Threadworms

Threadworms | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Threadworms Threadworms About threadworms Symptoms of threadworms Causes of threadworms Treating threadworms About threadworms Threadworms, also known as pinworms, are tiny parasitic worms that infect the large intestine of humans. Threadwormsare a common type ofworminfection in the UK, particularly in children under the age of10. The wormsare white and look like small pieces of thread. You may notice them around your childsbottom or intheir poo. They dont always cause symptoms, but peopleoften experience itchiness around their bottomor vagina. It can beworse at night and disturb sleep. Read more about the symptoms of threadworms . When to seek professional advice Pharmacy First Scotland: Threadworm treatment from your pharmacy If you have threadworms you can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy. Find your local pharmacy on Scotlands Service Directory. Search for a pharmacy near you If you think you or your child may have threadworms, you can usually treat the infection yourself with medication available at pharmacies without a prescription. You only need to see your GP if youthink you have threadworms and youre pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you think your child has threadworms and theyre under 2years old. In these circumstances, the recommendedtreatment isusually different. Severe or persistent threadworm infections can cause: loss of appetite weight loss skin infection around the anus if bacteria enterany scratches caused by itching  wearing cotton gloves while sleeping may help prevent this difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep (insomnia) bedwetting In such cases, you should seek further advice from your GP. In very rare cases, threadworms can spread outside the intestinetothe urinary tract orliver, or the vagina or womb in girls or women. How threadworms are spread Threadworms lay their eggs around an infected persons anus (bottom), usually at night. Along with the eggs, the worm also secretes a mucus that causes itching. If the eggs get stuck on the persons fingertips when they scratch, they can be transferred to their mouth or on to surfaces and clothes. If other people touch an infected surface, they can thentransfer the eggs to their mouth. Threadworm eggs can survive for up to 2weeks before hatching. If the eggs hatch around the anus, the newborn worms can re-enter the bowel. Eggs that have been swallowed will hatch inside the intestine. After 2weeks, the worms reach adult size and begin to reproduce, starting the cycle again. Read more about what causes threadworms . Treating threadworms If you or your child has threadworms, everyone in your household will need to be treatedas theres a highrisk of the infection spreading. This includes those who dont have any symptoms of an infection. For most people, treatment will involve taking a single dose of a medication calledmebendazole to kill the worms. If necessary, another dose can be taken after 2weeks. During treatment and for a few weeks afterwards, its also important to follow strict hygiene measures to avoid spreading the threadworm eggs. This includes regularly vacuuming your house and thoroughly washing your bathroom and kitchen. If youre pregnant or breastfeeding, hygiene measures are usually recommended without medication. This is alsooften the case for young children. Read more about treating threadworm infections . Preventing threadworms Its not always possible to prevent a threadworm infection, but you can significantly reduce your riskby always maintaining good hygiene and encouraging children to do the same. Children should wash their hands regularly, particularly after going to the toilet and before mealtimes. Kitchen and bathroom surfaces should be kept clean. If your child is infected, encouraging them not to scratch the affected area around their anus or vagina will help prevent reinfection and reduce the risk of the infection spreading to others. Symptoms of threadworms Threadworms often go unnoticed by people who have them. However, they can cause intense itching around the anus (and the vagina in girls), particularly at night when the female worms are laying eggs. This can disturb sleep. In some cases, you may spot threadworms on your bed clothes or sheets at night, or you may notice them in your stools. The worms look like threads of white cotton and are about 1cm long. Causes of threadworms A threadworm infection is passed from person to person by swallowing threadworm eggs. A female threadworm can lay thousands of tiny eggs around the anus or vagina.The female threadworm also releases mucus, whichcan cause an itchy bottom . Scratching the anus or vagina, or wiping them after going to the toilet, can cause the eggs to stick to your fingertips or under your fingernails. If you dont wash your hands, the eggs can be transferred to your mouth or on to food or objects, such as toys and kitchen utensils. If someone else touches a contaminated object, or eats contaminated food and thentouches their mouth, theyll become infected. After the eggs have been swallowed they pass into a persons intestine, where they hatch. After about 2 weeks the threadworms will have grown into adults, at which point theyll reproduce and the cycle of infection will start again. Transferring eggs Threadworm eggs can be transferred from your anus (or vagina) to anything you