Pinworms in Humans. Symptoms. Treatment. Life Cycle. Medications

What are pinworms?

Pinworm is a common intestinal parasitic infestation that affects children. Subsequently, parents get infested by transmission through their children. Pinworms are small, about 1/4 to 1/2 inches long, round, white-colored nematodes. They live generally in the cecum, appendix, ascending colon, and rectum in humans. In fact, pinworms are often confused as cotton threads while seen in the anal area. The female worms move out to the anus and lay eggs around the anus. Thus, it causes severe perianal itching.

What are the symptoms of pinworm infestation?

Generally, pinworms are usually asymptomatic inhabitants of the intestine. However, when they do cause symptoms, there can be a spectrum of complaints.

The complaints include:

• Nocturnal anal itching.
• Teeth grinding.
• Poor appetite.
• Whining.
• Hyperactivity.
• Nervousness.
• Irritability.
• Insomnia.
• Sleep disorder.
• Bed-wetting.
• Stomach aches.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.

Prevalence of pinworms

The epidemiology of pinworms is worldwide. More importantly, the infestations are more frequent in the school and preschool children and in crowded conditions. As a matter of fact, this parasitic worm lives both in warm and cold climates. However, enterobiasis appears to be more common in temperate than tropical countries. Enterobiasis means infection with Enterobius vermicularis, the human pinworm. Eggs will be there in crowded places such as daycare centers, schools, cinema halls, and hospitals. Eventually, it is the most common worm infestation in the United States.

How do you get pinworms?

Eggs get deposited on perianal folds. Thus, self-infestation occurs by transferring the infective eggs to the mouth with the hands that scratched the perianal area. On the other hand, person-to-person transmission occurs through the handling of contaminated food, clothes, or bed linens. Furthermore, enterobiasis can also occur through surfaces in the environment that contain pinworm eggs. E.g., furniture, toys, curtains, carpeting. Moreover, a small number of eggs may become airborne and inhaled. These are then swallowed and follow the same development as ingested eggs.

Life cycle of pinworms

Following the ingestion of the infective eggs, the larvae hatch in the small intestine. The adults establish themselves in the colon. The interval from the ingestion of infective eggs to oviposition by adult females is anywhere from two to six weeks. Altogether, the life span of adults is about two months. Gravid females migrate nocturnally outside the anus and oviposit while crawling on the skin of the perianal area. The eggs become infective in four to six hours under optimal conditions. Retroinfection or the migration of newly hatched larvae from the anal skin back into the rectum is also possible.

Are pinworms contagious?

Pinworms are an extremely contagious worm infection. The eggs can lay dormant up to two weeks if they are at room temperature. They exist everywhere. The pinworm eggs cause your butt to itch. So you scratch at it. Thus the pinworm eggs get everywhere. Under your nails. On your clothes. Furniture, bedding, toilets, bathrooms, toys, food, etc. Even in the dust that hangs around your home. Once this happens, your entire family and their close contacts are almost guaranteed to get the same infection.

Prevention and treatment of pinworms

• Clean everything the infected person has come into contact with. Mop floors to avoid kicking up dust that may contain worm eggs. Wash undergarments, sleeping clothes, and bedspreads.
• Keep hands always clean. Trim nails. Wash hands after a toilet visit.
• Wash hands before preparation and consumption of food.
• Any anti-bacterial soap will usually insure a worm-free existence. Remember to wash hands after visiting public places like schools, gyms, public transport, cinema halls, and any large institution. Let me hope all these would make you aware of the importance of washing hands.
• Discourage thumb sucking. Dissuade children from biting nails.
• Keep hands away from the butts on all other occasions.
• Deworm regularly or as directed by your primary physician.

Other possible areas of infestation

Pinworm vulva (pinworm vaginitis) and pinworm urethra. These cause urinary tract infection. Moreover, pinworm is also suspected as a cause of appendicitis. Because histologic findings of acute appendicitis demonstrated pinworms at the section.

Pinworm synonyms

• Seatworm.
• Threadworm.
• Enterobius vermicularis.

Diagnosis of pinworm infestation

Under microscopic examination of a perianal swab, butt paddle or butt tape, confirm the presence of eggs and larvae. However, eggs are not found in stools.

Medications for treating pinworm infestation

Antiparasitic medications are available. Mebendazole and Pyrantel pamoate are the most commonly prescribed drugs. Most importantly, the whole family should take it in two doses, two weeks apart. In any case, talk to your doctor for the appropriate dosages and intervals.