No, you generally can't have the same pinworm infection for 20 years because individual worms live only about 6 weeks, but you can have recurrent or chronic infections for years due to constant reinfection from eggs that survive and spread easily, often through contaminated hands, bedding, or surfaces, making them seem persistent if not treated effectively.
While serious complications are rare, pinworms can lead to: Bacterial infections: Scratching too much can break your skin, causing it to bleed and become infected. Urinary tract infections (UTIs): The worms can travel to your vagina, enter your urinary tract and cause infections.
Hook worms and tape worms – Usually found in contaminated water though they can also enter the body through the soles of bare feet even without open wounds. These worms are unique because they have a lifespan of several years and can incubate in the intestines for up to ten years.
Anyone can get pinworms
People get pinworm infections from swallowing these eggs after touching an infected person's skin or personal belongings, such as clothing, bedding, and toys. Pinworms can spread as long as the worm remains alive in the infected person.
The lifespan of a worm is 11-35 days, so the chronic disease is due to reinfection rather than persistent infection. Eggs are deposited nocturnally in perianal/perineal regions. Self-infection can occur by transferring eggs to the mouth after scratching the affected area.
Adult worms can live up to 17 years in the human body and can continue to make and spread parasites during this time frame.
Symptoms of a pinworm infection can include anal itching and restless sleep. That's because when their hosts sleep, female pinworms lay thousands of eggs in the folds of skin that surround the anus. But many people with pinworm infections have no symptoms.
Reinfection does happen with pinworm
Reinfection can happen by touching surfaces that have already been contaminated with pinworm eggs by another person. Eggs are swallowed, usually after hand-to-mouth contact, and the pinworm infection begins again.
You can spot threadworms in your poo. They look like pieces of white thread. You might also see them around your child's bottom (anus). The worms usually come out at night while your child is sleeping.
Enterobius vermicularis or “pinworm” infection of the liver is an extremely rare condition with only five cases previously reported in literature. It is characterized by the presence of granulomas in the liver with a necrotic core, containing adult helminthes or their ova.
However, if all of that seems reassuring, you should know that in a few cases a dead parasite can actually be more trouble than a live one. Take tapeworm infections. They're generally limited to one or two symptomless adult tapeworms, which can live in the intestine for up to 30 years.
So a 'cycle' of worm infection can go on and on. Are threadworms harmful? Not usually. The worst thing about them is the itch and discomfort around the anus.
Parasites drain nutrients from your body, leaving you with a constant feeling of fatigue. Digestive issues: Frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain, or bloating can be signs of a parasitic infestation. These digestive disturbances affect not only your physical well-being but also your daily comfort.
Call the doctor if your child complains of itchy skin or always seems to be scratching the anal or vaginal area. Also ask if pinworms could be why your child has trouble sleeping or has begun to wet the bed. (Pinworms can irritate the urethra — the tube through which pee leaves the body — and lead to bedwetting.)
Occasionally, invasion of the female genital tract can occur causing inflammation of the vulva and vagina with rare inflammatory reactions occurring in the pelvis or peritoneum. Appendicitis has been associated with pinworm infection in rare cases.
Mebendazole does not kill the eggs of the worm. This is why you may need to take another dose 2 weeks later to help prevent reinfection.
Fortunately, pinworms are easily treated with anti-parasitic medication, which is available by prescription or over the counter. If left untreated, a pinworm infection typically won't cause any serious problems, according to Shirley. In rare cases, the worms may enter the vagina and cause a discharge in girls.
The best way to diagnose this infection is to do a tape test. The best time to do this is in the morning before bathing, because pinworms lay their eggs at night. Steps for the test are: Firmly press the sticky side of a 1-inch (2.5 centimeters) strip of cellophane tape over the anal area for a few seconds.
Symptoms of other worm infections
Due to the low sensitivity of stool ova and parasite testing, B12 deficiency of undetermined etiology associated with tissue eosinophilia may warrant endoscopic evaluation, as pinworm infestation may be the missing link between the two findings.
Pinworm eggs can also be transferred to the fingers from clothing or bedding, and then spread around the home. Eggs may be inhaled from the air or deposited onto food and swallowed. Pinworms can survive up to two weeks on clothing, bedding or other objects, if kept at room temperature.
Pinworm infection causes itching around the anus (butthole). Anyone can get a pinworm infection, but it usually affects children, people living with or caring for children, and people living in long-term care facilities or institutional settings.
Infection can happen to anyone, regardless of a child's home hygiene. Despite the unsavoury reputation, a pinworm infection is relatively harmless and can be easily treated.
Think Pharmacist. This common condition can interrupt your life, but it's generally not complicated to treat. A Pharmacist can help.
Pinworms are easily treated with an oral medication.
Your doctor will likely recommend that all family members take the medication because you can have pinworms without symptoms. Wash all linens and clothing in hot water; this helps eliminate pinworm eggs.