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Ovex information
Ovex Family Pack is a medicine used to treat threadworm (sometimes known as pinworm) infections of the gut. The tablets contain mebendazole, which is one of a group of medicines called anthelmintic. This medicine is for use in adults and children aged over 2 years.
Ovex treats threadworms in family households. Threadworms are a common type of parasitic worm that can be spotted in the stools of young children. Other signs of threadworms include:
- Excessive itchiness around the anus or vagina, especially at night
- Irritability and waking up in the night
In rare cases, threadworms can also cause:
- Weight loss
- Bed-wetting
- Irritated skin around the anus
While it’s more common for children to get threadworms, they’re contagious and can be spread across an entire family if they’re not treated. Threadworms lay eggs around the anus, which causes itching. The eggs then get stuck on your fingers after scratching, and can be passed on to anything you touch, including food. The eggs then hatch when swallowed, allowing the threadworms to spread further.
Mebendazole, the active ingredient in each dose of Ovex, is an anthelmintic — a type of medication used to treat parasitic worm infestations. It works by preventing the worms using glucose in the body, which they need in order to survive. Without glucose, their energy levels deplete and they die within a few days.
In most instances, threadworms will die within a few days of taking Ovex. It’s important to remember, however, that while the threadworms in your body will die, eggs that have already passed to surfaces in the household won’t. In fact, threadworm eggs can survive for as long as two weeks outside the human body. That’s why, after taking the treatment, it’s crucial to:
- Wash your hands and scrub under your fingernails
- Ensure your children wash their hands regularly
- Have a shower or bath every day
- Rinse toothbrushes before you use them
- Trim fingernails short
- Wash your pyjamas, bed sheets, towels and any soft toys your children own
- Clean your kitchen and bathroom surfaces with disinfectant
- Vacuum and dust regularly
- Make your children wear underwear at night and change it in the morning
The regular family pack contains four single dose tablets — one for each member of the family. Each family member should take their tablet with water at the same time. Tablets may be chewed or swallowed whole.
Ovex may cause side effects in some people, though these are usually mild. They include:
- Stomach pain
- Bloating and wind
- Diarrhoea
- Blisters on your skin, mouth, eyes or genitals
- Yellowing of the skin or whites in your eyes
Always read the patient information leaflet before starting treatment.View patient information leaflet
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Authored by Dr Clare Morrison. Last reviewed 01 February 2024 by Liyya Patel and Siobhan Titre.