What is pinworm infection?

Pinworms are small, white worms that cause intestinal infections. They can affect anyone, but young children are most likely to get them. Treatment is simple.

Symptoms of pinworm infection

Pinworms can cause your child to scratch their bottom frequently if they are infected. In addition, your child may not be able to sleep or move around a lot while in bed at night. Your child may be itchy. Pinworms lay eggs around the anus (the opening to the rectum) when they emerge from the rectum, causing the itching. Eggs remain in the upper part of the intestine until they hatch. Upon hatching, the worms move along the length of the intestine, then out of the anus where they lay more eggs.

You may also see tiny, white worms on your child's bottom at night (less than 1/2 inch long). Worms may also appear in your child's stool.

What causes pinworm infection?

It is easy for children to spread pinworms from one to another, as they are contagious. When children are playing, they can pick up pinworm eggs on their fingers. As a result of scratching their itchy bottoms, infected children can get tiny eggs under their nails. These eggs can remain on your child's skin for several hours. Clothing, bedding, and toys can sustain them for up to 3 weeks. Your child can swallow the tiny eggs if they are on their hands or toys and then put their hands or toys in their mouths. Children who don't wash their hands thoroughly before eating and who suck their thumbs are at an increased risk.

Even though pinworm infections are more common in school-aged children, anyone can contract them. As infected children move around the house, the eggs can be spread, and other family members can be infected. When the bed covers are shaken, adults can breathe in the eggs. However, this is not a common occurrence.

Although pets may carry their own types of worms, they do not spread pinworms.

How is pinworm infection diagnosed?

As pinworms usually crawl out of the anus while a child sleeps, the tape test is an easy way to find pinworms. You should do this before your child uses the bathroom or takes a bath in the morning. Tape the anus with a clear piece of tape. Take a tape of each morning for three mornings in a row. Then you can take the tape to your doctor so he or she can examine it under a microscope for pinworms or eggs. On the tape test, the adult worms can also be seen around the anus.

Can pinworm infection be prevented or avoided?

Pinworm infection-and reinfection-can be prevented or avoided. Here are some tips:

• Make sure your child washes their hands before eating and after using the bathroom.
• Make sure your child's fingernails are trimmed.
• Keep your child from biting their nails or scratching their anal area.
• Make sure your child changes into a clean pair of underwear every day.
• Bathe your child in the morning to prevent egg contamination. Take your child for a shower instead of a bath if possible.
• After treatment, change your child's night clothes, underwear, and bedding.

Treatment for pinworms

Pinworm infections are usually mild and easily treatable. A chewable tablet of a medicine called mebendazole may be prescribed by your doctor. If the infection isn't cured after 3 weeks, a second tablet is taken. You may also be prescribed pyrantel, which is taken as a single dose by your doctor.

If your family has only one child with pinworms, it's often important to treat everyone at once with pinworm medicine.

Pinworm infection

Pinworm infection is highly contagious. It's easy to reinfect yourself if you don't take precautions. Take these steps to get rid of pinworm eggs if you have pinworms in your home. This will minimize your chances of reinfection.

• Warm water should be used to wash all sheets, blankets, towels, and clothing in the house.
• Clean everyone's fingernails (which may contain worm eggs) and trim them short.
• Clean toys, countertops, floors, and other surfaces the infected child touched.
• Clean carpets with a vacuum.

Questions to ask your doctor

• How long will the treatment take?
• When should I call my doctor?
• Can I tell my child's school or daycare that they have pinworms?
• Do I need to get rid of my child's bedding or underwear?
• Do hand sanitizers work against pinworms?
• How can I prevent my housemates from getting pinworms?
• Is it necessary to treat everyone in my house even if they don't have any symptoms?