Pinworms are pesky little critters that can be tough to diagnose and even tougher to get rid of. They are also called thread worms because of their resemblance to a piece of thin white thread. Pinworms live in the rectum when they invade a human. When infected by a female, she slips out of the intestines and lays eggs on the surrounding skin of the anus. Usually this happens when the infected person is asleep.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Pinworm Infection?

Most people have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all because symptoms are caused by the female laying her eggs. Here are some symptoms to watch for:

• Itching around the anus
• Disturbed sleep because of itching
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Restlessness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Itching around the vagina
• Pains in the abdomen
• Discharge in the vaginal area

Who is at Risk for Pinworms?

Those at risk in the United States are school aged children, who are at highest risk for infection, followed by preschoolers. The pin worm is the most common worm found in United States worm infections. In fact some groups have an infection risk of as high as 50- percent.

Usually if one person in a family has pinworms, others are as well. Usually adults are less inclined to get pinworms; however, mothers of children in school and in preschool are also highly at risk. Childcare centers and elementary schools have the most reported cases of the infection.

How Do You Get Pinworms, Anyway?

Pinworms infections are spread by ingestion. An infected person who doesn’t wash their hands may touch a cabinet, table, toy, book or an eating utensil and an uninfected person unknowingly transfers the infection through their mouth.

How Do You Know if You Have Pinworms?

In the middle of the night, shine a flashlight on the child’s anal area to see if any are present. If pinworms aren’t detected at first, but symptoms indicate a good chance of infestation, try a pinworm paddle. Swipe a piece of cellophane tap across the anus. If pinworms are present they may become stuck to the tape.

Other indications can be via a microscopic look at fecal material, or material scraped from under the child’s fingernails. Unfortunately this is not always effective.

Pinworm Treatment

There are effective prescription and over the counter medications that are recommended to treat infestations of pinworm. Your physician or other health care provider can prescribe the right treatment and help with the diagnosis.

Most often the treatment is a medication that is taken in two doses. The second dose is held back for about two weeks after the first. Some physicians recommend not treating the infestation. They will prescribe ointments and other meds to soothe itching and irritation

What Can I Do If I Get Pinworms Again?

Although unlikely, if everyone who had the worms was treated, it can happen. The best way to prevent second infestation is to treat everyone who even has close contact with the infected person, even if they have no symptoms.

Also, it is important to find the source of the infestation so you can be sure everyone who has it was treated. Unfortunately, some people do have to have more than one treatment. Some cases have to be treated up to four or more times, at two week intervals.

HOW TO PREVENT PINWORM INFESTATION

• Shower or bathe in the morning so egg contamination is reduced
• Underwear should be changed and washed daily. It’s best not to wear the same pajamas every night
• Make sure all bedding, underwear and pajamas are changed and laundered. Pinworms don’t like sunlight so it may help to keep shades open during the day
• Always wash your hands after using the restroom, before eating or preparing foods and after changing diapers
• Keep fingernails short
• Avoid biting nails and scratching in the rectal area. These can cause re-infection