Symptoms
- Change bed linens daily.
- Wash any soiled clothing, towels, and linens in hot water and use the hottest setting on the dryer.
- Change towels daily.
- Clean the toilet, paying extra attention to the toilet seat, with bleach.
- Vacuum carpets or rugs daily
Causes
Pinworms can rarely migrate into the vagina or urinary tract causing irritation in these regions. Intense itching is again the prominent complaint. This location of infection is less common than the perianal region, and the infection usually goes away on its own. Read more
Prevention
Your doctor is likely to ask a number of questions during your appointment, including:
- When did the itching start?
- Does it occur mostly at night?
- Is there anything that makes the symptoms better or worse?
- Do other family members have similar symptoms?
- Do you know if you or your child has had contact with someone who has pinworms?
- Have you found any dead worms in pajamas, underwear or in the toilet?
Complications
Pinworms, or Enterbiasis Vermicularis, are a parasite for which humans are the only host. This means you cannot get them from the dirt, your cat or your dog. You can, however, get them from your children and your friends. Infection occurs most commonly in children ages 5-10 and does not discriminate among race or socioeconomic backgrounds.
How do I get immediate relief from pinworms?
Can pinworms go away on their own?
How to tell if you have pinworms?
Are pinworms contagious for children?
See more
What is the main cause of pinworms?
Accidentally swallowing or breathing in pinworm eggs causes a pinworm infection. The tiny (microscopic) eggs can be carried to your mouth by contaminated food, drink or your fingers. Once swallowed, the eggs hatch in the intestines and mature into adult worms within a few weeks.
Where do pinworms come from originally?
The earliest known instance of the pinworms associated with humans is evidenced by pinworm eggs found in human coprolites carbon dated to 7837 BC found in western Utah.
Why are kids more likely to get pinworms?
Pinworm Infection Risk Factors But it's more likely if: You're between the ages of 5-10. You live with or take care of small children. You live in a crowded space, like a hospital or jail.
How do you prevent pinworms in children?
How to Prevent Reinfection or Spreading Pinworms to OthersHand washing is most important. ... Keep your child's fingernails clean and cut as short as possible.Teach your child to avoid touching his mouth or biting his fingernails.Have your child shower or bathe every morning.More items...
Do pinworms ever go away?
Threadworms do not go away by themselves, and people do not build up immunity to them, so they must be treated in order to eradicate them totally from the body.
Do pinworms go away?
Pinworm infections are easy to treat, and the pinworms go away. Because the pinworm infection is so highly contagious, it is not unusual for infections to recur.
Can you get pinworms from a toilet seat?
A person is infected with pinworms by ingesting pinworm eggs either directly or indirectly. These eggs are deposited around the anus by the worm and can be carried to common surfaces such as hands, toys, bedding, clothing, and toilet seats.
What is the fastest way to get rid of pinworms?
Pinworms can usually be treated completely with two doses of over-the-counter medicine called pyrantel pamoate, available in the United States under the brand names Pin-X and Reese's Pinworm Medicine. Take one dose immediately and another dose two weeks later.
What happens if pinworms go untreated?
In rare cases, if the infestation is left untreated, pinworm infections can lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. Pinworms can also travel from the anus into the vagina, affecting the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs. This may result in other infections, including vaginitis and endometritis.
What foods prevent pinworms?
Garlic is said to kill any existing eggs and prevent female pinworms from laying more eggs. You can ingest it in small doses or apply it topically like a salve. If you wish to ingest the garlic, dice up a clove and mix it into pasta or sprinkle it on bread. You can also eat the garlic on its own.
How do I clean my house after pinworms?
Wash all the sheets, blankets, towels, and clothing in the house in hot water. Carefully clean everyone's fingernails (which may hold the worm eggs) and cut them short. Scrub toys, countertops, floors, and other surfaces the infected child has touched. Vacuum carpets.
Can pinworms live on couches?
Doorknobs, toilet seats, furniture, countertops, cell phones, remote controls, and other shared surfaces the infected person may have touched, as eggs can survive up to 3 weeks on indoor surfaces.
What are the symptoms of pinworms?
Symptoms of pinworm infection may include: Itching of the anal or vaginal area. Insomnia, irritability, teeth grinding and restlessness. Occasional stomach pain and nausea. Pinworms often cause no symptoms.
What are the complications of pinworm?
Although rare, other complications of a pinworm infection may include: Urinary tract infections. Weight loss.
How long do pinworm eggs stay on toilet seats?
Pinworm eggs can cling to surfaces, including toys, faucets, bedding and toilet seats, for two weeks. So besides regular cleaning of surfaces, methods to help prevent the spread of pinworm eggs or to prevent reinfection include: Wash in the morning.
How big is a pinworm?
Pinworms are thin and white, measuring about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (about 6 to 13 millimeters) in length.
Can pinworms cause sleepiness?
Most people infected with pinworms have no symptoms, but some people experience anal itching and restless sleep. Pinworm infection occurs most often in school-age children, and the tiny (microscopic) eggs are easily spread from child to child. Treatment involves oral drugs that kill the pinworms and thorough washing of pajamas, ...
