Pinworm is an intestinal infection caused by tiny parasitic
worms. One of the most common roundworm infections, pinworm
infections affect millions of people each year, particularly
schoolchildren.
But if your child develops a pinworm infection, don't worry.
Pinworms don't cause any harm (just itching), and it won't
take long to get rid of them. And people who have pinworms
aren't dirty - kids can get pinworms no matter how often they
take a bath.
How Pinworm Infections Spread
Pinworm infections (also known as "seatworm
infection," "threadworm infection,"
"enterobiasis," or "oxyuriasis") are
contagious.
People become infected by unknowingly ingesting microscopic
pinworm eggs that can be found on contaminated hands and surfaces,
such as:
- bed linens
- towels
- clothing (especially underwear and pajamas)
- toilets
- bathroom fixtures
- food
- drinking glasses
- eating utensils
- toys
- kitchen counters
- desks or lunch tables at school
- sandboxes
The eggs pass into the
digestive system
and hatch in the small intestine. From the small intestine, pinworm
larvae continue their journey to the large intestine, where they
live as parasites - their heads attached to the inside wall of the
bowel.
About 1 to 2 months after a person acquires the pinworm eggs,
adult female pinworms begin migrating from the large intestine to
the area around the rectum. There, they will lay new pinworm eggs,
which trigger itching around the rectum.
When someone scratches the itchy area, microscopic pinworm eggs
are transferred to their fingers. Contaminated fingers can then
carry pinworm eggs to the mouth, where they are reingested, or to
various surfaces, where they can live for 2 to 3 weeks.
If you're wondering if your family pet could give your child
a pinworm infection, it can't. Pinworms don't come from
animals.
Signs and Symptoms
Often, someone can have a pinworm infection without having any
symptoms. When symptoms
are
present, the most common one is itching around the rectum and
restless sleep. The itching is usually worse at night and is caused
by worms migrating to the area around the rectum to lay their eggs.
In girls, pinworm infection can spread to the vagina and cause a
vaginal discharge.
If your child has a pinworm infection, you can see worms in the
anal region, especially if you look about 2 or 3 hours after your
child has fallen asleep. You might also see the worms in the toilet
after he or she goes to the bathroom. They look like tiny pieces of
white thread and are really small - about as long as a staple. You
might also see them on your child's underwear in the
morning.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor may ask you to help make the diagnosis of pinworm by
placing a sticky piece of clear cellophane tape against your
child's rectum. Pinworm eggs will stick to the tape and can be
seen under a microscope in a laboratory. The doctor might also take
some samples from under a child's fingernails to look for
eggs.
If your child has a pinworm infection, the doctor will prescribe
an antiworm medication that is given in one dose and repeated in 2
weeks. The doctor may decide to treat the entire family, especially
if it is a recurrent infection. Although the medicine takes care of
the worm infection, the itching may last about a week after the
medicine is taken. So the doctor may also give your child a cream
or other medication to help stop the itching.
Frequent
hand washing
and routine household cleaning measures (including frequent
changing of underwear, and washing everyone's pajamas and bed
linens) also will help reduce the spread of pinworm infection to
the family.
When to Call the Doctor
Call the doctor if your child complains of an itchiness or he or
she always seems to be scratching the anal or vaginal area.
Also ask about whether pinworms could be to blame if your child
has trouble sleeping or has begun to
wet the bed
. (Pinworms can irritate the urethra - the channel through which
urine leaves the bladder and exits the body - and lead to
bedwetting.)
Prevention
Here are a few ways to prevent pinworm infections in your
family:
- Remind kids to wash their hands often, especially after using
the toilet, after playing outside, and before eating.
- Make sure your kids shower or bathe every day and change
underwear daily.
- Keep kids' fingernails short and clean.
- Tell kids not to scratch around their bottom or bite their
nails.
- Wash your kids' pajamas every few days.
If your child has a pinworm infection, all members of your
family will need to be treated with medication to help prevent the
infection from coming back.
Remember that pinworms are quite common among kids and
aren't harmful. By taking a short course of medication and
following some prevention tips, you'll be rid of the worms in
no time.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: December 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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