If you or your child has threadworms, everyone in your household will need to be treated as there's a high risk of the infection spreading. This includes those who don't have any symptoms of an infection. For most people, treatment will involve taking a single dose of a medication called mebendazole to kill the worms.
Should family and other close contacts of someone with pinworm also be treated for pinworm? Yes. The infected person and all household contacts and caretakers of the infected person should be treated at the same time.
Threadworms are highly contagious. Hygiene measures should be followed for 6 weeks. As well as medicating all family members at the same time to prevent the spread of eggs you should: Clean toilet seats daily.
The worm's life cycle actually depends on the child or adult scratching their bum. When the eggs are scratched off onto the hands or under the nails they can be transferred to other children at home or at school, or to adults.
Treat all the family members at the same time, even if they aren't showing any symptoms. Adults can also get threadworm. If possible, your child should have a shower on the night they have the medicine, and again the next morning to remove the eggs laid during the night.
Worms being a very common health problem for children and adults alike, experts recommend that deworming should get done twice a year or every six months, starting from the age of two years old.
Children can get threadworms again after they've been treated for them if they get the eggs in their mouth. This is why it's important to encourage children to wash their hands regularly.
This is why you may need to take another dose 2 weeks later to help prevent reinfection. How long does it take to work? The medicine should start to work straight away but it may take several days to kill all the worms. It's important to take the medicine as a pharmacist or doctor tells you.
The spread of worm infections
Threadworms are easily spread so the slightest contact can pass on the infection, which is why many adults end up with the same infection as their children. To halt the spread of worms, it's crucial to treat all members of the family – not just the youngsters!
Once you have dewormed your puppy, you'll probably want to know how long your dog will continue to poop worms. Puppies will typically poop worms for 2-3 days after they have been dewormed.
The Deworming Process after a Few Days
You may be surprised to still see live worms in your dog's feces after deworming them, but this is normal. While this can be an unpleasant image, it's actually a good thing — it means the worms are no longer living inside your dog!
Mebendazole is the usual treatment for people aged over 2 years. All household members, including adults and those without symptoms, should take a dose at the same time. This is because it is common to have worms in the gut with little or no symptoms. Just one dose kills the worms.
Wash all the sheets, blankets, towels, and clothing in the house in hot water. Carefully clean everyone's fingernails (which may hold the worm eggs) and cut them short. Scrub toys, countertops, floors, and other surfaces the infected child has touched. Vacuum carpets.
Children with pinworms do not need to miss any child care or school.
Pinworm infections are contagious. The worms get into the body when people swallow the tiny pinworm eggs. The eggs can be on contaminated hands, under fingernails, and on things people touch a lot, such as: clothing, bed linens, and towels.
When to take dewormer? Modern dewormers do not require the user to be on an empty stomach before deworming, so users can deworm at any time, but the best time is to drink early in the morning on an empty stomach or drink after dinner about 2 hours .
For most people, treatment will involve taking a single dose of a medication called mebendazole to kill the worms. If necessary, another dose can be taken after 2 weeks.
For common roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms: Adults and children 2 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) two times a day, morning and evening, for 3 consecutive days. Treatment may need to be repeated in 3 weeks. Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For the best deworming effect, you should give the medicine to your baby 2 hours after dinner or early in the morning (on an empty stomach).
Pay attention to kids' hygiene
Wash your hands regularly to avoid picking up the infection yourself, and encourage children to do the same, especially after using the toilet or playing outside. It also helps if fingernails are kept short and clean – longer nails can provide a great hiding place for the infection.
If your child is infected with threadworm, it is not usually serious and can be treated easily with medication. If your child has threadworm, they may: • have an itchy bottom, which may become red and inflamed from scratching • be irritable and generally 'out of sorts' • not sleep very well • have a reduced appetite.
Side effects of deworming treatment
There may be some mild side effects like dizziness, nausea, headache, and vomiting, all likely due to the worms being passed through the child's body. These side effects disappear after some time. Side effects are usually experienced by children with high infections.
How long does it take for worms to be gone after deworming? Once you take the deworming medicine, the medicine starts working immediately, but it might take a few days to kill all the worms. It is advised to take a second dose after two weeks to prevent reinfection.
A single dose treatment is usually effective and is given to the infected person and all family members at the same time. You can buy worm treatment from pharmacies, without a prescription. Children do not need treatment regularly, just in case they have worms.