Pinworm

As at I’m writing, my son is still having severe fever, flu and bad cough since Friday night. His health was fine during when we were in Bangkok until we returned to KL and ‘bertambah manja’ than before as he refused to be away from me, tak nampak muka ibunya mesti melalak.

Back about fever, on Friday midnight we brought him to see doctor at emergency ward in Sri Kota as he was really weak and helpless. Surprisingly when they did the temperature, it was only 37.8 whereby I did around 38++. The doctor put medicine in his rectum to control the temperature; however things were pretty same, he was still having high fever, in fact worst as hubby and I can’t sleep the whole night monitoring him even on Saturday night. He was fine controllable during day time but temperature shot like rocket when night comes. We brought Hairee to see another doctor at child clinic nearby my house today but the doctor wants us to continue taking medicine from Sri Kota. Mak kata Hairee nak belajar jalan kot, mulut pun dah unstoppable bercakap, agaknya pasal tu demam.

My son got pinworms and I’m so damn scared now. We noticed Hairee’s poo poo was very unusual on Friday’s night when I found countless little yellowish rice in his poo poo. In fact the moment I saw these little things I already suspected it worm but hubby said it was probably undigested rice. So after consulting my SIL and Mak, my SIL called me tonight mentioning that little things were pinworms or cacing kerawit. Haaaaaaaaaa. I suspected he got it’s from Bangkok , not sure how but most probably due to unwashed apple jus or banana or perhaps from people there coz as far as I can remember so many people touching his face and hand. Patutlah dia suka tidur menonggeng semenjak seminggu ni, tidur pun mulut bising, gatal rupanya. Semestinya salah saya, damn I was so stupid, should be more pre-caution and hygiene sister.

I’m bringing him to see Pediatric, Dr. Kumar tomorrow morning (can’t wait for the clock to turn 8.00am)

Here is the information I found from internet.

What are pinworms?
Pinworms are small, white worms (Enterobius vermicularis) that infest the intestines. The worms, which look like quarter-inch-long pieces of dental floss, can be seen wiggling around the anus and in the stool. It can be upsetting to discover that your baby has pinworms, but keep in mind that this common childhood malady isn't a sign of poor hygiene. Also, the worms pose no health risks, and — unlike lice — are easily eradicated.

How can I tell if my baby has pinworms?
Your baby may have no symptoms, but disturbed sleep and fussiness due to nighttime itching is a big tip-off. Occasionally pinworms will also cause an upset tummy.You can confirm your suspicions by checking your baby's bottom and diaper for worms at night with a flashlight. You can also check for the presence of worms by gently pressing a piece of transparent tape to your baby's anus. Eggs will stick to the tape, and you can take it to his doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor may also have a special kit designed to collect pinworm eggs. (You can often find the eggs even if you can't see the actual worms.)If you don't find pinworms or eggs, anal itching may be a sign of another problem, such as dryness from cleaning the area too vigorously with soap. Red, tender skin around your baby's anus could be the result of irritation from diaper rash, diarrhea, or a bacterial infection. (If you suspect an infection, call your baby's doctor.)

How did my baby get pinworms?
It's rare for young babies to get pinworms, but it can happen, especially if your baby goes to daycare or if his siblings have pinworms. Your baby probably swallowed pinworm eggs after he got them on his hands — possibly from touching a toy handled by a child with pinworms — and then put his fingers in his mouth. (The eggs can survive for up to two weeks on some surfaces.)The eggs then traveled to his large intestine, where they hatched. From there, female pinworms migrated out of your child's intestines to lay their eggs on his anus. As the worms move, they cause intense itching which can disrupt sleep. When your baby scratches his itchy bottom, the eggs get under his fingernails, and another cycle begins when he puts his hands in his mouth.

How are pinworms treated?
A mild case of pinworms will sometimes go away without any treatment. But a severe infestation can cause complications, like more serious infections, so you don't want to let the situation get worse. If you think your baby may have pinworms, talk with his doctor about treatment. She'll most likely prescribe medication to kill the worms. She'll probably suggest that the whole family be treated, too, since pinworms spread so easily.

Symptoms of pinworm infestation usually disappear within one week of treatment. Even if the symptoms go away, the doctor may want you to repeat the treatment two weeks later. She'll also recommend washing your family's clothing and bedding in hot water to destroy the worms and their eggs.

After treatment, you may see a lot of worms, some moving and wriggling, in your baby's stool. This is no cause for alarm, although it may be unsettling. It just means the worms are leaving your baby's body.

How can I prevent pinworms?
Keep the pests from infecting — or re-infecting — your baby by taking a few precautions:

• Clean your baby's nails with a scrub brush, and keep them short to prevent eggs from becoming trapped underneath.
• Bathe him when he wakes up to help eliminate the eggs.
• Open bedroom curtains and blinds during the day. (Pinworm eggs are sensitive to sunlight.)
• Wash your hands every time you change your baby's diaper.

Remember, many children get pinworms. As with lice, the condition is not an indication of poor parenting or lack of cleanliness