About Pinworms: "Mommy, My Butt Itches!"

Pinworm infections, also known as Enterobius vermicular is infections, are very common all around the world. It is estimated that there are more than 40 million cases of pinworm infections in the United States alone each year. This makes it the most common of all worm infections in the United States. Pinworm infections can affect people of all ages, however; it is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 10. It occurs in all groups of people, but is most commonly spread from human to human when there are close and crowded living conditions. It is very common for an entire family to be infected at one time. Human beings are the only natural host for pinworms; they do not live on animals.

The most common symptom of pinworm infection is an itchy rectal area. The symptoms seem to worsen at nighttime. This is when the female pinworms are the most active and will crawl out of a person's anus to deposit eggs. Pinworm infections are very irritating, but do not commonly lead to serious health problems.

Pinworms are spread when a person who is infected begins to scratch their perinea area. The eggs that have been deposited by the female pinworm can get under a person's fingernails and spread to anything that they touch. If another person then touches an infected object, they can easily get the pinworm infection themselves. Secondary infections can occur when the skin becomes torn from excessive scratching.

It takes several weeks for the eggs to hatch and mature into adult pinworms. When they do mature, they tend to migrate to the area that lies between the small and large intestine. Once the pinworms mature even more and the female is ready to lay her eggs, she will migrate to the rectum awaiting the right time to lay her eggs in the anal area. The female adult pinworm lives in a human for as long as three months. The eggs may die within one or two days when the environment is warm and dry. If the area is cool and humid, they eggs can live for up to two weeks.

It is very uncommon for pinworms to go to any other part of the body. Areas such as the vagina and urinary tract have been infected, but it is quite rare. The symptoms of itching is the chief complaint, and because it is not the natural area for pinworm infection, it normally clears from these areas on its own.

Pinworms are not a cause of abdominal pain, bloody stool, fever, or poor appetite. If these symptoms occur, there may be a serious problem and the person should seek medical assistance right away. Although very rare, adult pinworms have been in inflamed appendices that were surgically removed. It is quite a controversial issue as to whether the pinworm was responsible for the adenoiditis or not. Still, it is better to be safe than to be sorry. If you are experiencing any abdominal pain, high fever, bloody stool, or lack of appetite, it is best to seek medical treatment.

Pinworms can be seen with the naked eye. They appear yellow-white in color and look like a very fine piece of thread. In general, they are less than ½ of an inch long. The best time to see them is a few hours after going to bed. They can also, at times, be seen on the outside of a person's stool.

If you suspect that you or your child has pinworms, but cannot see them, you can do what is known as the "scotch-tape test". To do this, you will want to wrap scotch-tape around the end of a tongue depressor or clean popsicle stick with the sticky side out. Then, you press the tape to the anal area to collect any eggs that may be present. When doing this test, it is best to use several pieces of tape to take to your doctor. The more samples that you obtain, the more likely it will be that eggs can be detected. Blood tests are not needed to diagnose pinworm infection. Sometimes, a doctor will not do any tests at all, but treat for pinworms based on the symptoms; it is also common for an entire household to require treatment at once and is sometimes done as a precaution.

Treatment normally consists of two doses of medication taken two weeks apart. The second dose is to help prevent re-infestation. It is also necessary to wash all bedding, clothing, toys to kill any eggs that may be present. One washing will not do, clothing should be washed daily, bedding every 3 to 7 days, and toys after each use. Hand washing after using the restroom is a must and should be practiced diligently.

Pinworm infections commonly re-occur even several months after being treated. For this reason, if any symptoms reappear, you should be treated again right away. In order to prevent pinworm infection and re-infection, good hand washing practices should be used at all times. A person should avoid scratching their anal area or biting their fingernails. Fingernails should be kept clean and short, bedding and all clothing, including pajamas should be washed regularly, underwear should be changed daily, play areas should be vacuumed or cleaned often. These preventative measures can help stop pinworm infections, but even with prevention, it is possible to spread pinworms.

If you think that you or your child may have a pinworm infection, it is best to go to the doctor to be treated. The sooner it is caught, the less likely you are to become re-infected later.

Sources:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/pinworms/article.htm.