Long term threadworms - I think I have found a solution
Posted , 91 users are following.
6 months ago I suddenly realised that my children and I were infested with threadworms and had been for at least a year prior to that. It has caused me intermittent, unexplained diarrhoea attacks and obviously itchiness. I had put the latter down to thrush as I obviously had them in my vagina. I also had unbearable itching at the top of my bottom (near the small of my back).
This has been so distressing, and the information I have found on the internet has been frustratingly simplistic and unhelpful, occasionally alarmist and contradictory. The most irritating advice is from people quoting the leaflets in the Ovex packets. Here is my experience, which I hope adds information that is genuinely helpful and also new to the war against threadworms.
I did all the right things - Ovex, cleaning, children trained not to scratch, scrub nails and wash bottoms in the morning. It would clear up in the children then come back and I treated them a few times over a couple of months. I would say that now they are free of infestation.
BUT, despite spending the best part of £100 on Ovex (Ha! That's why the drug companies don't find a permanent solution!!), I personally just could not shift them. I was absolutely scrupulous in NEVER touching my bare bum, keeping up the cleaning regime, etc. The Ovex just DID NOT WORK. I still found worms in the days following treatment and there was no let up. I took Ovex daily for 5 days, with no effect.
I also could not understand why I felt itchy and saw small worms on my anus during the day. I was showering 4 to 5 times a day and it was really distressing. My research told me that the female worms come out at night to lay eggs, only after they have reached maturity, at which point they are upwards of 1cm in size. I was seeing 3mm worms on my anus throughout the day. The itching was accompanied by a sticky sensation which I was desperate to wash away.
[b:716aeed2f9]Then I realised what had been happening:[/b:716aeed2f9]
When I shower in the morning I wash thoroughly. However this is not enough. The females lays her eggs in the folds of the anus. And she lays hundreds of thousands of them. When I wash with soap, I am not cleaning every fold in my anus. My childrens' bottoms are positively smooth and flat compared to mine which is ravaged by childbirth and the odd haemorrhoid. This would explain why I have been itching and seeing worms in the daytime. The eggs that have been laid at night are hatching during the daytime, then crawling back up into my intestine. This is retro-infection, claimed by some to be \"rare\".
This was always accompanied by the appearance of tiny skin flakes in my knickers. I made sure I wore black knickers so I could monitor this. Sure enough, the level of itching was directly related to the amount of small white flakes in my underwear. I can only assume this is debris left behind after the worms have hatched.
[b:716aeed2f9]Solution:[/b:716aeed2f9]
I changed from washing with soap, to using an emollient cream (diprobase for eczema), which I carefully work into all the nooks and crannies before rinsing, then repeat the process. While not convinced they have left yet (I've only been doing this for about 3 weeks), I no longer have to shower in the daytime and do not get the flaky debris in my pants.
[b:716aeed2f9]Aggravating factors:[/b:716aeed2f9]
I definitely noticed that a day or two after having a sugar binge (e.g. eating huge packet of sweets) I would have an explosion of worms, day and night. If you can manage it, giving up sweets and sugar is very likely to help you win the war.
Whilst trying to break the cycle, it's also worth making a rule to always wear long pyjama bottoms over knickers to bed. This eliminates the need to wash bedlinen daily, as long as you are sure you are not scratching during the night.
[b:716aeed2f9]What didn't work:[/b:716aeed2f9]
Ovex
Eating garlic cloves
Pumpkin seeds (nice though and very good for you!)
The doctor! Couldn't offer anything stronger than Ovex and just told me not to put my hands near my mouth.
I have laid myself bare in this post, which is still uncomfortable even with anonymity, in the hope that my experience may help someone else who is suffering from this hideous parasite. Unfortunately the medical profession couldn't give a sh*t, as it is \"harmless\"! They seriously need to update this attitude....
14 likes, 105 replies
erin51028 OneFamily
Posted
Please please PLEASE someone help me!! I have had pinworms for close to two years now. I work with kids so its most likely where I got them from, but I'm dying to get rid of them! I have done EVERYTHING!!! I cleaned sheets, clothes, vacuumed, disinfected, I had a stool sample done which came back Negative!! I have been using coconut oil on my anus at night and showering in the morning! And I STILL CAN'T GET RID OF THEM!!!! I'm gonna end up in a mental hospital soon if it can't be fixed!
