So grossed out right now!!

I am crawling in my skin and everything itches. I just rushed to take a shower and I have washed my hands at least 10 times in the last 30 minutes. I am contemplating having my sons miss school and me miss work because I cannot handle the grossness of the situation.I am not in a good head space over this new discovery in my household, not in a good head space at all!!!!

Ewww, blech, yuck, oogie, upchuck and cue entire body shiver.

So here's the deal, my sons have worms. It's not dangerous and does not cause serious problems (I know because I googled and googled some more and wished I hadn't googled so much) but it is gross and I can't get the images out of my head :( I know your wondering why I would share this, I realize that it's overstepping and way too much information, but if it helps even one childs butt itch less than it's all worth it.)

Almost two months ago our youngest son started complaining about his butt itching at night. It happened sort of regularly and he would swear it itched inside. We checked him, applied lotions, baby powder, gave him allergy medicine, tried everything we could think of but what it boiled down to was another way to sneak out of his room and avoid bed. We basically discounted it.

Today I was talking with my friend (as I mentioned in an earlier blog) and randomly brought up our youngest's butt itch dilemma. She immediately told me of another family who all had worms and how you check for them. I discounted it and went home. Tonight, as soon as he laid down, my youngest was back up again complaining of the ever present butt itch. I told him to lay down for 10 minutes then I would come check on him to see if he had something funny going on. I then promptly forgot what I said. 45 minutes later I remembered my promise and went to check.

He had fallen asleep. So I put on a headlamp (seriously, that's what I used and I looked awesome!) and went in. I pulled down his pajama bottoms, spread his cheeks (is it weird that this didn't even phase his sleep pattern?) and sure enough little white string things were crawling from his insides to his outsides. (this was mt moment of almost retching) I ran out trying to scratch my eyes and erase my memory simultaneously and called my friend. She didn't answer right away so I began googling.

After reading for a bit she called back and we discussed the other instance of this that she knew about. I hung up realizing I would need to check my other two sons. Apparently its very easy to spread, common to pick up at school and 4 out of 10 children have them. They did notice me spreading their cheeks while they tried to sleep and were very bothered, but sure enough they all had worms.

So now I get to call the doctor in the morning to share this development and everyone in our house has to be treated (with a little pill to be repeated in 2 weeks) and I need to clean everything, everywhere and throw out all items we touch first thing in the morning. Also I have to tell both of my sons schools, especially looking forward to that :(

As I said I am soooooooooooo grossed out right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, if your sons butt itches, take it seriously, PLEASE, take it seriously.

Here's hoping my sons did not share any worm eggs with you and yours. If you're worried there are 4 ways to check. Enjoy.

1. After child has been laying down for an hour or so, spread their cheeks and look for wiggly white string things.

2. check for white string things in their stool.

3. Check their underwear first thing in the morning.

4. Do the scotch tape test (I'll let you look that one up)

Best prevention is frequent handwashing and washing bed linens, underwear, towels etc... in hot water.

Final bits of info that you never wanted to know, the eggs can live weeks on any surface. Reinfection is common because you touch a surface that has live eggs, then go eat which puts the eggs in your body and allows them to hatch in your intestines.

Are you so grossed out right now?!!?!?!?!