Medications
Treatment involves two doses of over-the-counter or prescription medications spaced 2 weeks apart.
Hygiene tips
In addition to medication, practicing proper hygiene helps prevent reinfection. Caregivers can use the following hygiene tips:
How to get rid of pinworms on kids?
Make sure your children wash their hands, too. Keep surfaces clean: Clean toys, counters, toilets, utensils, dishes and other surfaces frequently with soap and water to lower the risk of spreading the infection. Shower often: People who have pinworms should shower every day to remove some of the eggs from the skin.
How to get pinworm eggs?
In addition, the doctor may ask you to collect the pinworm eggs using the “tape test.”. To do this: Place a clear piece of tape over the anal area as soon as the infected person wakes up in the morning. The eggs will stick to the tape. Take the tape to the doctor, following your doctor’s directions.
What is the best medicine for pinworms?
The medications used to treat pinworms are: Pyrantel pamoate. Mebendazole. Albendazole. Pyrantel pamoate is the medication most commonly used to treat pinworms.
How long do pinworm eggs live?
Once hatched, the female pinworms make their way to the anus to lay their eggs. Pinworm eggs can survive for 2-3 weeks on fingers, under fingernails, and on surfaces such as linens, clothing or toilet seats.
What is pinworm?
Pinworms, also known as threadworms, are tiny white or light gray worms that cause the common infection called enterobiasis. Usually found in children, pinworm can be treated with anti-parasitic medications that do not require a prescription.
How to prevent pinworms?
The most effective way to prevent a pinworm infection is by practicing cleanliness in the following ways: Wash your hands often: Using soap and warm water, wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, before handling food or touching your mouth or nose, and after petting a dog or cat.
How common is pinworm?
Pinworm infections are very common, affecting approximately 1 billion people worldwide .
How to prevent pinworms in kids?
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 and swimsuits daily. Keep kids' fingernails short and clean.
How to stop pinworm infection in kids?
So the doctor also might give your child a cream or other medicine to help stop the itching. Regular hand washing and routine household cleaning (including frequent changing of underwear, and washing everyone's pajamas, towels, and bed linens) also will help prevent the spread of a pinworm infection within the family.
What is a pinworm?
Pinworm is an intestinal infection caused by tiny parasitic worms. It's a common infection that affects millions of people each year, particularly school-age kids. If your child develops a pinworm infection, try not to worry. Pinworms don't cause any harm (just itching and restless sleep), and it won't take long to get rid of them.
How long does it take for pinworms to leave the intestine?
About 1 to 2 months later, adult female pinworms leave the large intestine through the anus (the opening where bowel movements come out). They lay eggs on the skin right around the anus, which triggers itching in that area. Often, this happens at night.
How long does it take for pinworm to go away?
This is given in one dose and repeated in 2 weeks. The doctor may decide to treat the entire family, especially if your child has had a pinworm infection before. Although medicine takes care of the worm infection, the itching may continue for about a week.
How to see pinworm eggs?
Pinworm eggs will stick to the tape and can be seen under a microscope. The best time to do this is at night or in the morning before a bath (when there's the most pinworm activity around the anus). The doctor also might take some samples from under a child's fingernails to look for eggs.
How long do pinworms live on your fingers?
Contaminated fingers can then carry pinworm eggs to the mouth, where they go back into the body, or stay on various surfaces, where they can live for 2 to 3 weeks.
How to treat pinworms in children?
Some of the most popular home remedies for curing a pinworm infection are: Apple cider vinegar (ACV): The acidic nature of vinegar aids in fighting infections. Mix two tablespoons of ACV in a glass of water and make the child drink it twice a day.
Why do kids get worms?
Worms in kids usually occur due to poor hygiene and cleanliness. In this post, MomJunction tells you about pinworms in children, their causes, symptoms, home remedies and prevention.
How long do pinworm eggs live?
Thus, pinworm infection can spread even when the eggs get deposited on a food item, and a child eats it. Pinworm eggs have a life of about two weeks when they are deposited on clothing, bedsheets or any object. Therefore, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene is extremely important to keep your children safe.
How to get rid of pinworms in a room?
Sunlight: Pinworm eggs die when sunlight hits the surface where they are lying. Therefore, open the doors and windows to bring as much sunlight into the room as possible.
What do pinworms look like?
Image: Shutterstock. Pinworms look similar to small pieces of dental floss or white cotton thread. Hence, they are also called threadworms. They are about half an inch in size and look like a jelly type structure.
How to prevent pinworms?
The best practice to avoid the spread of this infection is to keep your house clean, do the laundry at frequent intervals and most importantly wash the child’s hands every time after using the toilet and before eating any food.
How do threadworms spread?
Threadworms in children can spread in the following ways: Transfer of eggs: When an infected child scratches their anus and touches any object, the eggs can transfer from their hands to the object, and spread to other children when they use the same unclean object.
What causes pinworms in kids?
