Parasite problems

[Disgusted]

I'm a long-time poster, but I'm posting anonymously for the first time ever. I think you'll understand why. . .

About a month ago, one of my kids started complaining of anal itching at night. I did some research, realized she probably had pinworms, and took her to the doctor the very next day. The diagnosis was confirmed and everyone in the family was treated for them. We cleaned our (already clean) house from top to bottom, washed all bedding, towels, etc. My daughter's infection seems to have completely cleared up, and as far as I've been able to tell, my other child never got it.

But now I have them. And I can't seem to get rid of them. I'm so disgusted, and completely helpless.

I'm being treated with a prescription medication (mebendazole), which doesn't seem to be working at all. 5 days after the first dose of my second round of treatment, and they're still there. I know because I can see them. In addition to the medication, I'm washing all our clothing, sheets, towels, everything every single day to discourage reinfection.

I feel like I shouldn't be out in public, because I could be spreading the eggs even though I'm doing everything I possibly can to avoid it. I'm afraid to send my kids to play with their friends or have any other kids over here to play, because I don't want to spread this. But it's been A MONTH and it's not getting better.

I did some research online, and while the medication knocks the parasites out for most people, it looks like it doesn't work for some people and there are people out there who have had them, despite aggressive treatment for months, and even years.

I'm so discouraged and ashamed (even though I know it's not technically my fault). I don't feel like it's something I can talk to anyone about. I feel alone and I feel completely disgusting. I've withdrawn from my husband and my friends. I can't sleep because I can feel them, and when I can't feel them, I'm still thinking about it. Last night I literally got 3 hours of sleep, which is also not good for my state of mind.

I don't know what I expect this post to accomplish. I just needed to get it all out.

[LakeMartinGal]

Wow! I am so sorry that you're going through this. I have no experience with the situation, but it sounds as though you are suffering. It isn't shameful to have a malady where the treatment doesn't work -- it's awful! Hope your venting helps, and know that you have my sympathy, if nothing else!:)

[ErinM]

I think you need to be talking to your doctor about this, as well as seeing if you can talk with an infectious disease specialist.

Don't rely completely on internet research, talk to a person!

[Disgusted]

Thank you both for replying.

Erin, of course I'm speaking to my doctor. That's where I got the prescription medication--but only after the humiliation of exam--by a nurse who thought the whole thing was very funny (gosh, thanks!). And technically, I'm speaking to three doctors: My kids' pediatrician, who initially diagnosed the problem and treated the whole family; my internal medicine physician; and, as of today, my OBGyn.

I assure you I'm not a complete idiot. I'm just very, very discouraged and I needed a safe place to vent. I really don't think you can imagine the level of humiliation I'm feeling.

[ErinM]

Oh, no, trust me, I can totally imagine it. I think you're brave to even write about here, I'm not sure I would have been able to do that.

I just meant to let them know that what you've been given is not working. The sense I got from reading your post was that you'd seen the dr, gotten the meds, took them and have just researched why they're not working for you without going back to your dr. That was all I meant.

Good luck to you...I hope it does resolve soon.

[ChristineVA]

I agree that you need to see an infectious disease specialist. They are usually the next step with stubborn stuff like this.

[CompassRose]

See if your doctor can get you a referral to a parasitologist. A friend of mine saw one after coming back with an interesting and unexpected souvenir from Jamaica...

I feel for you. I had pinworms once when I was a kid, and your post brought back every horrible sensation. (Over lunch. Thanks. :D )

Try not to be ashamed of it, though. It is, as you say, terrifically contagious, and it's hardly your fault. Hope you can get this resolved soon.

[DeeK]

I also had a resistent case of pinworms back when I was a kdgn. substitute teacher.

I took five doses of the medication before the doctor thought to mention ...you don't swallow the pills whole. You have to chew them. Also, he recommended changing my filter on my vacuum as sometimes the eggs get airborne and you reinhale them. Yucky, I know, but I changed my filters, washed my bedding and undies in hot water and bleach and CHEWED the pills and all was well.

Not sure whether you are on the same meds I was, but you might want to check if that is the situation you are in. It could be a very simple fix.

And, it may seem embarrassing, but don't be. Pinworms and lice are very, VERY common when you have children or work around kids. There is even and over-the-counter pinworm med now, so you KNOW people must need it. ;)

Hope you get rid of the itchies soon.

[Disgusted]

DeeK,
Thanks for posting that. It's comforting to know that someone else out there had a resistant case but finally got rid of it. How long did it take? How did you stay sane?

For what it's worth, I'm am chewing the medicine (nasty cardboardy stuff). I'm going to look into changing the vacuum filter. . . It's probably about time, anyway!

[ErinM]

For anyone who's interested here's what I learned about pinworms, information I didn't know at all:

Somewhere between 10% and 40% of children have pinworms at any given time (Pediatric Consult, Williams and Wilkins 1997).

The infections are usually limited to children below the age of twelve.

Most children with pinworms have no symptoms at all. In the same way that many bacteria live in our intestines without making us sick, pinworms can live happily in our intestines without causing any problems (Parasitic Diseases, Springer-Verlag 1982).

[DeeK]

DeeK,
Thanks for posting that. It's comforting to know that someone else out there had a resistant case but finally got rid of it. How long did it take? How did you stay sane?

For what it's worth, I'm am chewing the medicine (nasty cardboardy stuff). I'm going to look into changing the vacuum filter. . . It's probably about time, anyway!

I had them like ---15 years ago---I don't really remember exactly how long it took. I know it FELT like forever! :o It was probably at least a month since I had five doses of the medicine. I remember it being pasty, minty stuff.

It wasn't so much a matter of keeping my sanity as being very frustrated with the doctor not telling me ALL the things I needed to do to not reinfect myself. Every time I went back he added another something to do. Why didn't he just mention it in the beginning. I believe the drug he prescribed was Ivermectin.

I think the last medication I used was the over-the-counter stuff because I was tired of paying my co-pay at the doctor and not getting results. I figured I couldn't be any worse off. (I'll mention this, but I'm not advocating it ... I took more than the recommended dose --- but, don't tell anyone ;) )

I hope you get relief soon.