the help of microscope but they cause itching around the anus due to the irritation of mucus.

Are the threadworms harmful?

It’s not usually. But often the worst  thing is that around the back passage (anus) ,there are tremendous itching, consistent discomfort .This sometimes takes children from sleep. Threadworms may cause mild tummy (abdominal) pain and make a child become irritable. In girls, the threadworms can wander forward and lay their eggs in the vagina or urethra. The threadworms can cause some other problems such as loss of appetite and weight loss.

The treatment for threadworms

Many people who have the threadworms do not have any symptoms. How ever they will pass out eggs which can then infect other people. If one member of a household is infected then it is common for others also to be infected. So everyone needs treatment.

The common treatments are:

• The affected person has to take a medicine to kill the worms in their gut.
• We have to maintain hygiene measures to clear eggs which may be around our back passage (anus) or in our home.

General hygiene measures which we should always aim to do to prevent getting threadworms again:

• We have to wash hands and then scrub under the nails first thing in the morning after using the toilet or changing nappies and before eating or preparing food.
• We should not try not to bite our nails or suck fingers and discourage children from doing so.
• If it possible to avoid sharing towels then it will be very good for us.
• We should keep toothbrushes in a closed cupboard and then rinse them well before use.

How ever it may not be our home which is a main source of the threadworm eggs. Our children may come into contact with eggs in schools or nurseries particularly if the toilets are not cleaned properly. This is why our child may have recurring threadworms even if our home and personal hygiene are of a very high standard.