Preventing Threadworms

good hygiene

Children need to understand the importance of good hand hygiene which is a key factor in preventing threadworms.

The nature of the threadworm life cycle means that habits such as bottom-scratching, thumb-sucking and nail-biting – all common in young children – contribute to the contraction and spread of threadworms.

Encouraging regular hand washing is therefore crucial if the threadworm life cycle is to be broken. 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