Pinworm is an intestinal infection caused by tiny parasitic worms measuring about 5 to 10 millimeters (about half to one centimeter) in length. Other names for a pinworm infection are "seatworm infection," "threadworm infection," "enterobiasis," or "oxyuriasis."
One of the most common roundworm infections, pinworm infections probably affect about 200 million people across the world, including about one third of the population in the United States. Of all age groups, schoolchildren are most at risk for pinworm infections.
But if your child has 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 or play in the mud.
How Do You Get Pinworm?
Pinworm infections are contagious. People become infected by unknowingly ingesting microscopic pinworm eggs that can be found on many different surfaces, including:
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 2 to 4 weeks 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 various surfaces, where they're able to 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.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Often, a person can have a pinworm infection without having any symptoms. When symptoms are present, the most common one is itching around the rectum. After pinworm eggs are ingested, it takes about 1 to 2 months for itching around the rectum to begin.
The itching is usually worse at night and is caused by worms migrating to the area around the rectum to lay their eggs. When a child scratches the itchy area, the result can be eczema or a bacterial infection around the rectum. In girls, pinworm infection can spread to the vagina and cause a vaginal discharge.
If your child has a pinworm infection, you might also be able to 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 when he or she wakes up in the morning.
How Is a Pinworm Infection Diagnosed and Treated?
Your child's 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 your fingernails to see if there are any eggs.
If the doctor finds that your child has a pinworm infection, he or she will probably give everyone in your family one dose of an antiworm medicine that will eliminate the pinworm infection. After 2 weeks, the doctor may give a second dose of antiworm medicine.
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 to help stop the itching.
Routine household cleaning measures (including washing everyone's pajamas and bed linens) will also help reduce the spread of pinworm infection to the family.
When Should You Call Your Child's Doctor?
Consider calling your child's doctor if your child complains of an itchy rectum or always seems to be scratching the rectal or genital area.
You might also want to consider asking your child's doctor about pinworms, among other causes, if your child seems to have trouble sleeping or has begun to wet the bed. (Pinworms can irritate the urethra - the channel through which urine passes as it leaves the bladder and exits the body - which can lead to bedwetting).
Can a Pinworm Infection Be Prevented?
Here are a few ways you can help to prevent pinworm infections in your family:
Remind your child to wash his or her hands after using the toilet, after playing outside, and before eating.
Make sure your child showers or bathes every day and changes underwear daily.
Keep your child's fingernails short and clean.
Tell your child not to scratch around his or her bottom or bite his or her nails.
Wash your child's pajamas every few days.
If your child has a pinworm infection, all members of your household will need to be treated with medication. This will help prevent the infection from coming back in most cases.
As you're trying to get rid of your child's pinworm infection, remember that pinworms are quite common among kids and aren't harmful. By taking a short course of medication and following some preventative tips, your child will be rid of the worms in no time.
One of the most common roundworm infections, pinworm infections probably affect about 200 million people across the world, including about one third of the population in the United States. Of all age groups, schoolchildren are most at risk for pinworm infections.
But if your child has 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 or play in the mud.
How Do You Get Pinworm?
Pinworm infections are contagious. People become infected by unknowingly ingesting microscopic pinworm eggs that can be found on many different surfaces, including:
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 2 to 4 weeks 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 various surfaces, where they're able to 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.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Often, a person can have a pinworm infection without having any symptoms. When symptoms are present, the most common one is itching around the rectum. After pinworm eggs are ingested, it takes about 1 to 2 months for itching around the rectum to begin.
The itching is usually worse at night and is caused by worms migrating to the area around the rectum to lay their eggs. When a child scratches the itchy area, the result can be eczema or a bacterial infection around the rectum. In girls, pinworm infection can spread to the vagina and cause a vaginal discharge.
If your child has a pinworm infection, you might also be able to 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 when he or she wakes up in the morning.
How Is a Pinworm Infection Diagnosed and Treated?
Your child's 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 your fingernails to see if there are any eggs.
If the doctor finds that your child has a pinworm infection, he or she will probably give everyone in your family one dose of an antiworm medicine that will eliminate the pinworm infection. After 2 weeks, the doctor may give a second dose of antiworm medicine.
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 to help stop the itching.
Routine household cleaning measures (including washing everyone's pajamas and bed linens) will also help reduce the spread of pinworm infection to the family.
When Should You Call Your Child's Doctor?
Consider calling your child's doctor if your child complains of an itchy rectum or always seems to be scratching the rectal or genital area.
You might also want to consider asking your child's doctor about pinworms, among other causes, if your child seems to have trouble sleeping or has begun to wet the bed. (Pinworms can irritate the urethra - the channel through which urine passes as it leaves the bladder and exits the body - which can lead to bedwetting).
Can a Pinworm Infection Be Prevented?
Here are a few ways you can help to prevent pinworm infections in your family:
Remind your child to wash his or her hands after using the toilet, after playing outside, and before eating.
Make sure your child showers or bathes every day and changes underwear daily.
Keep your child's fingernails short and clean.
Tell your child not to scratch around his or her bottom or bite his or her nails.
Wash your child's pajamas every few days.
If your child has a pinworm infection, all members of your household will need to be treated with medication. This will help prevent the infection from coming back in most cases.
As you're trying to get rid of your child's pinworm infection, remember that pinworms are quite common among kids and aren't harmful. By taking a short course of medication and following some preventative tips, your child will be rid of the worms in no time.
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