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THREAD WORMS
Here is some information about these harmless but annoying little worms.
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What are thread worms? What are the symptoms? Photo of a thread worm. Who gets them? |
Are they harmful? What is the treatment? How can I stop them coming back? |
What are thread worms?Thread worms are tiny worms. They are about 1 cm in length, and look like white cotton threads.You catch thread worms by swallowing the eggs. These hatch out in your intestine, and quickly develop into adult worms. The female worms pop out of your anus at night, and lay their eggs on the skin around the anus. The eggs are picked up on fingers, and (horrible thought!) can be transferred back to the mouth and swallowed again. Once safely inside the body, they develop into adults, and start laying more eggs. Eggs on the fingers can be spread to other members of the family, or to close friends. They can also drop off, and become part of general household dust.
What are the symptoms?The main symptom is intense itching of the anal area, especially at night. This causes scratching.Of course, by scratching, you pick up eggs on your fingers, which means the eggs can be spread about. Some people have no symptoms at all.
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Photo of a thread worm![[photo of a thread worm]](thread.jpg)
This shows a thread worm emerging from the anus. It is unusual to catch a worm
in the act. Usually, worms are found in the toilet, or may never be seen at all.
Who gets them?Children commonly get infected with threadworms. They catch them from friends at school. They can then pass the infection to other people in the family.
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Are they harmful?Thread worms are harmless. They do not interfere with digestion, or stunt growth.However, they can be very irritating, and lead to disturbed sleep. Some children can develop sore bottoms because of the itching.
What is the treatment?There are several treatments available. Piperazine is the commonest drug used in the UK, and is available for sale at the chemist. There are several different brands of treatment available, and you can ask you pharmacist for advice. Often a mild dose of laxative is included.It is best to treat the whole family, on the same day. The treatment can be repeated 2 weeks later, to get rid of any newly hatched worms.
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How can I stop them coming back?Re-infection is very common. Here are some suggestions for reducing the risk of catching these pesky worms.
Rules for the infected person
Suggestions for the family
Remember, thread worms are a nuisance, but they are not harmful.
If you are not sure whether you have thread worms or not, you should consult your doctor.
You may print this page out for your own information. Return to The Little Surgery information leaflets page. All comments, compliments and complaints to the web-weaver Dr Ruth Livingstone at ruth.livingstone@ukonline.co.uk |