THREAD-WORMS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 3

THREAD-WORMS

HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S ADVICE The Department of Health has issued the following instructions on the treatment of thread-worms:— About one mother in every 10 In this country is worried about threadworms in her child. These threadworms, which are also known as pin worms or seat worms, are the cause of disturbed rest at night, and unless steps are taken to eradicate them that disturbed rest and subsequent rundown condition will continue, as constant reinfection of the patient is extremely easv. Irritation of the child’s buttocks and crutch is the 'telling symptom. The scratching to obtain relief is a natural reaction, and in scratching the child’s finger-nails become the depositories for worm eggs. Those eggs are usually conveyed to the child’s mouth, and the cycle of infection is completed again. If you find worms—inspection during a period of restlessness will usually reveal them—treat them. Keep the finger-nails short. See that hands are washed and nails brushed frequently each day, ■ especially after using the toilet. Night and morning -apply white precipitate ointment to the region of the crutch to kill any worms or eggs there. In bed the hands should be gloved and pyjamas worn to prevent the child scratching and carrying the infection to his mouth. .Bed sheets should be boiled at least twice weekly. The best drug available for treatment is gentian violet, in a dose of one-sixth of a grain a day for each year of the child’s age. That, is, a child of three would have half a grain a day, split up into three doses taken half an hour before meals, Treatment is given for one week and * then stopped for one week—and so on until six courses of the gentian violet tablets have been given. , f. " ’,