Frequently Asked Questions

The most common symptoms of worm infections are an itching bottom, general irritability, lack of appetite and trouble sleeping. Itchy bottom is the most obvious symptom, so you may notice this more prominently than other symptoms. However, worm infections can also be asymptomatic, meaning no visible symptoms are present.

There are a few definitive signs that your child has a worm infection. For threadworms, the first of which is visible worms on the outside of bowel motions. To the naked eye, these will look like fine pieces of cotton thread (hence the name ‘threadworms’) and can be up to 1.5cm long. Read more about the different worm types for a more detailed description, so you know what to look for. You might also spot worms or eggs around the anus, especially at night. This is when the worms emerge to lay their eggs. Wait around an hour after the child has gone to bed, then, using a torch, carefully examine the area. If present, the worms and eggs should be visible to the naked eye. Alternatively, you might try the ‘sticky tape test’. Press a piece of tape against the anus, gently remove, then hold it up to the light – any threadworm eggs that are present will appear as tiny white specks on the tape.

See our symptoms page for more information, or browse the different types of worms to see whether your child’s own symptoms line up.

In many cases, infections don't actually cause many outwardly noticeable symptoms. But when symptoms do occur, they appear in two distinct stages:

1. Early-phase symptoms: newly-hatched larvae can make their way from the small intestine (where they usually live) into the lungs, which can cause a number of symptoms, including fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. Experts are yet to establish why some people infected with roundworms experience these symptoms, while others don't. Early-phase symptoms can become apparent 4-16 days after the eggs or larvae were ingested.
2. Late-phase symptoms: when the worms living in the intestine have reached maturity, they can cause blockages in the digestive system, which can lead to mild abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and eventually, passing the worm in your feces. This doesn't tend to happen until around six weeks after the original infection occurred.