The unromantic side of being a parent
By Fleur
@Fleura (30541)
United Kingdom
February 6, 2018 4:10am CST
We just received a message from Little One’s school saying that cases of threadworms have been identified among some children. We are asked to check our children and if found, the entire household must be treated. Great!
Two or three times over the last couple of weeks Little One has complained of an itchy bottom, but this never crossed my mind; now I realise it could be a possible cause. Unfortunately we need to find out, and I can imagine she won’t be too keen to cooperate!
Apparently you can see threadworms as fine white threads in poo, or else they can sometimes be seen emerging from the anus at night-time.
So which of us is going to fish poo out of the toilet and dissect it to look for worms? And who is going to try and remove Little One’s pyjamas while she’s asleep and shine a torch up her bum?
My partner has just booked a flight to India for work; he swears this is a coincidence….
I thought a nice picture of flowers was better than the alternative…
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2018.
23 people like this
25 responses
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
8 Feb 18
@jaboUK I have a book called 'Modern School Hygiene' (from the 1930s) which was my Mum's when she studied domestic science - before antibiotics and the NHS of course. Things have changed, but then some things which we thought were firmly in the past like scarlet fever and rickets, are making a comeback.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 18
I guess you only need one to get through and then they start to spread again. Knowledge of hygiene is good as you say, but even though everybody knows they need to wash their hands thoroughly with soap all over, fronts and backs and between the fingers, every time they use the toilet, before eating, and after any contact with an animal, most do not do that. How many times have you seen someone in a public toilet just give their hands a quick rinse? Or seen someone pet a dog then eat a biscuit?
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137822)
• India
6 Feb 18
Don't you deworm your kids regularly atleast once a year as a routine?
2 people like this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 18
@shaggin @allknowing no, it is not at all usual to de-worm children (or adults), only pets or other domestic animals.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
6 Feb 18
Yup, that happened to us as kids too @Fleura . And yes Dad was the one to use the flashlight.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
6 Feb 18
@Fleura Oh heck yeah. He thought it was funny.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
6 Feb 18
@nanette64 Eventually the situation gets reversed...
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
6 Feb 18
Those worms can be treated with medication, in about five days. It's better to treat your daughter, than to let these worms multiply inside of her.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
6 Feb 18
@mydanods Yes, the multiply quickly.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
7 Feb 18
At least you have not lost your sense of humor. My family never had worms, but I did some daycare and it happened.
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
6 Feb 18
You would have to have it diagnosed and identified as quickly as possible, thread worms could quickly spread to other organs especially the lungs, it's a serious parasitic infestation
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
7 Feb 18
Ah, I am so happy that I'm not a parent! Have fun with the poo!
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
8 Feb 18
@Fleura This is true. My cats are my babies and they do bring their own frustrations and worries.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
6 Feb 18
Could you just treat the entire household anyway? If I recall, it's a tablet that you take that kills off the parasites.
2 people like this
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
7 Feb 18
That's a tough job to do looking for threadworms in the poop?
1 person likes this
@cttolledo (5454)
• Legaspi, Philippines
6 Feb 18
Haha. That's reminds me of my sister who ran from my mom just to escape to take capsule against worm. I thought you can check that through laboratory.
1 person likes this
