Pinworms

Pinworms, clinically known as Enterobius vermicularis, are the most common type of worms infesting children, especially the preschoolers and school-going children below 10 years. They are also known as thread worms or butt worms. They are found as parasites in the human intestine. They are tiny worms, the adult ones measuring around 1 -10 or 12 millimetres. They get their name, pinworms, from their long pin shaped hind region.

Pinworms are generally harmless. The most common symptom of pinworms is itching in the anal region. The itching is intense, mostly at night when the adult female worms move from the rectum to the anal region to deposit their eggs. Pinworms do not generally cause a serious problem, though it is quite a nuisance to young children.

How do children get repeated pinworms infestation?

An adult female pinworm deposits thousands of eggs around the anal region. The infection is spread by these eggs. The movement of the female worm from the rectum to outside the anus, to deposit the eggs, causes irritation and intense itching. When this itching occurs and the child scratches the itchy area with her finger nails, and touches her mouth or any object, the eggs are ingested by the child or transferred to the object she touches. The object could be anything like her toys, bedspread, clothes.etc. The eggs may also get transferred to the hands and mouth of another person who touches the infected child’s hands or the objects she handled. The eggs thus have a chance of being ingested.

The ingested eggs stay in the small intestine, hatch into tiny worms, and move to the hind part of the small intestine. Here they mature and mate .The mature female worm moves on to the anal region and deposits the eggs there. If these eggs are by chance ingested by the infected person or others, the cycle is repeated. If eggs are not ingested, the cycle ends here and no more infestation occurs.
The life-time of adult female worms is about three months in the human intestine. The eggs live for about two to three weeks under favourable cool and humid condition, but live for only one or two days if the condition is warm and dry.

Symptoms

• Itching around the anus and vagina, which can be quite intense at night
• Loss of appetite or weight
• Sleeplessness
• Abdominal pain
• Vaginal discharge in girls

Diagnosis

• Pinworms can be seen on the skin around the anus.
• The sticky side of a strip of special cellophane tape may be applied to the skin around the anus. Some of the worms and eggs will stick to the tape and these can be examined under a microscope.
• Child’s finger nails can also be tested for presence of eggs.

Treatment

Your doctor may prescribe a single dose of oral medication, which is
repeated in one or two weeks, to clear the pinworms through bowel movements. She may also prescribe a cream or ointment to stop the itching.

Tap water enemas to flush out the pinworms is another treatment that may be recommended by doctors.

Any one of the family members may be a carrier of the parasite but not show any symptoms. So doctor may recommend treatment for other family members as well.

Prevention

Keep the child and things she uses clean. Helping her practise good hygienic habits is the best preventive measure. Following are some ways to prevent pinworms.

• Help your child to wash his hands cleanly after using the toilet.
• Help your child to wash his hands before and after eating.
• Trim nails short and keep them clean.
• Wash the child’s toys, bedding and clothing frequently so that they always remain clean.
• Advise the child against nail-biting.
• Make sure that the child wears a clean underwear daily.
• Give citric juices. The acid kills pinworms.
• Avoid giving too much of sweets.

Inspite of the preventive measures, you can only minimize the chances of getting pinworms. Complete prevention is not guaranteed.