Preventing Threadworms

good hygiene

The importance of good hygiene should be emphasised.

• Keep nails short
• Wash hands and scrub nails after using the toilet and before meals
• Wear pyjamas or pants at night to help prevent scratching
• Wash underwear and nightwear each day to destroy eggs laid during the night
• Change the bedding as often as possible. However, don’t shake the linen, which can spread the eggs
• Take a bath or shower in the morning to dislodge any eggs laid during the night
• Eggs may survive for a fortnight on clothing, bedding and carpets; so these need regular washing and cleaning
• Parents should do their best to discourage children from sucking their fingers or thumbs and biting their nails
• The whole family will need to follow these measures for up to six weeks to eradicate threadworms