Pinworms in Kids: Symptom, Causes and Treatment. Pinworms are intestinal infections in kids. It is caused by small parasitic worms. It is a very common infection in school-going children. If your child is infected by pinworms, then there is nothing to worry. They do not normally cause any long-term harm.
What is a pinworm?
Pinworms are narrow and tiny worms. It is a very common type of intestinal infection in human beings. They are normally white in color. Pinworm infections are most common among children within the age of 5 and 10 years. Medication is one of the most effective treatments of pinworms.
How long does it take for pinworms to lay eggs?
In about one or two months’ time , the female pinworms will travel from the large intestine to the rectum. There they will lay more eggs. This initiates the itching desire around the anus of your child. As your child scratches his/her anus, microscopic eggs get transferred to the fingers.
What happens if a child scratched his/her anus?
Normally the symptoms are in the order mentioned above. So, if you find your child scratching his/her anus, then you can undergo medication and deworming session, in order to eradicate any kind of further complications.
What is the best medication for pinworm?
Providing treatment to everyone makes sure that the disease will not spread much. The most effective medications of pinworm are: mebendazole.
How to get rid of pinworms in your home?
These are the few steps you can take to ensure that your home is fully free of pinworms: Initiate the practice of hand-washing for every person in the house. Encourage every person to change their undergarments, every day. Clean your child’s fingernails and make them short.
Is pinworm medication effective?
Medication is one of the most effective treatments of pinworms. Medication through reinfection is effective. However, very rarely the infection turns out to be serious and causes any serious harm to health.
How do pinworms get their eggs?
Pinworms are very small — about as long as a staple. Their eggs get inside the body through the mouth after you touch something that's contaminated with pinworm eggs, then touch your hands to your mouth. After getting in your mouth, the eggs pass through the digestive system .
What is a pinworm?
What Are Pinworms? Pinworms are a type of little worm that commonly infects the intestines, especially in kids . Many of the kids in your school have probably had pinworms at one time, and the worms are nothing to be afraid of.
What do pinworms look like?
They look like tiny pieces of white thread. You also might see them on your underwear when you wake up in the morning. But the pinworm eggs are too tiny to be seen without a microscope. The itching from the pinworms might wake you up in the middle of the night and make you squirm a lot.
How to keep pinworms away from your fingernails?
The best way to keep from getting pinworms is to wash your hands with warm, soapy water before you eat, after you play outside, and after you use the toilet. Try to keep your fingernails short and clean, and don't scratch around your bottom or bite your nails.
How long does it take for pinworms to lay eggs?
The amount of time that passes from when someone swallows the eggs until the worms lay new eggs is about 1 to 2 months. Pinworm eggs can end up on anything touched by someone who has pinworms: on a counter in the kitchen, in a bed, or on a desk at school. The eggs also can be on clothes, towels, or eating utensils.
How long do pinworms live?
The eggs can live for about 2 weeks, and when you accidentally touch them and then put your fingers in your mouth, you can swallow the eggs without even knowing it. Kids in school get pinworms easily because they spend a lot of time with other kids, who may have pinworms.
Where do pinworms go after they get in your mouth?
The eggs hatch in the small intestine, and the baby worms grow and move on to the large intestine. There, the pinworms grab onto the wall of the intestine.
How do you get pinworms?
Because of their small size, pinworm eggs sometimes can become airborne and ingested while breathing .
How is pinworm spread?
How is pinworm infection spread? Pinworm infection is spread by the fecal-oral route, that is 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 articles.
Why do you trim your fingernails after pinworm treatment?
Trimming and scrubbing the fingernails and bathing after treatment is important to help prevent reinfection and spread of pinworms. More on: Handwashing. Back To Top. This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider.
How long after pinworm treatment should you shower?
During this treatment time and two weeks after final treatment, it is a good idea to avoid co-bathing and the reuse or sharing of washcloths. Showering may be preferred to avoid possible contamination of bath water. Careful handling and frequent changing of underclothing, night clothes, towels, and bedding can help reduce infection, reinfection, and environmental contamination with pinworm eggs. These items should be laundered in hot water, especially after each treatment of the infected person and after each usage of washcloths until infection is cleared.
What is the most common worm infection in the United States?
Pinworm infection occurs worldwide and affects persons of all ages and socioeconomic levels. It is the most common worm infection in the United States. Pinworm infection occurs most commonly among. school-aged and preschool-aged children, institutionalized persons, and. household members and caretakers of persons with pinworm infection .
Why does my child itch at night?
Itching during the night in a child’s perianal area strongly suggests pinworm infection. Diagnosis is made by identifying the worm or its eggs. Worms can sometimes be seen on the skin near the anus or on underclothing, pajamas, or sheets about 2 to 3 hours after falling asleep.
How long after first pinworm treatment?
Treatment involves two doses of medication with the second dose being given 2 weeks after the first dose. All household contacts and caretakers of the infected person should be treated at the same time.
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Complications
Prevention
- Symptoms of pinworm infection may include: 1. Itching of the anal or vaginal area 2. Insomnia, irritability, teeth grinding and restlessness 3. Occasional stomach pain and nausea Pinworms often cause no symptoms.