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How do I get rid of threadworms in my child?
Threadworms are common in kids and you can treat them at home with pharmacy medicine and strict hygiene.
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What it is
Threadworms are tiny worms that look like pieces of white thread. You can spot them in your child’s poo or around their bottom, especially at night when they come out while your child sleeps [1]. They are common in children and spread easily [1].
The main symptom is extreme itching around the anus or vagina, particularly at night [1]. Your child may also be irritable or wake up during the night [1]. Less common signs include weight loss, wetting the bed, or irritated skin around the anus [1]. Many people have no symptoms at all [3].
Threadworms spread when someone swallows their eggs [2]. The worms lay eggs around the anus, which causes itching. When your child scratches, eggs get stuck on their fingers and can pass to anything they touch, including clothes, toys, toothbrushes, kitchen or bathroom surfaces, bedding, and food [2]. Eggs can survive up to 2 weeks on surfaces [2]. After swallowing, the eggs hatch in the gut and take 1 to 2 months to mature into threadworms [2]. Children can get them again after treatment if they get eggs in their mouth [2].
What you can do at home
You can buy a medicine called mebendazole from a pharmacy. It is usually a chewable tablet or liquid [5]. Treat everyone over 2 years old in your household, even if they have no symptoms [5]. Tell the pharmacist if you need to treat a child under 2, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, because treatment might not be suitable [5]. If you cannot take medicine, you can treat threadworms using hygiene methods for 6 weeks [5].
Medicine kills the worms but not the eggs, which can live up to 2 weeks outside the body [4]. Do these things for 2 weeks if taking medicine, or 6 weeks if not [4]:
- Wash hands and scrub under fingernails, especially before eating, after using the toilet, or after changing nappies
- Encourage children to wash hands regularly
- Shower every morning
- Rinse toothbrushes before using them
- Keep fingernails short
- Wash sleepwear, sheets, towels, and soft toys at a hot temperature every day for several days after treatment
- Disinfect kitchen and bathroom surfaces with hot water
- Vacuum and dust with a damp cloth
- Make sure everyone wears underwear at night and changes it in the morning
Do not shake clothing or bedding, because that can spread eggs onto other surfaces [4]. Do not share towels or flannels [4]. Do not bite nails or suck thumbs and fingers [4]. There is no need to stay off nursery, school, or work [4].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
See a pharmacist if you think you or your child have threadworms [1]. They can give you the right treatment. If you need to treat a child under 2 years old, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a pharmacist first because treatment might not be suitable and you may need to see a GP [5].
Common questions
Can threadworms come back? Yes. Children can get threadworms again after treatment if they get eggs in their mouth [2]. This is why regular hand washing is so important [2].
Do I need to treat the whole family? Yes. Treat everyone over 2 years old in your household, even if they do not have symptoms [5].
How are threadworms diagnosed? A health care provider can diagnose pinworm infection by finding the eggs. A common way to collect the eggs is with a sticky piece of clear tape [3].
Sources
[1] NHS — “Threadworms” (2023), section “Threadworms”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/threadworms/ [2] NHS — “Threadworms” (2023), section “How threadworms spread”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/threadworms/ [3] MedlinePlus — “Pinworms” (2024), section “Introducción”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/pinworms.html [4] NHS — “Threadworms” (2023), section “Things you should do at home for threadworms”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/threadworms/ [5] NHS — “Threadworms” (2023), section “Treatment for threadworms from a pharmacy”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/threadworms/
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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