Worms?? Ahhhhh!!!!

Updated on February 25, 2007
S.K. asks from Albuquerque, NM
23 answers

I went to change my one-yesr-old sons diaper this afternoon and I think I saw a WORM. It looks like a white thread sticking out of his rectum. I can't get it out and when I try it goes back in. When I leave it alone it comes back out. It's still there this evening. Sorry if this sounds gross...it does to me too!! Does anyone else no what this could be?? I have a feeling I'll be calling the doctor in the morning...

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So What Happened?

So...I just got off the phone with the Dr.'s office. They didn't have much to say except to do the flashlight test tonight and if they are there to call them tomarrow and they will get him some medicine. So I guess I'm in for a fun time tonight! :)

Thanks for all of your responses!! They were all helpful..the one responses that had to do with him waking up at night really made sense. He hardly ever sleeps a full night! I thank you again and I'll let you know how tonight goes with the flashlight test.

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T.W.

answers from Oklahoma City on

This sounds like it could be a case of pinworms. You need to call the doctor to start treatment, and the doctor may possibly recommend treating the whole family. Here is a link on WebMD with more info about it.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Pinworms-Topic-Overview

Hope this helps!
Blessings,
MomRN T.
www.MomRN.com

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M.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Sounds like pinworms. Very contagious. You will need to bleach and clean the toilets, bedding and wherevever his naked little bottom has touched! Mamas and Daddies and siblings can get them, too. Just call the doctor and there is an orally taken medecine they can give him to get rid of the little critters. Usually, they like to stick their little bodies out at night when the host has settled down. If you use a flashlight when he lays down you can usually see them, but it sounds like you already have. I would not wait until this evening, but put a call in now. Good luck!

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S.H.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hi, they are very common in children. Call the doctor and they probably will prescribe some med. My daughter had them and we all took the pill to rid them because they are easily transferred. The pharmacist said everyone has them, it is just when there are more, that we notice. Check his stoole, you should see some in there if he has them. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.G.

answers from Tulsa on

they are very common pin worms. make sure you wash the clothing and bedding and get some pin rid (walmart and walgreens both carry it. in pharmacy over the counter but must ask the pharmasist) it is part of having active little ones. they happen once in a while. good luck been there many times but that stuff works.

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A.L.

answers from Kansas City on

S.:

It may be a hemmoroid. Call the Doctor.

A.

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A.

answers from St. Louis on

Call the Dr., they should able to take care of the problem easily with medicine. Don't worry, it's not dangerous or that uncommon, from what I've heard.

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J.

answers from St. Louis on

Well, definitely see your doctor. Until then, this may sound strange, but you can google the scotch tape test. I think you actually put scotch tape there and try to catch it that way! Poor baby!

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J.T.

answers from Topeka on

GET HIM CHECKED IMMEADIATELY! I am sorry to be so abrupt but if he does have worms then he needs to be on medicine immeadiately. Save his dirty diapers if you see them in it because the doc may want to see them.

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J.B.

answers from Topeka on

I also may add that you wash your hands well, and wash your babies hands well after you change him. Worms are spread by not washing hands after using the bathroom, or if a baby touches him/her self and puts his/her hand in its mouth.

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M.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Hey-we're all animals. Every now and again we get a critter... Glad you called the doctor :) I don't think there's anything else to do. I'd be curious to hear what the doctor says it is and where it might have come from...

M.

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N.M.

answers from Lawton on

You should probably take your son to the Dr.

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L.R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

We can talk about it all! Yep, sounds like worms. My daughter had them when she was a little older. The Dr. prescribes something that clears them up with only a couple fo doses....but other people in the house can get them especially since you would be changing diapers.....so beware.

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B.B.

answers from St. Louis on

call your local children hospital nurse line NOW!!

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S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Yes, it's probably worms, but no you do NOT need to be freaking out. It is highly unlikely that your son is in any danger. I have, unfortunately, endured both tapeworm AND pinworm, and I can assure you that it's going to be okay.

