WAYYYY OT: Pinworms?

[iheartdisney]

My kids best friends mom called me to let me know that her DD has pinworms. So I've been doing all kinds of research online, and getting more and more grossed out.
The kids play together AT LEAST twice a week, so I need to keep an eye out, though not really sure what to keep an eye out for. Itchy butt? and everything I've read says he worms are only visible about 20% of the time.
Has anyone had experience with these? Because I'm lost and grossed out!

 

[princesskimberella]

ok this is gonna get a little gross... I do know someone who had to deal with this before. Pinworms are most visable at night, soooo you gotta do investigating while the kiddos are asleep. Get out a flash light and look at their bum, they are really tiny so you gotta look close, I have also heard to put a piece of scotch tape and pull it off and they will stick to the tape. I know gross but better to find out. I would ask you friend how she found out.

 

[RMulieri]

I have also heard of the scotch tape on the behind and investigating at night.I think maybe pinworms are nocturnal ? but I have no firsthand experience of this.

 

[bookgirl]

How are they nocturnal...they live where the sun doesn't shine....literally how do they know it's night?. Maybe it's just because that's when it's quiet or still......I'd ask your doctor.

 

[sunnyday123]

How are they nocturnal...they live where the sun doesn't shine....literally how do they know it's night?. Maybe it's just because that's when it's quiet or still......I'd ask your doctor.

I think it's because the kid is still at night....but that was really funny! Tell the kids to wash their hands, keep their fingers out of their mouths, don't share cups/food, wash their hands, keep their fingers out of their mouths.
Then call the Dr. when they get jumpy, 'cause their probably gonna get it anyway. Sorry. You have to wash all linens/clothes. Wipe down everything they can possibly touch. I'd prefer to burn the house down and re-build, but I don't think thats an option. Good luck.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

How are they nocturnal...they live where the sun doesn't shine....literally how do they know it's night?. Maybe it's just because that's when it's quiet or still......I'd ask your doctor.

Exactly what I was thinking!!!!

Not that I know anything about Pinworms, THANK GOD!!!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Man, that's going to end a kid in therapy some day. "One night my mommy looked at my butt with a flashlight and I don't know why".

Oh, the horrors of good parenting...

 

[iheartdisney]

Man, that's going to end a kid in therapy some day. "One night my mommy looked at my butt with a flashlight and I don't know why".

Oh, the horrors of good parenting...

OMG! Just what DH and I were laughing about!
My friend told me her DD was complaining that her bottom was itchy. So she checked her and saw them.
So I think just to be safe I'm going to call in first thing in the morning for a same-day appointment. (Army hospital- you can't call today for an appointment tomorrow!)
And then come home and bleach my house!!!!!

 

[kgc07]

Call to make and appt. In the meantime if you want to put a piece of tape on her tonight you can. If you see anything on the tape in the morning you know she has pinworms. If not you can take her in and have a stool sample done. Kids get pinworms because a lot of children stick things in their mouth and aren't always the best hand washers.

 

[brandylouwho]

My DDs daycare just sent home brochures on Pinworms. Kids in a nearby classroom got them (and all the "big kids" play together at the end of the day). They can't tell us who had them, so I don't know if it is someone she palys with a lot or not.

They are bringing their bedding home daily (instead of weekly), washing their hands more frequently (think randomn hand washing drills) and a poor teacher is cleaning the toliets between each use for the next week or two.

Yuck, it makes me itch just thinking about it! It has been a week and no signs of them yet, so we may get lucky. We asked our family Dr about them (while we were there w/ our other kid), he said they really aren't a big deal-just sounds gross. Treatment isn't a big deal, but washing everything (especially bedding) is sort of a pain.

 

[sunnyday123]

Man, that's going to end a kid in therapy some day. "One night my mommy looked at my butt with a flashlight and I don't know why".

Oh, the horrors of good parenting...

I can just see mom and dad...one with a flashlight, the other with a roll of tape and one horrified little kid!

 

[minkydog]

Yep, been there, done that! DS13 came home from summer camp with pinworms when he was 9. Sure enough, I did the flashlight check while he was a sleep and there was *one* visible pinworm. They look like a short piece of white thread, about 1/4" long, and they move (not real fast, but enough to gross me out.)

There is an over the counter medication called Pin-X(pyrantel pamoate) that will kill pinworms. It will tell you how much to give on the label. I think you can use it on kids over age 2. I have used it on my younger son and on my 20yo (don't ask).

 

[princesskimberella]

I told ya it was kinda gross I never thought of them being nocturnal, but I guess they body would be more relaxed

could you imagine if oyur kids told someone at school about the night time flashlighting....

 

[sunnyday123]

are any of us going to get any sleep tonight????

 

[SueM in MN]

the female pinworms actually come out to lay eggs, so that's why they are in that area. It's a good idea to do the tape treatment even if you will be taking the child to the doctor. If the tape from the butt shows either actual worms or just eggs, it will help the doctor to make a diagnosis.
Here's a good article about pinworms.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Okay but am I the only one who's thinking about how uncomfortable it would be to have a piece of tape stuck to my butt, then ripped off!?

As for the tag team, flashlight toting, midnight raiding parent brigade, that's exactly how we used to cut my DD nails when she was little! (Jez I hope the tag fairy isn't hanging around here tonight!)

 

[momxx5]

I've always heard that pinworms are mostly from sandboxes and playing in the dirt.

Washing hands, baths in baking soda, etc are always helpful.

 

[allaboutmm]

Pre-school teacher (14yrs), only had one case in my room all these yearsscared1: that I know of). Yes, the tape on the bum at night and flashlight exploring, are what I have heard to do.....did you ever think your world come to this ?

 

[PebblesMom]

Wow...I read all of the parenting books I could find, and everyday I am reminded that being a mom is soooo much different than I could have imagined. I do think, however, that I would rather be the one going in with the tape and the flashlight, than being awoken by someone else with the tape and the flashlight.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Wow...I read all of the parenting books I could find, and everyday I am reminded that being a mom is soooo much different than I could have imagined. I do think, however, that I would rather be the one going in with the tape and the flashlight, than being awoken by someone else with the tape and the flashlight.

Maybe we should forward this thread to the 17 girls in Glouchester would took the pact and all got pregnant at the same time. Let them know what a great time they're in for!

ITA re: being the tape-r than the tape-e!