Threadworm treatment in London: when a pharmacy is enough and when you need a GP
A child scratching their bottom at night, restless sleep, and tiny white threads in their poo: threadworm is one of the most common childhood infections in the UK, and one of the least talked about. It is harmless, very contagious within households, and usually simple to treat, but there are situations where pharmacy treatment is not suitable and a doctor is needed: children under two, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and infections that keep coming back. At The Online GP by The Wellness, you can speak to a doctor the same day, discreetly, by phone or video, with any prescription sent straight to your local pharmacy.
What threadworm is
Threadworms (pinworms) are small, white, thread-like worms a few millimetres long that live in the gut. The female lays eggs around the anus at night, which causes the characteristic itching, and the eggs then spread on fingers, bedding, towels and surfaces. Eggs can survive for up to two weeks outside the body, which is why whole households so often pass threadworm around, and why medication alone, without hygiene measures, often fails. Many infections cause no symptoms at all; when they do, night-time anal itching and disturbed sleep are the classic picture.
Treatment: what works and what most people get wrong
The medicine is mebendazole, a single dose for everyone in the household over two years old, repeated two weeks later to catch newly hatched worms. It is available from pharmacies without a prescription for adults and children over two. The part most households get wrong is hygiene: medication kills the worms, but only strict hygiene breaks the cycle of re-infection from eggs already in the home. For six weeks after treatment, wash hands and scrub nails after the toilet and before eating, bath or shower every morning washing around the anus, keep fingernails short, do not share towels, and wash bedding, nightwear and towels frequently, vacuuming and damp-dusting bedrooms rather than shaking bedding around.
When you need a doctor, not just a pharmacy
Pharmacy mebendazole is not licensed for children under two or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, so those situations need a doctor's assessment first, with treatment usually relying on hygiene measures alone or a prescription where appropriate. You should also see a doctor if threadworm keeps coming back despite correct treatment and hygiene, if you are not sure of the diagnosis, if there is bleeding, pain or weight loss, or if an adult has symptoms without a child in the household. Your online doctor can assess all of these the same day and prescribe where needed.
How an online GP can help
With The Online GP by The Wellness, you can speak to a doctor the same day, without the embarrassment of a face-to-face conversation about worms if you would rather avoid one. Your doctor confirms whether the picture fits threadworm, advises exactly who in the household needs treating and how, prescribes where pharmacy treatment is unsuitable or has failed, sent electronically to a pharmacy you choose, and gives you the full six-week hygiene plan that actually clears it. A phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150, and an in-person appointment at our Marylebone clinic is £220. Message us on WhatsApp for a free triage and we will point you to the right next step.
What does online threadworm treatment cost?
With The Online GP by The Wellness, a phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150, and an in-person consultation is £220. Private walk-in clinics in London commonly charge £100 to £250 for the same short appointment before any prescription costs. Your prescription is sent to a normal pharmacy, where you pay the pharmacy's own price for the medicine.
Why choose The Online GP by The Wellness
Every consultation is with a UK-registered, GMC-registered doctor, not an automated questionnaire. Same-day appointments run seven days a week, the whole thing can be handled discreetly by phone, prescriptions go straight to your chosen pharmacy, and recurrent or complicated cases get a proper plan rather than another repeat dose. You can also read about our same-day private GP appointments, private GP consultations for children, and evening and weekend appointments.
To get it sorted today, call 020 3951 3429, email team@thewellnesslondon.com or book an appointment online.
Frequently asked questions
Can an online GP treat threadworm?
Yes. Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis from the symptoms, advise on treating the whole household, and prescribe where pharmacy mebendazole is unsuitable, such as for children under two, pregnancy or recurrent infections, sent electronically to a pharmacy you choose.
Do I need a prescription for threadworm treatment?
Not usually. Mebendazole is available from pharmacies without a prescription for adults and children over two. You need a doctor when the person affected is under two, pregnant or breastfeeding, when the diagnosis is uncertain, or when infection keeps returning.
Why does threadworm keep coming back in our house?
Almost always because eggs already in the home re-infect the family after the medicine has worn off. Medication must be combined with six weeks of strict hygiene: morning washing, short nails, hand washing, no shared towels, and frequent hot washing of bedding and nightwear.
Does my child need to stay off school with threadworm?
No. Current UK guidance does not require exclusion from school or nursery for threadworm. Treat the household, start the hygiene measures, and let the school know if asked.
Can adults get threadworm without children at home?
Yes, though it is less common. Eggs spread on hands, surfaces and bedding, so adults can pick it up anywhere. If an adult has persistent itching without an obvious source, a doctor should confirm the diagnosis before treating.
How much does online threadworm treatment cost in London?
At The Online GP by The Wellness, a phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150 and an in-person appointment is £220. The prescription is sent to a local pharmacy, where you pay the pharmacy price for the medicine.
This article is for information and does not replace personal medical advice. Written by The Wellness Team and medically reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. Last updated October 2026.