How to Spot Threadworms in Kids & Effective Treatment Tips

If you’ve ever had a sneaking suspicion that something might be upsetting your child’s tummy or disrupting their sleep, and you’re not quite sure what it might be, you’re not alone. One common but often overlooked culprit may be worms. Yes, worms. Nasty, wriggling parasites that lurk in the intestines in threadlike form. They’re more common than you might think, especially among young children, and while the idea of worms might have you shuddering, its precious worth knowing that they are of little concern and more of a nuisance than a serious threat to our health. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about worms, how to spot them, how to treat them, and how to protect your children from them.

What Are Threads?

Threads, also referred to as pinworms, are tiny parasites that live in the human digestive system, specifically the intestines. The name is quite accurate as they look like small pieces of white thread, measuring 5-13 millimeters in length. And although they may not look very threatening, they can indeed be quite distressing and pesky, especially for your child.

How Do They Spread?

Threads are highly contagious and can be transmitted relatively easily, especially in young children who may not be as careful with their personal hygiene. The lifecycle of the thread is short and rather simple:

1.  Ingestion: It all starts when someone ingests the threads’ eggs. These eggs may be carried on contaminated hands, surfaces, or foods. They are so small they can be ingested by air if they adhere to a particle of dust.
2. Hatching: Once the eggs are ingested, they hatch in the small intestines, from which the worms then proceed to grow and mature.
3. Laying eggs: A few weeks later, females travel to the anus, usually during the night, and lay their eggs there. This is what causes the characteristic itching.
4. Transmission: the severe itching around the anus may cause scratching, which spread the eggs onto hands. This way the eggs may spread onto clothes, bed linen, and other objects, starting the cycle over.

Signs and Symptoms of Threadworms

In the light of this, one may wonder how to know if their child is infected with threadworms. While the signs and symptoms may not be very pronounced, there are several telling symptoms that may warn about this

1. Intense Itching Around the Anus

The most common sign of the threadworm infestation is the intense itching of the anus. Therefore, if your child has been scratching their bottom a lot recently, especially at night in their sleep, it is likely a sign that threadworms in your child. The itching is caused by the laying of the eggs by the female worm around the anus.

2. Trouble Sleeping

Another sign that may suggest your child has threadworms is the trouble sleeping. If your child keeps waking up at night, appearing restless, or having problems falling asleep, the threadworms are the likely cause, as the infection causes discomfort due to the worms becoming more active at night.

3. Irritability and Discomfort

The constant itching and sleep deprivation may usually make children with threadworm irritable, moody, or uncomfortable during the day.

4. Visible Worms

In most severe cases, you may be able to see the worms in the stool or around the anus. They are tiny white thread-like worms sometimes reaching one centimeter in length. However, sometimes it may be easier to see them around the anus at night, as the worms come out of the anus when the child is asleep.

5. Stomach Pain and Nausea

Some of the clinical signs and symptoms that your child might have threadworm infestation may include: Nausea, stomach aches and upset tummy all the time.

How to Check for Threadworms

1.  Use a Torch: In the evening or early morning, use a small torch to look at your child’s bottom. The best time to do this is as soon as they wake up, as this is when the worms are most active. If you have threadworms, they might see tiny white worms wriggling around the area.
2. The Tape Test: Another method is to use a piece of clear tape. Press the sticky side against the skin all around your child’s bottom first thing in the morning, before they have a bath or go to the loo. There may be eggs or worms stuck in the tape, and you can show it to the doctor to confirm.

How to treat Threadworms

The good news is that threadworms are easy to get rid of. Here’s how to treat them:

1. Medication

Over-the-counter medication is usually the first port of call. Mebendazole, Albendazole, or Pyrantel pamoate is the most commonly used. These work by getting rid of the adult worms, but because they don’t kill the eggs, it is usually recommended to take a second dose two weeks later to target any newly hatched worms. I goes without saying, wash your hands thoroughly after use. The different forms it comes in are:

• Mebendazole: Most threadworm treatments are in chewable tablet form or as a liquid. It’s the go-to treatment for children, with a success rate of almost 90%.
• Albendazole: It’s no different from mebendazole, but slightly more potent.
• Pyrantel Pamoate: Easy to get hold of over the counter, Pyrantel usually does the magic by working to paralyze the worms, making them easier to get rid.
• It's Parcel – Piccredit: Available without a prescription, pyrantel works by paralyzing the worms, making them easier to expel.

Adults, and any child two years and above, with any kids below the age of 1 year requiring the doctor’s green light before use, should take it on an empty stomach. Make sure all the other family members gets treated at the same time to prevent them getting the infection again even if they are not showing any symptoms.

2. Hygiene Measures

A strict hygiene regime is necessary. The eggs can last up to two weeks outside the body, and hands should be washed and the fingernails cleaned regularly.

• Wash Bedding and Clothing: Wash all bedding, clothing, and towels in hot water to kill any lingering eggs.
• Daily Bathing: Bathe your child each morning to remove any eggs that may have been laid overnight.
• Short Nails: Keep your child’s nails trimmed short to prevent eggs from getting trapped under them.
• Hand Washing: Encourage regular hand washing, especially before eating and after using the toilet. This helps prevent the eggs from spreading.

3. Cleaning the Home

Clean and vacuum your home thoroughly, especially in areas where your child plays, sleeps, and eats. Pay special attention to bathroom surfaces, floors, and furniture. The goal is to remove as many eggs as possible from the environment.

How to prevent threadworms

Preventing threadworms is difficult especially when you have young children but there are a few things you can do reduce the risk of infection.

1. Teach you child good habits

Teach your child to wash their hands properly with so p k water before theylats and after using the toilet. Also, make sure nail bi

ting and finger sucking is avoided. This two habits automatically transmit the threadworm eggs to the child’s mouth.

2. Frequently wash bedding and towels

Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing in hot water. This is also significant during and after treatment. It ensures that any eggs in the clothes are killed.

3. Regular cut of nails

Keeping your child’s nails especially short helps I reduce the missng of the eggs once they are laid. Short nails can also be washed under cold water regularly and the eggs removed.

4. Daily changing of underwear

Make sure your child wears clean underwear trip daily and when during an active threadworm infection, you may change it twicę in the day to ensure that any eggs laid are removed.

When to see a doctor

Even though threadworms are generally harmless, there are some situations where it might be worthwhile to visit a doctor:

• Severe or persistent symptoms: If your child is in considerable discomfort or the symptoms persist following treatment, it is best to see a healthcare professional.
• Reappearance of the infection: If the threadworms keep coming back despite treatment, your doctor might consider further testing or a new course of action.
• Complications: While the likelihood is low, certain complications of threadworms, such as secondary infections from scratching, or intense stomach pains, should be checked by a doctor.

Conclusion

Dealing with threadworms might be a bit annoying, though, with the right steps, it is relatively easy. On the one hand, this means that threadworms are nothing to feel particularly worried or embarrassed about – they are quite a common issue, especially among children. On the other hand, recognising the symptoms and acting quickly is important because at this stage, the infection is easy to treat. Maintaining good hygiene practices and being watchful is also crucial for keeping your home threadworm-free in the future.