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With another school year now underway, your child may be vulnerable to catching worms.

It’s estimated up to 50% of all 5 to 10 year-olds have worms*, most often picked up at school or playgroups.
Schools and kindergartens are the ideal breeding ground for worms, due to their crowded nature and the fact that hygiene practices, such as handwashing, may be less entrenched.

HOW DO YOU 'CATCH' WORMS?
Threadworms are the most common worms affecting New Zealanders, and their eggs can be found on common surfaces such as door handles, taps, toys and playground equipment.
You can catch worms by swallowing their eggs, often as a result of touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth, or handling food. 

THE INFECTION CYCLE
1. When swallowed, eggs move to the intestine where they develop into adult worms within four weeks.
2. Female worms travel down the colon and lay their eggs on the skin surrounding the anus. The eggs stick to the skin with a glue-type substance that causes itching.
3. When scratched, eggs are transferred onto fingernails, clothing and bedding, and then spread from person to person via touch and contaminated surfaces.

THE TELL-TALE SIGNS OF WORMS
The most common symptom of threadworms is an itchy bottom, most often at night.
Other less common symptoms include restless sleep, irritability and loss of appetite.
Threadworms and/or their eggs may also be visible to the human eye, either around the anal area at night or on the surface of faeces.

Note: Worms resemble fine pieces of white cotton thread up to 1.5cm in length whilst eggs appear as fine white specks on the skin.

COMBANTRIN WORM TREATMENT
The good news is, while threadworms are easy to catch, they are also easy to treat.
Combantrin is a no-fuss solution, readily available from pharmacies.
Combantrin paralyses worms, making them unable to move or lay more eggs. The paralysed worms are then passed in the toilet.

BENEFITS OF COMBANTRIN
Just a single dose for each member of the household is enough to break the worm cycle.
Combantrin is easy to take as it comes in great-tasting chocolate squares, made with real chocolate. FHD

KEEPING THREADWORMS FROM RETURNING
  • Give your home a thorough clean to get rid of any eggs – vacuum carpets; disinfect floors and other surfaces; wash clothes, bedding and favourite teddies.
  • Shower rather than bathe for several days after treatment so that eggs will dislodge and wash away.
  • Fit children with snug underpants at night, to make it harder to scratch and prevent eggs passing to fingers.
  • Go on hygiene alert for a while – extra short scrubbed fingernails, no sharing of food, keep hands out of mouths, wash hands thoroughly and often.
  • Ensure the whole family is treated with Combantrin.
  • Worming treatments do not protect from re-infection and are only effective against adult worms; it may therefore be necessary to repeat treatment 2-4 weeks after initial dose if re-infection occurs.

 
Pharmacy Only Medicine. For threadworm, roundworm and hookworm. Medicines have benefits and some may have risks. Always read the label carefully and use strictly as directed. If symptoms persist or you have side-effects consult your pharmacist. Combantrin chocolate squares contain pyrantel embonate equivalent to 100mg pyrantel – please refer to the product pack for correct dosage information as dosage requirements depend on age and weight. Combantrin-1 chocolate squares contain mebendazole 100mg. Johnson & Johnson (NZ) Ltd, Auckland. *Prociv P. Gastrointestinal Worm Infections, Australian Family Physician Vol 30, No 8, August 2001: 755-761. TAPS NA2732

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