No, hand sanitizer is generally not effective at killing pinworm eggs, which are the main source of spreading infection; thorough washing with soap and water, keeping nails short, and frequent cleaning of bedding/surfaces are essential for prevention and controlling pinworms, along with prescribed medication. While hand sanitizer helps when soap and water aren't available for general germs, it doesn't reliably eliminate tough pinworm eggs.
Medicine can kill pinworms but not their eggs which can survive outside of the body for up to two weeks. Hand sanitiser is not effective against threadworms or their eggs, the best thing to do is wash hands regularly, scrub under fingernails, and wash clothing and bedsheets on hot cycles regularly.
Contec ProChlor V is a powerful ready-to-use biocide with efficacy against both a wide range of micro-organisms including spores and pin-worm eggs. Using a patented process Contec ProChlor V provides a 95% reduction in pinworm eggs in 10 minutes.
2. Home Treatments for Pinworm Infection
To lower your risk of getting or spreading an infection, wash your hands well. Be sure to wash after using the toilet or changing a diaper, and before eating. Wash yourself in the morning. Pinworms lay their eggs at night.
How are pinworms treated? Your child will need to take an oral (taken by mouth) anti-parasitic medication to kill the worms. They'll take one dose immediately and another dose two weeks later to be sure all the worms are gone.
Once they have entered humans by penetrating the skin, the larvae of some worms, for example dog hookworm (ancylostoma caninum) or strongyloides, can migrate under the skin. This can cause diagnostic pink or red curving tracks known as larva migrans or larva currens. The tracks may be raised and cause intense itching.
If a problem is occurring, then daily bathing is best. If the skin is irritated a dilute mild antiseptic can help. Applying Vaseline to the skin after cleaning can help protect the skin and prevent the eggs sticking.
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.
Preventing another pinworm infection
A person will remain infectious for as long as there are worms laying eggs on the skin around his or her rectum. Pinworm eggs can remain infectious in an indoor environment for two to three weeks. A person can also reinfect themselves or be re-infected by eggs from another person.
Disinfectants are not very effective against pinworms. Use regular soap. Clean small surfaces at the same time so as not to spread eggs.
Pinworms thrive on sugar and refined carbohydrates. Starve them of their favorite food by limiting or totally avoiding your intake of those items. Eat lots of foods that are high in fiber, such as raw vegetables and whole grains.
Clean the anus with soap and water after each bowel movement. Use clean washcloths or paper towels each time. Scrub the toilet seat daily with disinfectant or soap and water.
Pinworm eggs are infective within a few hours after being deposited on the skin. They can survive up to two (2) weeks on clothing, bedding, or other objects. The pinworms grow to adult size within two (2) to six (6) weeks. Pinworm infections can be spread as long as either worms or eggs are present.
How do you get pinworms? Pinworm eggs are spread from direct transfer between hands and anus to the same person or others. Indirectly they can spread through clothing, bedding, food and other articles in the living environment. Dust may spread the eggs in heavily contaminated households and indoor environments.
To help prevent spread within the home, when pinworms are identified in one family member, use these precautions: Treat any person who sleeps in the same bed as the infected child. Treat non-bed sharing family members only if they have symptoms. Treat all family members who develop symptoms.
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.
Do not scratch. Itching around the anus caused by a pinworm infection usually happens at night. Try wearing gloves, pyjamas, and close-fitting clothing to help prevent scratching. Bathe carefully every day.
For the itching, wash the skin around the anus with warm water. For severe itch, use 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid) 2 times per day. Use for 1 or 2 days. No prescription is needed.
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.
Overview
small, white worms in your poo that look like pieces of thread. extreme itching around your anus, particularly at night.
Ivermectin (Stromectol).
Although these drugs kill the mites quickly, itching may not stop for many weeks. Health care providers may prescribe other skin care treatments for people who don't get relief from or can't use these drugs.
Worms have five hearts, shaped like arches. These arches help pump blood through the worm's body – a pretty simple task due to its shape. Worms are cold blooded, meaning they can't control their body temperature, which will be the same as their surroundings.