Let’s discuss how to tell whether your little one has threadworm (also called pinworm or ‘bum worms’, thank you, Bluey!), as it is the most common.
The 3 ‘T’ Methods
🔦 TORCH – Inspect your child’s bottom (and the opening of the vagina, if relevant) at night with a torch, to look for wriggling white worms.
🥚 TAPE – Put sticky tape on the skin of your child’s bottom, near the anus, before sleep. In the morning, take off the tape and check if there are tiny egg clumps stuck to it.
💩 TOILET – When your child passes a bowel motion (poo), look to see if it contains white worms.
You can view our reel demonstrating the 3 methods, here.
Symptoms
Here are the symptoms you may notice if your little one is infected;
🪱 Causes a very itchy bottom (usually worse at night!)
🪱 Bottom may become red and inflamed from scratching
🪱 Child may be irritable and generally ‘out of sorts’
🪱 They may not sleep very well
🪱 And may also have a reduced appetite.
🪱 In girls, there may also be redness and itching around the vaginal area.
Fast Facts!
🪱 Threadworm is spread when children scratch their bottom, causing the eggs to collect under the fingernails. The child then carries the worm eggs back to their mouth.
🪱 The eggs can also be spread indirectly, in food, dust, or other items and can survive up to two weeks outside the body.
You can talk to a pharmacist about over-the-counter treatment options.
🪱 Treat all the family members at the same time, even if they aren’t showing any symptoms. Adults also get threadworm!
🪱 Your child should have a shower on the night they have the medicine, and again the next morning to remove the eggs laid overnight.
🪱 Unfortunately, repeat infection is very common.
When to see a doctor
👉 You have tried a threadworm treatment for your child and symptoms have not improved.
👉 Your child passes a large worm.
👉 Your child has abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or low energy levels.
👉 You are concerned.
References
Royal Children’s Hospital worms fact sheet (which has more information on preventing threadworms from spreading/reinfecting.)
Healthdirect worms fact sheet (including the 3 T methods to confirm worms!)
