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Pinworms are more common than ever imagined. How to naturally get rid of them.
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- The doctor will ask questions about your child’s symptoms and check your child’s bottom. The doctor may ask you to help make the diagnosis of pinworms by doing a tape test: Press the sticky side of a piece of clear tape against the skin around your child's anus at night or when they first wake up (pinworm eggs will stick to the tape).
kidshealth.org/en/parents/pinworm.html
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How do I know if my child has pinworm?
How do you know if you have pinworm?
Can a child develop a pinworm infection?
How are pinworms diagnosed?
When should I contact a doctor for a pinworm infection?
What is a pinworm infection?
Threadworms (pinworms) are tiny worms in your poo. They're common in children and spread easily. You can treat them without seeing a GP. Check if it's threadworms. You can spot threadworms in your poo. They look like pieces of white thread. You might also see them around your child's bottom (anus).
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Mebendazole - Brand names: Ovex, Vermox. Find out how...
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- Overview
- How does it spread?
- Symptoms
- Risk factors
- Diagnosis
- Treatment and home remedies
- When to consult a doctor
- Prevention
- Summary
Pinworms involve infection by a parasitic worm that may live in the large intestine of a human. A child may contract the infection after unknowingly transferring the worms into their body from a contaminated object or through their fingers.
In the United States, school-aged children and preschoolers have the highest rates of pinworm infections.
A pinworm is a small, thin, white roundworm called Enterobius vermicularis that sometimes lives in the human colon and rectum, also known as the large intestine.
Small children are more likely to contract the infection because they tend not to follow common hygiene practices. Children are often in close contact with each other, making transmission more likely.
Pinworms travel from the intestinal tract, laying their eggs on the skin near the anus.
Pinworm infections spread via the fecal-oral route — by the transfer of infective pinworm eggs from the anus to someone’s mouth, either directly by hand or indirectly through contaminated clothing, bedding, food, or other objects.
Since young children often put things in their mouths, such as toys and even their fingers, the infection easily spreads in daycare centers and schools.
In some cases, children or other household members unknowingly transfer worms from bedding, clothes, and other objects. This spreads the worms throughout the home and can pass the infection to other family members.
Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. After a person swallows the pinworms, the female worm travels out of the intestine to the anal area and lays the eggs. Symptoms usually start after this.
The symptoms of a pinworm infection may include the following:
•itching around the anal area
•trouble sleeping due to itching
•irritability
•vaginal itching
Although anyone can develop a pinworm infection, it is more likely in children.
Certain risk factors may also increase a person’s risk of developing the infection, such as:
•attending a child care center
•sharing a household with a person who has the infection
•not practicing frequent handwashing
•living in crowded settings, such as institutions and dormitories
A doctor diagnoses pinworms based on identifying the worms and the presence of symptoms, such as itching in the anal area.
The worms might be visible to the naked eye, on underclothing or sheets, but the eggs are too small to see without a microscope.
A tape test helps identity the eggs. Parents or caregivers should perform the test on the child first thing in the morning before the child uses the toilet or washes. Washing or using the toilet may remove the eggs. To perform the test, use a piece of cellophane tape and place it firmly on the skin around the anus with the adhesive side down. The eggs will stick to the tape. A microscope can then identify a pinworm infection.
People should do the test on three consecutive mornings to increase the likelihood of finding pinworm eggs.
Medications
Treatment involves two doses of over-the-counter or prescription medications spaced 2 weeks apart. Common medications used to treat pinworms include: •albendazole (Albenza) •mebendazole (Vermox) •pyrantel pamoate (Reese’s Pinworm Medicine) Since the infection spreads easily among people living together, treatment should also include all caregivers of the child and people living in the household.
Hygiene tips
In addition to medication, practicing proper hygiene helps prevent reinfection. Caregivers can use the following hygiene tips: •washing hands frequently •keeping fingernails short •working with the child to avoid thumb sucking and biting the nails •changing underwear daily •washing clothes and bedding in hot water Although some people may turn to home remedies to get rid of pinworms, little research supports their effectiveness. Individuals who suspect a child has a pinworm infection should seek help from a healthcare professional before trying home remedies. Learn more about treatment options for pinworms here.
Typically, pinworm infections are bothersome but do not become serious. However, complications may develop in some instances. Possible complications include:
•Skin infections: A secondary skin infection may develop from scratching.
•Urinary tract infections: Females with a serious pinworm infection can develop an infection in their urinary tract. The worms may travel to the bladder leading to an infection.
•Vaginitis: The worms may also travel from the anal area to the vagina, causing an infection.
•Weight loss: In cases of a severe infection, the worms may leech off of the child’s vital nutrients, leading to weight loss.
It is helpful to contact a doctor if any of the above complications develop or if infections reoccur.
Parents and caregivers can take several steps to prevent pinworm infections in children, such as:
•teaching children good handwashing
•washing bed linen and underclothes often
•thoroughly washing toilet seats
•wiping toys
•encouraging the child to shower daily
Pinworms in children involve infection with a small, white worm that lives in the intestines. The worms travel through the intestines and lay eggs outside the skin around the anus.
Symptoms include intense itching. Treatment often helps and includes a combination of medications and good hygiene to prevent reinfection.
Apr 23, 2024 · Pinworm infection is the most common helminthic infection in the US. Although most infected individuals are asymptomatic, perianal itching is the most common clinical presentation. Diagnosis is made by applying adhesive tape to the perianal area and examining for eggs or adult worms.
Jun 4, 2022 · Pinworm infections are most likely to occur in children ages 5 to 10. The tiny (microscopic) eggs are easily spread to family members, caregivers, or other children at school or child care centers. Pinworm infections are uncommon in children younger than age 2.
Sep 9, 2024 · Overview. Pinworms are a type of parasitic roundworm that can infect your intestines. Parasites are organisms (a living thing) that lives on or inside another organism. Pinworm infection causes itching around the anus (butthole). Anyone can get a pinworm infection, but it usually affects children, people living with or caring for children, and ...
How are pinworms diagnosed? Your child's healthcare provider will examine your child and ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. You may be asked to do a tape test. This involves applying the sticky side of transparent or cellophane tape to the skin around your child’s anus in the morning before any washing has been done.
Diagnosis |. Prevention |. Treatment. Pinworm infection is caused by the intestinal roundworm Enterobius vermicularis and usually affects children, but adult members of their households and caregivers, institutionalized people, and those who have anal-oral contact with an infected partner during sex are also at risk.
