Pinworms, also known as nematodes, are tiny white or light gray worms that cause intestinal parasitism. They are commonly found in children and can be treated with over-the-counter antiparasitic medications.
What is a Pinworm?
Pinworms are intestinal nematodes, parasitic worms that live in the intestines and rectum of infected individuals. The worms are small and thin (approximately up to 2 cm long) and are white or light gray in color.
What is a Worm Infection?
A worm infection is called a parasitosis. It is the most common type of worm infection in the United States. Although a worm infection needs to be treated, it usually does not cause serious medical problems.
Worm infections are very common, affecting about 1 billion people worldwide.
People of all ages can be infected with worms, but infections are more frequently found in children. Caregivers and family members of infected children are at a higher risk of infection.
Daycare centers, preschools, and schools are often sources of worm infections. People living in institutions are also commonly affected by pinworms.
What are the Symptoms of Worm Infections?
Symptoms of a worm infection include:
- Anal itching, especially at night: They lay their eggs around the anus at night, causing itching and irritation. While symptoms are usually mild, anal itching can be severe.
- Insomnia: Because anal itching is worse at night, individuals suffering from a pinworm infection may have trouble sleeping, leading to decreased concentration, fatigue, and weight loss.
- Vaginal itching: In women, symptoms may also include vaginal irritation and itching in the vaginal area.
How Do People Get Worms?
How Do People Get Worms?Worm infections occur when someone ingests worm eggs, usually in the following ways:
- Eggs laid on the skin: The worms lay their eggs on the skin around the anus of an infected person.
- Contact with the anus: When the person touches or scratches their anus, the eggs stick to their fingers and nails.
- Transmission to surfaces and others: The eggs are then transferred to surfaces and other people, who swallow them when they touch their mouths.
- Hatching in the intestines: The eggs travel through the digestive system of the infected person and hatch in the intestines.
- Reproduction: Once hatched, the females migrate to the anus to lay their eggs.
The eggs can survive for 2-3 weeks on fingers, under nails, and on surfaces such as bed linens, clothing, or toilet seats. The tiny eggs are only visible under a microscope.
Can You Get Worms Without Being Around an Infected Person?
Yes. A worm infection can also spread through:
- Bedding and underwear: Eggs can spread through contact with contaminated bedding, towels, or underwear of infected individuals.
- Inhalation: Because the eggs are so small, they can travel in the air and be inhaled. Once inhaled, they travel through the digestive system, hatch, and lay eggs.
- Dogs and cats: While worms are usually transmitted from person to person, dogs and cats can carry the eggs on their fur and transfer them to humans.
How Are Pinworm Infections Diagnosed?
If you or your child have anal itching that is worse at night, it is important to visit a doctor. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, especially the anal itching at night. Additionally, the doctor may ask you to collect the worm eggs using the “tape test.” To do this:
- Place a clean 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 instructions. The eggs will be examined under a microscope.
It is best to perform the procedure as soon as the person wakes up, before bathing. You may need to use the tape several times to obtain the most accurate results.
Another way to confirm the diagnosis is by seeing the worms. While the infected person sleeps, mature worms exit the rectum to lay their eggs around the anal opening.
Small, thin, grayish-white worms may be visible around the anus two to three hours after going to bed. The worms look like small pieces of thread, which is why they are sometimes called “threadworms.” You can capture the worms using clean tape or inform your doctor that you have seen them.
How Are Worms Treated?
They are treated with oral antiparasitic medications that kill the worms. You should take a dose immediately and another dose two weeks later to ensure that all the worms are gone. To reduce the risk of reinfection, pediatricians recommend treating family members and caregivers of an infected child
What Are the Side Effects of Worm Treatment?
What Are the Side Effects of Worm Treatment?Before using the medications, you should consult your doctor if you are pregnant or if the infected child is under 2 years old. Side effects may include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
What Are the Complications Associated with Worms?
While serious complications are rare, worms can lead to:
- Bacterial infections: When the infected person scratches the anal area, the skin may bleed and become infected.
- Urinary tract infections: In women, worms can travel to the vagina and cause infections.
- Gastrointestinal and abdominal problems: In rare cases, worms have been associated with appendicitis and inflammation of the vagina and uterine lining.
What Can I Do to Help Relieve Symptoms of Worm Infections?
To relieve itching, you can:
- Wash the anal area with warm water and soap.
- Use 1% hydrocortisone cream on the skin around the anus.
- Avoid scratching the area.
How Can I Prevent Worm Infections?
The most effective way to prevent worm infections is through cleanliness practices, including:
- Frequent handwashing: Use soap and warm water to 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. Make sure your children also wash their hands.
- Keep surfaces clean: Clean toys, counters, toilets, utensils, dishes, and other surfaces regularly with soap and water to reduce the risk of spreading infection.
- Shower frequently: People with worms should shower daily to remove some of the eggs from their skin. Showering is more effective than bathing because bathwater can become contaminated with eggs. Infected individuals should not bathe with others until the infection is cleared.
- Keep nails trimmed: To prevent the transfer of eggs, keep your nails clean and trimmed.
- Avoid touching the anal area: Ensure that children do not touch or scratch the affected area.
- Wash linens, towels, and underwear regularly: Wash sheets daily until the treatment is completed. Be careful not to shake out clothing before washing, as eggs can scatter and spread the infection.
What Is the Prognosis for Patients with Worms?
With proper treatment, worms do not cause long-term health problems. Children or families may experience worm infections several times. If symptoms recur after treatment, you should return to your doctor.
When Should I Call My Doctor About Worms?
If you or your child have anal itching that is worse at night, you should contact your doctor or your child’s pediatrician.
Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21137-pinworms
