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THREADWORM CAN BE AN ITCHY problem
Sharon White, School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA)
Threadworms are very common and the Royal College of General Practitioners estimates that 40% of children under 10 years of age suffer from threadworms at least once.
Threadworms (Enterobius vermicularis) are thin, parasitic worms which mature and reproduce in the intestines. At night, the female emerges from the anus and lays up to 15,000 eggs on the surrounding skin, which may lead to itching.
Despite being unpleasant: serious complications from threadworms are rare, but infestation may contribute to insomnia, restlessness and irritability. Some sufferers endure an intense itch, so pharmacists should also be alert for problems linked to scratching, such as skin irritation, haemorrhage or secondary bacterial infections. Download full article
