TIPS
- They may be seen with the naked eye and are best seen at night or early in the morning in the rectal area.
- To diagnose thread worms look with a flashlight in the rectal area a few hours after your child goes to bed or in the early morning.
- You should see the 1/4 inch thread-like worms moving.
- Occasionally they are seen with the bowel movement.
- They come out at night to lay eggs in the rectal area.
- They are extremely common in childhood and are usually contacted from other children.
- They become infected when they ingest the thread worm eggs.
- The swallowed egg matures to the adult thread worm after 3 to 4 weeks.
- This infection does not reflect uncleanliness or poor hygiene and frequently does recur.
- They are harmless and do not typically cause abdominal pain or diarrhea.
- Occasionally, if the child is heavily infected, abdominal pain may be a problem.
- A laboratory exam may be done if the diagnosis is uncertain
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Treatment of thread worms
- Call your doctor during office hours (it is not really a night time emergency) if you have identified the thread worms for medication.
- Discuss if other family members need treatment also.
- Alert your physician if anyone in the family is pregnant.
Prevention of thread worms
- To prevent reinfection with thread worms, have the child use good handwashing techniques before meals.
- Vacuum your child's room once a week because any eggs on the floor are infectious for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Machine wash bedding and clothing will kill any eggs.
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