Treatment and Prevention of Pinworms

Since pinworms can be common among children from the age of four to six, it is important to recognize what it is and the prevention for this type of itching.

You may ask what are pinworms? That is a very logical question. Pinworms are tiny, thread-like worms that infect the digestive tracts of small children. Adults can also be infected by these worms. These worms live in the upper end of the large intestine, near the appendix, and travel to the outside of the anus to lay their eggs. Most of the time, this occurs during the night. Because it causes itching, a parent may notice that their child is constantly scratching the anal area.

It is important to teach a child to wash their hands after using the toilet and before meals. The reason for this is that if a child has pinworms, if he/she scratches the anal area and later sucks a thumb or licks a finger, the eggs are ingested and the cycle can begin again.

The eggs of a pinworm are very sticky, and can survive on clothing and bedding for days, where other family members can come in contact with these worms.

You may ask what the symptoms are. According to "Kaiser Permanente Healthwise Handbook," the most common symptom of pinworm infection is rectal itching, especially at night time. If the infection is very severe, there may also be abdominal pain and loss of appetite.

Pinworms are common and can affect many families. If you suspect pinworms, the physicians and staff of Kaiser Permanente suggest to go into your child's darkened bedroom several hours after bedtime and shine a flashlight on the child's anus. The light will make the worms move back into the anus. If these worms cannot be seen after checking for two or three nights, it is unlikely that the child is infected.

However, if pinworms can be seen, call the child's healthcare provider to get medication for pinworms. It is important to treat every child in the household between the ages of two and ten. If infection recurs, treating everyone in the family over the age of two should be treated.

On the first day of treatment, all underwear, nightclothes, bedding, and towels should be washed in hot water to get rid of any eggs that might be in these items. Toilets and sleeping areas should be sanitized with a strong disinfectant.

The following are some other suggestions listed in the book: trim and keep all fingernails short, there should be frequent hand washing, and daily showers. Protect the family from the recurrence of pinworms by daily changes of pajamas and underwear.

Source: Kaiser Permanente Healthwise Handbook