WASHING HELPS SOLVE AN ITCHY PROBLEM

The need for children to wash their hands effectively is underlined by NHS Direct which states that: “Threadworm is most common in small children because they are not fully aware of the importance of hygiene, and they easily forget to wash their hands. Children can also prolong their infestation by continually swallowing fresh eggs.  As children regularly come into close contact with one another, and share toys, or hold hands while playing, re-infestation is often easy. Threadworms are commonly found in family groups, particularly those living in crowded conditions.

Person-to-person threadworm infestation can also occur through handling contaminated clothes, or bedding, or from touching contaminated surfaces, such as furniture and carpets. Eggs can survive on such surfaces for up to two weeks.” 

With an estimated 40% of children under ten getting threadworm at some stage [1] and 50% of those infected becoming re-infected within 12 months [2],  there is a significant need to extend awareness of threadworm and the vital role of Handwashing in helping to prevent infection and re-infection.

Further information is available by emailing: fred@fredworm.co.uk

Or visit: www.fredworm.co.uk. 

Click here to access a Wash Your Hands Poster.

The campaign is being supported by Thornton & Ross, the license holders for Pripsen – an effective threadworm treatment.

References

Royal College of General Practitioners, fact sheet 32, 1996

Ibarra J Towards a viable approach to the thread-worm problem Health at School 1989;5:54-7

Threadworm Fact File:-

The Royal College of General Practitioners [1996] estimates that about 40% of children less than 10 years of age suffer from E vermicularis at least once.

Threadworms live in the rectum of humans.

The female worms lay their eggs on the skin around the anus at night

An ‘Itchy bottom’ is the most common symptom, but symptoms may be absent.

Eggs on the fingers and under nails transfer to people and clothing and are swallowed.

A female threadworm can lay up to 16,000 eggs before dying. 

Eggs can survive for up to 2 weeks on clothing, towels, bedding, in carpets and in dust.

Piperazine and mebendazole are both effective treatments of the disease

Drug treatment must be combined with hygienic measures to prevent re-infection.