This section contains information on how people contract Threadworms - the most common human worm in Australia and New Zealand - including the lifecycle of Threadworms, plus signs and symptoms to look out for.

Threadworms are highly contagious but thankfully, easy to treat with COMBANTRIN^®. For more information, see Treating Worms with COMBANTRIN^®.

There are two main ways you can catch Threadworms:

1. DIRECTLY - through contact with an infected person
2. INDIRECTLY - through touching a surface such as a tap, doorhandle, or item such as a pencil, linen or furnishings that have been contaminated by an infected person.

THREADWORM LIFECYCLE

You can be infected with Threadworms no matter how clean or careful you are. Adults can be carrying eggs, even if they have no symptoms. Threadworms are passed on when someone swallows their eggs, and then they go through the following life cycle:

• Eggs are infective within a few hours of being deposited and may remain viable for up to 3 weeks.*
• Most infected children will harbour a succession of worms at different stages of development throughout their intestines.*

Click here to see a flow diagram explaining how Threadworms are spread.

*Prociv P., Gastrointestinal Worm Infections, Australian Family Physician, 2001; 30(8): 755-761

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT THREADWORMS?
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Most Threadworm infections are light. Often there are no symptoms, but the most common signs are:

• Itchy bottom (especially at night)
• Restless sleep
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite

For definitive proof of Threadworms infection, look for the following:

• Worms on the outside surface of bowel motions - these resemble fine pieces of cotton thread, up to 1.5cm long. For further information, including pictures of actual Threadworms, see Facts about Worms.
• Moving worms or eggs around the anus - about an hour after the child has gone to bed. Using a torch, worms should be visible to the naked eye, however a useful way of detecting eggs is the "sticky tape test". Press a piece of tape against the anus and remove - Threadworm eggs will appear as tiny white specks on the tape.

Click here for further information on unusual symptoms which can present in girls.

When Threadworms are detected, it is important you treat the whole family. For information on how COMBANTRIN^® works, plus essential advice to help prevent reinfestation, see, Treating Worms with COMBANTRIN^®.