“The females come out to lay their eggs at night and this can cause itching, which can interrupt sleep and cause irritability,” says Dr Snell. “They can cause tummy pains and disturbances of the bowel but this is only really an issue if they're left untreated.”
What happens if I dont treat threadworms?
Severe or persistent threadworm infections can cause: loss of appetite. weight loss. skin infection around the anus if bacteria enter any scratches caused by itching – wearing cotton gloves while sleeping may help prevent this.
What happens if you leave pinworms untreated in kids?
Complications. Typical pinworm infections don't cause serious problems. In rare circumstances, heavy infestations can cause infection of female genitals. The parasite can travel from the anal area up the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes and around the pelvic organs.
Are worms in children serious?
Threadworms in kids are easy to treat and usually aren't serious. Your GP will probably tell you to give your child a dose of antiparasitic tablets, which you can get over the counter from a pharmacy. Your child usually needs to repeat the dose after 2 weeks to make sure all the worms are gone.
Can you have threadworms for years?
According to one consultant physician, threadworm infestation is as common in children as head lice and affects most families at some time. Threadworms usually produce no symptoms except an itchy bottom. In fact, people may harbour them for years without realising it.
What are threadworms?
Threadworms, also known as pinworms, are tiny parasitic worms that infect the large intestine of humans. Threadworms are a common type of worm infection in the UK, particularly in children under the age of 10.
Can children get threadworms again?
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.
How long does it take for threadworms to die?
The worms die after about six weeks. Provided that you do not swallow any new eggs, no new worms will grow to replace them. So, if you continue the hygiene measures described above for six weeks, this should break the cycle of re-infection, and clear your gut of threadworms.
Who needs to be treated for threadworms?
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.
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