I thought I had persistent threadworms, but…
I want to share my experience in case others are facing a similar issue. You can read the full story or skip to the end for the key takeaway.
Two years ago, I contracted threadworms from my boyfriend. One night, he woke up complaining of an itchy bottom and asked if I’d ever experienced anything similar. I hadn’t, but a few weeks later, I began feeling a tickling sensation in my anus in the evenings. After some research, I realized threadworms were likely the cause. A few days later, I found a live worm in my stool, confirming my suspicion.
Feeling distressed, especially after reading horror stories about never getting rid of them, we treated it thoroughly. We both took mebendazole every two weeks for eight weeks, washed our bedding and clothes frequently, and showered twice daily. After a couple of months, the tickling sensation seemed to fade, and we returned to normal life.
However, seven months later, while staying with my boyfriend’s parents, I felt the sensation again. Assuming they might also be infected, we repeated the treatment, and thankfully, it seemed to clear up again after a few weeks.
Five months later, though, the tickling returned out of the blue. Despite our efforts, it persisted, although the frequency decreased over time. I began to suspect that mebendazole wasn’t fully effective, and I worried we were reinfecting each other despite our best hygiene practices.
I found it puzzling that I couldn’t confirm the presence of threadworms. I did the tape test several times but only found something resembling a worm once. My boyfriend rarely felt the sensation, and when he did, it was much less frequent than for me.
My mum suggested it might be a phantom sensation, which I initially dismissed. I was exhausted from the constant cleaning and feared facing this issue for life. Eventually, I decided to consult a doctor for advice on treatment or to rule out other parasites. After examining me, she couldn’t find any signs of worms and diagnosed me with “pruritus ani,” or an irritated anus. She explained that sensitized skin could cause the sensation, especially if I was washing too thoroughly.
That revelation made sense. In my efforts to eliminate potential reinfection, I had been scrubbing excessively, which only worsened the situation.
We quickly adjusted our routine:
a) Stopped taking mebendazole
b) Reduced shower frequency and washing of clothes and bedding
c) Stopped scrubbing so thoroughly in the shower
Within a few days, the tickling sensation disappeared, and it’s been five months with no further issues.
Looking back, I realize the signs were there:
a) Feeling the tickling during the day, not just at night
b) Inability to find definitive proof of worms
c) My boyfriend’s minimal experience of the sensation, which was likely exacerbated by my obsessive washing.
I don’t know how this started, but I suspect it was a case of over-washing snowballing into a more significant problem.
If you’re experiencing similar symptoms but haven’t been able to confirm the presence of worms, I encourage you to consult a doctor. It’s possible that what you’re feeling could be linked to skin sensitivity rather than an actual infection.
For anyone facing this issue, consider using an emollient soap substitute, which is gentler on the skin and often recommended for conditions like eczema.