A child scratching their bottom at night and waking up grumpy may have threadworms. The NHS says threadworms look like pieces of white thread and may be seen in poo or around a child’s bottom, and the main symptom is extreme itching around the anus or vagina, particularly at night. You can buy mebendazole from a pharmacy and should treat everyone aged 2 and over in the household. Follow hygiene steps such as hand washing, morning showers and hot washes for 2 weeks if taking medicine, or 6 weeks if using hygiene alone. There’s no need to stay off nursery, school or work. This sets out the NHS page “Threadworms”.
1. Extreme itching around the anus, particularly at night. Worms like white thread may be seen in poo or around the bottom.
2. Pharmacy mebendazole for everyone aged 2 and over in the household. Under 2, pregnant or breastfeeding: speak to a GP.
3. Hygiene steps for 2 weeks with medicine, 6 weeks without — no need to stay off nursery, school or work.
Symptoms — NHS
The NHS says threadworms look like pieces of white thread and may be seen in poo or around a child’s bottom (anus). The main symptoms are extreme itching around the anus or vagina, particularly at night, and irritability and waking up during the night. Less commonly there may be weight loss or wetting the bed.
They spread when their eggs are swallowed, the page says.
Medicine — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy | You can buy a medicine called mebendazole | We didn’t read Korean product names or classifications |
| Who | Treat everyone aged 2 and over in the household | We read this as including people without symptoms |
| Speak to a GP | To treat a child under 2 | — |
| Speak to a GP | If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding | — |
This page doesn’t give a second-dose time. Follow the medicine leaflet or a pharmacist’s advice (our pointer).
Hygiene steps — NHS
Do these for 2 weeks if you’re taking medicine, or for 6 weeks if you’re using hygiene alone.
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Wash hands and scrub under fingernails; encourage children to wash hands regularly | See handwashing |
| Do | Shower every morning | — |
| Do | Rinse toothbrushes before using them | — |
| Do | Keep fingernails short | — |
| Do | Wash sleepwear, sheets, towels and soft toys at a hot temperature | — |
| Do | Disinfect kitchen and bathroom surfaces with hot water; vacuum and dust with a damp cloth | — |
| Do | Make sure everyone wears underwear at night | — |
| Don’t | Shake clothing or bedding | So eggs don’t land on other surfaces |
| Don’t | Share towels or flannels | — |
| Don’t | Bite nails or suck thumbs and fingers | — |
When and how to wash hands is in handwashing; another case where the whole household acts together is head lice.
Checklist
- ☐ Scratching at night? Worms like white thread?
- ☐ Pharmacy mebendazole — everyone aged 2 and over
- ☐ Under 2, pregnant or breastfeeding: speak to a GP
- ☐ Hand washing, nails, morning showers, hot washes — 2 weeks with medicine, 6 without
- ☐ Don’t shake clothes or bedding; own towels
Questions that remain
Can my child go to nursery?
The NHS says there’s no need to stay off nursery, school or work. We didn’t read Korean rules this time, so check with the nursery.
Do family members without symptoms need treating?
The NHS says treat everyone aged 2 and over in the household.
Is one dose enough?
This page doesn’t mention a second dose. Follow the leaflet or a pharmacist.
Sources
- NHS — Threadworms — source (page shows: reviewed 1 December 2023, next review 1 December 2026; checked 19 October 2026). Appearance and symptoms, how they spread, pharmacy mebendazole and household treatment, when to see a GP, 7 hygiene dos and 3 don’ts with 2 and 6 weeks, school.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on threadworms; Korean product names and classifications; Korean attendance rules.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where else to check
- A pharmacy — how to take mebendazole.
- A paediatric clinic — under 2, or if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
