Schools are said to be on the alert for tiny egg-laying worms that infest a child’s stomach.
One school in Manchester, the Daily Star reports, has already warned parents about an outbreak of the illness. It sees tiny worms laying eggs in the stomach.
Threadworms – also known as pinworms – can spread easily via contact in the classroom. The eggs are typically ingested when a child chews their fingernails, doesn’t wash their hands properly, or chews on a toy or similar item.
Once threadworm eggs are inside they migrate down through the body and hatch in the anus, causing significant discomfort and itching around the bottom. An infection is usually discovered through the presence of white ‘thread’-like worms in poo.
The Daily Star says one primary school in Manchester has informed parents of the outbreak, with a letter claiming that “a number of children around the school have threadworm”. Thankfully for panicked parents – and school officials – threadworm medicine is available over the counter, and you don’t need to go to a doctor unless the case is serious and not responding to persistent treatment.
However, because the worms spread so easily, the entire family will need to be treated. The person infected with the worms will also have to follow a strict hygeine routine.
Care’s Expert Pharmacist, Karen Baker said: “Any bad habits such as thumb sucking, or nail biting, should be discouraged. Wearing underwear to bed and washing each morning, with separate towels for each member of the family will stop the eggs being passed on.
“Medicine is available at pharmacies to treat threadworm, and the whole household should be treated, even if they don’t have symptoms.”
Threadworm is believed to date back 240 million years. According to the NHS, symptoms include:
- extreme itching around the anus or vagina, particularly at night
- irritability and waking up during the night
- weight loss
- wetting the bed
- irritated skin around the anus