touch, including: bedsheets andbed clothes flannels and towels childrens toys kitchen utensils toothbrushes furniture kitchen or bathroom surfaces Threadworm eggs can survive on surfaces for up to two weeks. As well as being swallowed by a person who touches a contaminated object or surface, threadworm eggs can also be swallowed after being breathed in. This can happen if the eggs become airborne for example, after shaking a contaminated towel or bed sheet. Animals and pets Threadworms only infect humans and arent spread in animal faeces. However, theres a small risk that threadworms can be caught from pets if the animals fur becomes contaminated with eggs after an infected person strokes it. If another person then touches the animals fur, the eggs could be passed on to them. Whos at risk? Threadworm infections most commonly affect young children because they often forget to wash their hands and they share toys with other children. People who are in close contact with someone with a threadworm infection also have a high risk of infection. This is why all members of a householdneed tobe treated when someone has a threadworm infection. Read more about treating threadworms . Treating threadworms To treat threadworms successfully, all household members must be treated, even if they dont have any symptoms. This is because the risk of the infection spreading is very high. The aim of treatment is to get rid of the threadworms and prevent reinfection. This will usually involve a combination of medication to kill the worms and strict hygiene measures to stop the spread of the eggs. The main medication used to treat threadworms is available from your local pharmacy without a prescription. However, its important to follow the manufacturers instructionsas it isnt suitable for everyone. Medication Mebendazoleis the main medication used to treat threadworm infections. It can be bought over the counter from your local pharmacy orprescribed by your GP. Its available as a chewable tablet or a liquid. Mebendazole works by preventing the threadworms absorbing sugar, which means they should die within a few days. This medication is 90 to 100% effective at killing the threadworms, but it doesnt kill the eggs. This is why the hygiene measures outlined below should also be followed for 6weeks. Visit your pharmacist if the infection continues two weeks after treatment. They may recommend a second dose of medication. In rare cases, mebendazole can cause abdominal pain or diarrhoea , particularly if the threadworm infection is severe. Hygiene measures Strict hygiene measures can help clear up a threadworm infection and reduce the likelihood of reinfection. The lifespan of threadworms is approximately 6weeks, so its important that hygiene measures are followed for at least this length of time. Everyone in the household must follow the advice outlined below. wash all night clothes, bed linen, towels and soft toys when youre first diagnosed  this can be done at normal temperatures, but make sure the washing is well rinsed thoroughly vacuum and dust the whole house, paying particular attention to the bedrooms  this should be repeated regularly carefully clean the bathroom and kitchen by damp-dusting surfaces and washing the cloth frequently in hot water  this should be repeated regularly avoid shaking any material that may be contaminated with eggs, such as clothing or bed sheets  this will prevent eggs being transferred to other surfaces dont eat food in the bedroom  you may end up swallowing eggs that have been shaken off the bedclothes keep your fingernails short encourage other members of your household to do the same discourage nail-biting and sucking fingers in particular, make sure children dont suck their thumb wash your hands frequently and scrub under your fingernails its particularly important to do this before eating, after going to the toilet, and before and after changing your babys nappy wear close-fitting underwear at night and change your underwear every morning bathe or shower regularly  its particularly important to bathe or shower first thing in the morning: make sure you clean around your anus and vagina to remove any eggs ensure everyone in your household has their own face flannel and towel  dont share towels keep toothbrushes in a closed cupboard and rinse them thoroughly before use Children can easily pick up another threadworm infection from friends or at school, so maintaining good hygiene may help prevent reinfection. Pregnant or breastfeeding women Medication isnt usually recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Instead, you should follow the hygiene measures above. See your GP if youre more than 3months pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding and you continue to experience problemsafter only taking hygiene measures. In certain circumstances, your GP may consider prescribing medication. Children under 2years old Make sure you wash your babys bottom gently but thoroughly every time you change their nappy. Also wash your hands thoroughly before and after changing their nappy. Mebendazole isnt licensed for use in children under 2years of age, but GPs may decide to prescribe itoff-label for children over 6months. If medication isnt used, the hygiene measures outlined above are recommended instead. Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 13 December 2023 How can we improve this page? 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