ILL DO ANYTHING! I cant deal with this anymore! I can't!!!!!
l97594 OneFamily
Posted
ok, first its just good to know im not alone and that im not the only one whose doctors just dismiss this. i realized that my problem started about 9 months ago when I stopped taking flucanazole on a regular basis (which i had been doing for ~ 18 years). i am now starting to think the two are connected.
elise40849 l97594
Posted
do you know how to get rid of the eggs from the scalp and skin
elise40849 OneFamily
Posted
Hi, I've had pinworms for the last 4 months and they have really affected my body, causing dandruff and acne and symptoms like you, how would i clear the dandruff and acne from the pinworm eggs
ash04455 OneFamily
Edited
If you don't have a heart condition try this vvv
Create a difficult environment for the parasites: Eat spicy food, every meal for two weeks straight. When I'm saying spicy food I don't mean a little spicy, I mean spicy enough that would burn your mouth when you eat it and would burn your anus when you poop. If it doesn't burn your anus when you use the toilet that means that its not spicy enough. You will get diarrhea 100% (which is good because it would disrupt the routine of the parasites feeding and also more frequently using the toilet means you're getting rid of them more) and the process is very painful if you don't like spicy food, but its the only thing that can think of as a last resort.
mm20521 OneFamily
Edited
Hi!! I've had pinworms since I was 10, I'm now 17 and finally went to the doctor last November. I've taken 3 rounds of mebendazole and I still kept getting that wriggling sensation. But I never got any itchiness, until this week when my entire body started itching and also started seeing tiny threads in underwear, sometimes also on waistband of underwear and inner+ outer waistband of my sweatpants as if they are trying to crawl out of my clothes!! Your post is the only one I've seen that mentions the white flake thingies in underwear and I get them as soon as an hour after I shower which is usually at 5pm on non school days because I'm too depressed to get out of bed and also can't fall asleep till 4am because of the full body constant itching. It's not anal itching and I haven't gotten the wriggling sensation this week at all which is really weird although might have felt a bit of movement down there it's hard to know because it's only for a second. Do you think this is retroinfection? Or maybe they are dying because I've been having no carbs or sugar as well as putting vaseline on anal area to stop eggs from being laid since it doesn't allow them to get oxygen?? I am also taking probiotics + wormwood + apple cider vinegar. It just really freaks me out feeling the itching all over my body up and down my back and my thighs literally 24/7 and then seeing all the white stuff in underwear and in the waistband. Really hope they're just dying:(( I'm really upset and have done nothing but clean for the last week which was also my spring break because I'm so scared of these white things getting on things. Also been cleaning bedsheets daily and vacuuming and lysol wiping and cleaning bathtub after each use etc.:(
Tiredmum OneFamily
Posted
firstly thank you for opening up and sharing your experience, it has been reassuring to know that i will too get through this awful time and get relief someday. Your situation is a little similar to my own. i have had worms for 4 months now. my kids and husband have no signs or symptoms of the pesky buggers but i seem to have a advanced case as they just wont budge. i have done everything i should, washing and cleaning, showing, scrubbing, changing sheets constantly, cutting nails short and washing hands constantly. I've taking the pharmacy medication numerous times and the dr has prescribed be a stronger medication with no relief.
i believe the key to my re infestations is due to my having 3 kids pass through me and trample on my privates, kids are great haemorrhoids suck. im so glad you expressed this in your post as now i know what I've been missing and will be more diligent.
previous to the worms infestation i suffered from illness based anxiety, having worms has made it worse and cause me to also become obsessed with cleaning and washing my hands, so much so ive had to increase my visits to the psychologist. its been rather distressing and damaging to my mental health.
thank you for your post it has helped me to see that there is hope. that stressing about scrubbing and cleaning everything insight every time i feel and itch is unnecessary and i now tell my self as long as I'm not itching and am changing my cloths ans showing everyday i shouldn't be spreading it throughout my house. our of all the people to get it in my house I'm probably the best because i will keep it contain where my 7 and 5 year-old wouldn't.
you said that what worked was weekly, fortnightly then monthly medication. how long did you feel you had to do weekly for? I'm from Australia, so our medication names may be different but I'm sure i can find one with the same active ingredient as what you used. Did you do anything more regarding foods or creams which helped?
thank you again you have really helped me in ways you can't imagine
marcus02907 OneFamily
Posted
Hi All
This is an ongoing battle.. Interesting to read all the above experiences and I relate to many.
Something we have had success with is "common wormwood" it is a plant that has been used for centuries to help this problem, thus the name. It has soft leaves and a bitter taste.
Basically it works on the principle of making us the host, an unattractive place to be. It does not kill them or stun them, it just makes them want to leave. So you find that your stools for a number of days have lots lots lots of worms....
I have not mastered it as a treatment and cannot say how long to take it for or in what quantities.
I ate a few leaves over a few days and also made a tea of it. Then you wait. i believe repeating for a few weeks is the way to go.
I came across the name ages before the plant which was sold in a Hallal butchers. He was selling the plant to make a tea from.. having ID'd the plant I found it also growing in the wild.
The butcher said nothing of the function of the plant except that it is bitter.. and he had a knowing look about him..
