How long does Vermox take to cure threadworm?

Have you and your children all suddenly gotten an itchy bottom suddenly? This may be the nasty threadworm infection. These infections are very uncomfortable as they cause the characteristic severe itchiness around the anus and can be spread very easily. Luckily, Vermox is a very effective treatment for killing the worms. Vermox (or Mebendazole) is a drug that targets worm infections, most commonly threadworm (or pinworm). Now let’s get into some important and commonly asked questions such as ‘how long does vermox take to work?’

How Vermox Works Against Threadworms

Threadworms (also known as pinworms) is a general medicine drugs that can get rid of a few different types of worms. Thread worm can get into your gut and cause gut infections particularly in your large intestine and near the anus. This infection then causes the characteristic symptoms of severe itchiness around the anus which can disturb your sleep. The itchiness is caused by the worms laying eggs around the area. A bit disgusting right? Luckily, we have a very effective treatment for it: Vermox.

Vermox is the brand name for a drug called Mebendazole. This kills worms by blocking them from being able to use sugar which is their energy source. Without an energy source, the worms die very quickly. Annoyingly, the eggs are not affected by Vermox. So to kill off the worms that may come from those unaffected eggs, and fully get rid of the threadworm infection, you will need to take one more dose of Vermox (Mebendazole) two weeks after your first dose.

When Will You Start Noticing Results?

So if you or your kids have been experiencing the horrible itching, the question on your mind is probably “how quickly does vermox kill threadworms?” Actually, Vermox (or Mebendazole) starts working as soon as you take the first dose. However, it might be a few days before you start noticing results as this is the time needed to kill off all the threadworms. Therefore even if you are not noticing results, it is important that you do not stop taking the medication earlier than instructed by your healthcare provider. Otherwise, you may not kill off all the threadworms.

Typical Treatment Duration and Effectiveness

Vermox (or Mebendazole) can get rid of a few different worms so how to take vermox will be dictated by what type of infection you have. If it is threadworms (or pinworms), here is an overview of the vermox treatment duration and effectiveness:

• First you take one dose (tablet) of Vermox.
• Two weeks later, even if you do not have any more symptoms, you take another dose of Vermox.
• If you do this you should be able to get rid of the threadworm infection completely, killing both the initial worms (in the first dose) and other worms coming later from the eggs (treated in the second dose).
• Vermox is a highly effective treatment for threadworms and if other people in your household also have threadworms, they should be treated at the same time to stop further spread of infection.
• Vermox treatment for threadworms is most effective when combined with extra hygiene measures to prevent reinfection. Take extra care to wash your hands, clothing, towels, and bedsheets regularly if there is a chance there has been contact with threadworms. The threadworm infection can spread very quickly and easily so good hygiene is an equally important aspect of treatment.

If you have any other questions or worries about the effectiveness of Vermox (or Mebendazole) treatment for threadworms, please consult a pharmacist or your healthcare provider for more information.

What to Expect After Taking Vermox

If you are taking vermox for threadworms, it might take 2 to 3  days before you start noticing results and Vermox (or Mebendazole) kills the worms. The dead worms will start to pass through your system and you might start to see them in your poo, they look like small white threads. After this, the initial infection should be cleared. However, you still need to keep up good hygiene (e.g wash your hands, bedding, and towels regularly) as the threadworm eggs are not cleared by Vermox. This means you can still spread the infection.

When a Second Dose May Be Necessary

The vermox dosage for threadworms is made up of two parts. As mentioned, Vermox (or Mebendazole) does not kill threadworm eggs. So even after you take the first dose of Vermox and get rid of the worms, you will still need to take a second dose two weeks later to make sure there are no more worms left. Otherwise, you may get another nasty threadworm infection. If you still have any questions or concerns about your threadworm treatment, it is best to speak to your healthcare provider.

Tips to Prevent Reinfection

Although Vermox (or Mebendazole) itself is a very effective treatment, taking care to prevent reinfection of threadworms is just as much a key aspect of treatment. This is because threadworm infection spreads very easily and without extra care, you can get infected again very easily. Here are some tips to prevent reinfection:

• Wash your hands regularly, especially after touching things that potentially have threadworms e.g underpants. Use soap and water and make sure to scrub underneath your fingernails because threadworm eggs can get lodged there.

• Clip your fingernails short and make sure to scrub underneath them when hand washing because threadworm eggs can often get stuck underneath nails.

• Wear underpants at night to reduce the transfer of threadworm eggs and to reduce scratching.

• Wash potentially contaminated material regularly e.g bedding, towels, underwear to prevent reinfection

• Showering in the morning and taking care to clean around the anus

• Complete the treatment plan as instructed. Just a vermox single dose is unlikely to fully clear the infection and increases your (or your close contacts’) risk of reinfection.

When to See a Doctor if Symptoms Persist

Usually, threadworm infections are treated very effectively and safely with Vermox. However, there may be some cases where you should consult a doctor. For example:

• If symptoms of threadworms persist or come back after Vermox treatment
• If the patient is under 2 years old
• If you see blood or mucus (slime) in your poo
• If you are pregnant
• If you notice other symptoms such as vomiting, fatigue, or abdominal pain

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