Meg

Baby can get worms, they are spread not only by coming into contact with people who have them, but the eggs can also survive up to 2 weeks on bedding, carpets etc. and can be ingested that way. As for treatment, some treatments aren't suitable for baby's under 12months, but check with your GP or pharmacist coz the whole family should be treated if one person has worms, as well as all bedding etc washed. But I can sympatise with your poor dd having them. I seemed to get them quite often in primary school(how embarrassing! ), so know how horrible it feels!

Mooshie, as for 'diagnosing' worms, the itchy bum is a definite sign, and (from experience )they seem to be more active at night. My mum always knew what it was when i woke in the middle of the night crying from an itchy bum...If it does happen, with a quick check of your childs bottom you should be able to confirm that's what it is.

The theorys I've heard about how you get them include playing in the sand, and the big one was biting your nails (which I did quite badly). Don't know how true either of these are, they're probably just scare tactics used to stop me from biting my nails when I was a child! I do know that you can't get them from your pets though, that's a different type of worm.

Hope that helps a little bit, they sound scary, but are more embarassing than anything.

Bel