Tapeworm - do you have a dog or cat? We found tapeworm moving in my son's poopy diaper just after his first birthday. The P.A. at the Dr.'s office insisted that it could NOT be tapeworm, and treated our entire family for pinworm THREE times before I took a specimen to the veterinarian for diagnosis. Tapeworm is self-limiting - eventually the worm itself will die and pass through. The "worms" that are seen are actually living egg-sacs. Those egg-sacs must be eaten by an intermediate host such as a mouse or a flea. Animals with fleas re-infect themselves by biting at their fleas. The egg-sacs themselves cannot infect them or you. My son used to pull at the hair of our long-hair cat, and of course would get some in his mouth. Although we had never seen any fleas, apparently he managed to get one. Certain tapeworms can be dangerous, but regular canine tapeworm (yep even in a cat it's still called canine tapeworm) is not one of them.

Pinworms - Has he been sleeping well? Typically, pinworms leave the anus at night to lay eggs in the surrounding skin, causing intense itching. Infection is caused by ingesting the eggs. Scratching gets the eggs on the fingers, and they go everywhere from there. Has your daughter been itching as well? That would be a big clue, and your entire family will need to be treated as well.

I have so much more information for you, but every time I try to send it AOL bumps me offline, so please send me a message if you'd like more info.

It could be just a thread, by the way. Good luck, and let me know and I hope this goes through this time.

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J.R.

answers from Kansas City on

you are the second case of worms I have heard about this year. Take him to the doctor. They are contageous!

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P.D.

answers from Tulsa on

Yep take her to the Doctor
There are two natual products as well
But you must take her to the Dr 1st
essiac is one product and
Limu is a second
Limu is a sea weed liquified tastes great
call ###-###-####
or look up research www.pubmed.org keyword is Fucoidan
www.lymphmassage911.originallimu.com
Thanks
Pat DeMoss

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B.H.

answers from Kansas City on

it's probably a pin worm. my daughter recently had them. i was freaked out too! the dr prescribed vermox 100 mg. they are chewable tablets. she took one right away and will take another one in two weeks. when i called the dr they said to get the worm out if i could. i was able to get it with a q-tip.

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M.L.

answers from Rockford on

Call your doctor because any worm is not good news.

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J.G.

answers from Lawrence on

Kids get worms, its an unfortunate and groww part of growing up. Don't try to get it out yourself, just call his doctor and get im in as soon as possible.

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B.K.

answers from Tulsa on

don't freak! it's not that bad. my oldest daughter got worms a couple of times when she was younger. i took her to the health dept. and they gave me meds for all of us, as they can spread. she was a thumb-sucker so she picked it up putting dirty fingers in her mouth. good luck.

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N.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Okay... actually I just learned about all that last year in my zoology class. If you've noticed that, plus him even trying to itch at his butt it's a big posibility its worms. Pinworms are alot more common, but its not exactly rare to see tapeworms either. Toddlers get them alot from playing in areas and touching their nose, or mouth and the eggs enter there. Because we can't always watch where our kids play, and we don't always know they touched something really dirty, we dont always think about handwashing. The eggs can be anywhere, and once they enter their body, they go through a phase and hatch in the intestine and come out through the rectum. Eggs can also leave that way.
You definetly need to take him to the Dr. ASAP because worms can do some nasty things to people... I know there are some types that you can only get treated for but can not be killed. I'm not trying to freak ya out... because as long as you catch it now , it should be fine you know??
Just make sure you take him ASAP!!!

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C.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I would call the doctor. They will most likely want you to collect a stool sample for analysis.

C.

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P.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Sounds like pinworms to me. Not a big deal but very contagious. Wash EVERYTHING in very hot water. The dr. should see the kids. They can be treated. Your daughter probably has them too. They usually cause a lot of itching. They are more active at night when a child is sleeping.

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