Threadworms

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Threadworms

• Lawrence Pike

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Symptoms

• Threadworms or roundworms can be seen as tiny
  white/brown works in the stools.
• Inverted adhesive tape (as used for removing
  fluff from a jacket) can pick up worms or eggs
  from around the anus.
• An itchy bottom, particularly at night, is the
  trade mark of the threadworm as the female lays
  its eggs in the anus causing the person to
  scratch, pick up the eggs, and pass them on or
  re-infect themselves.

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Causes

• Infection with threadworms and roundworms usually
  comes from contact with an infected person.
• They spread very quickly within a family and can
  remain for considerable periods of time without
  the family realising it.
• Beef tapeworms are more common than pork
  tapeworms but both arise from eating infected
  meat which has not been thoroughly cooked.

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Prevention

• Wash your hands after going to the toilet or
  handling animals.
• Wash your hands before eating.
• Cook your meat thoroughly.
• Keep children away from dog faeces, encourage
  your local council to enforce pooper-scooper
  rules and keep dogs out of parks and playgrounds

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Complications

• Threadworms and roundworms are not serious.
• Tapeworms can cause more problems particularly in
  sick or debilitated people.

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Self care

• Effective treatment for threadworms and other
  worms is available from pharmacies.
• The pharmacist can also advise on how to prevent
  the problem happening again.

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Treatment

• Treat the whole family simultaneously
• If pregnant, breast feeding or under 3 months,
  use hygiene methods only
• Age 3 months 11 months
• Pripsen powder. 2.5ml now and repeat in 14 days
• Age 12 months 23 months
• Pripsen powder. 5ml now and repeat in 14 days
• Age 2 and above (inc. adults)
• Mebendazole Tablets. 1 now and repeat dose in 14
  days.

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Threadworms

• References Prodigy, BNF and NHS Direct