Good luck
f60538 OneFamily
Posted
About five months ago, I started taking chondroitin supplements (over the counter, intended for joints) after reading a recommendation from an Australian nutritionist, and after havung recurrent infections over a few years. So far so good. When I've forgotten to take them for a few weeks, I've been reinfected. As long as I take them regularly, I'm fine. Hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this. Haven't figured out if they're ok to give to kids yet so have not given to them.
vicky05201 f60538
Posted
how many tablets do you take a day please?
azat90956 OneFamily
Posted
Hi. Itchy bottom can be symptom of allergy. Check your IgE (Immunoglobulin E) analysis result. I thought that I have threadwroms for years, but it turned out to be allergy.
azat90956 OneFamily
Posted
Hi. Itchy bottom can be symptom of allergy. Check your IgE (Immunoglobulin E) analysis result. I thought that I have threadwroms for years, but it turned out to be allergy for feces or slime from intestines(also I have never seen any worms in my feces), also I can use toilet paper to make itch gone. Now I do exercises to strengthen the anus, so there will be less feces and slime on my bottom. Also my eosinophils analyse was ok
alex23991 OneFamily
Posted
Thank you so much for writing in such detail, this is probably the most positive one I've found so far which gives me hope.
Are you work free now? Did you use only OTC meds or were you perscribed anything more effective by your Dr? I just would have hoped that there would be a silver bullet by now. Our family has had pinworms for 11 months now.
Any updated advice would be greatly appreciated!
anne61486 OneFamily
Posted
Hi, this post has been very helpful.
I have itching in the perianal area for some time. I had a bad case of hemorrhoid so I thought it was just that but then I found out about the existence of pinworms. Freaked out, I took albendazole twice as well as some medication with wormwood and other herbs. Now the itching in my anal area has calmed down but I still see "specks" of white in my underwear sometimes. I can't tell if they're toilet paper residue or small pinworms. They're super tiny(~1mm or less) and immobile. I still get itching in my perianal area occasionally (but it's usually during the daytime). The itch is also usually around the skin in my perianal like the two sides of the skin next to my pelvic region. At night, I just feel ticklish in that area and feel super paranoid. I can't sleep and often wake up wiping my bottom with baby wipes. I check my wipe and notice that the wipes/ toilet paper have mucus on them. Now I can't tell if it's mucus(it is clear and looks to be same mucus i pass with my stool) or pinworm mucus??? I have done cleaning and wash the sheets though not everyday.
Along with the albendazole, I have taken two doses of Reese pinworm. After taking the medicine, I have tried examine my stool everyday but I don't see any worms in them. I hate this feeling. I hate not being able to sleep everyday because of the ticklish feeling and paranoia. I think I'm getting more depressed day by day. I have tried taking pictures of myself in the early morning (~3-5am) and only notice that my butt and perianal area is wet (I don't see any worms).
For those that had pinworms, what did they look like? Do they wiggle or are they just immobile and still? Google images are very helpful as the worms appear very big and long. I am so paranoid and think I might try to take over the counter medicine for them again. I can't live like this.
InTheSameBoat OneFamily
Posted
OneFamily, thank you for your advice! Helped me a lot in this battle. My story: I'm fighthing this infection for about 1.5 months. Crying a lot from desperation time to time, but this discussion made me believe that I can beat this. One need to be very patient. And have a support. Talk to your family and good friends. High hygene measures are too much - I do mild hygene measures - morning shower, jelly around buttocks, sleeping in shorts, not touching face, nails very short, cleaning bathroom every day after shower.
My findings: 1. Need to eat mebedanzole every week. If this is heavy infestation - one dose won't work. My aim is to kill them before they can lay eggs.
2. Mebedanzole doesn't work immediately and it takes a few days to kill them. that is why you do not need to panic.
3. white discharge and specks for ladies means that vagina is irritated and you need to get to the doctor and have the right medicine. I have bacterial infection. Pure Hell itching down there. And you can get bacterial infection around buttocks... so probably you need to consider that you will need to treat skin infection as well.
4. this is the best idea that worked for me a lot - while you wait for medicine and hygene to work - put quite a big cotton tampon in anus before you go to sleep. nothing can get in or out. i just discovered this recently and actually i do not feel any action anymore on skin around nightime. put on some vasiline on tampon to relieve the itch. it makes reinfection 6x time less to happen. this is really life saving. they will die naturally. they need oxygen to lay eggs.
5. be patient.
6. as well pinworm "side effect" is hallucinations and nervousness. so it is very likely that you will think that they are everywhere...
I think I am almost clear as the symptoms is slowly decreasing. Hopefully you all will get better and use the idea of cotton tampon.
Thank you for inspiring me in bad days.