No, having pinworms isn't scary; it's a common, harmless, but irritating infection that's easily treated with medicine, though the idea of worms can be unpleasant, especially due to intense anal itching at night. While usually minor, severe cases might cause stomach pain, and scratching can lead to secondary skin infections, but serious complications are rare with prompt treatment.
Overview
If you have pinworms, don't worry. They don't cause any harm (just itching!), and it won't take long to get rid of them. Your doctor will give you some medicine to take right away and then again 2 weeks later to be sure the worms are gone.
Many people feel embarrassed about having "worms." Pinworm infections can happen to anyone, are spread very easily, and are not related to being unclean. They are especially common in children. They are also easily treated.
While pinworm is gross and uncomfortable, it's not serious, even if you don't catch it early. ``Unlike a lot of other parasitic infections, you don't have long-term effects,'' Dr. Ratner said.
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.
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.
Adults are rarely affected, except for parents of infected children. Infection often occurs in more than one family member. While an infected person sleeps, female pinworms crawl out of the anus and lay their eggs on the surrounding skin.
Do pinworms go away if they're untreated? No. Untreated pinworms lay more eggs, making it easier to spread the infection. Your child will need medicine to get rid of them.
❖ Every morning have a bath, or wash around the anus, to get rid of any eggs laid overnight. You must do this straight away after getting up from bed. ❖ Change and wash underwear, nightwear (and bed linen if possible) each day.
Treatment for a pinworm infection involves taking anti-parasite medicine that helps kill the worms. Your healthcare professional may recommend that you and any other people in your home take the medicine. One type of medicine called pyrantel pamoate is sold without a prescription.
Malaria Parasite (Plasmodium)
Not only a killer parasite, but one of the world's biggest killers, the malaria parasite is responsible for around 600,000 deaths a year.
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.
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.
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 cling to surfaces indoors for up to 3 weeks. This includes the surfaces of toys, faucets, bedding and toilet seats. Clean these items often.
Bathe carefully every day. Be sure to clean the skin around the anus. This will remove pinworm eggs. Showers may be better than baths because you have less chance of getting water that has pinworm eggs into your mouth.
Pinworm eggs continue to be present (excreted) in the feces of an infected person for up to a week after the treatment, so precautions should be taken to prevent reinfection by washing hands thoroughly, especially under the nails. Bathe daily. Change and wash clothing and bedding frequently.
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.
If you do have symptoms, it is typically itching around the anus. Female pinworms lay their eggs at night on the skin around the anus, which can cause the skin to itch. Some infected people have difficulty sleeping or restlessness. Some infected people have reported abdominal pain.
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 eggs can survive up to 3 weeks on clothing and other objects.
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.
What are the symptoms of pinworms? They are usually harmless and produce no symptoms except severe anal itching. This itching can sometimes cause nervousness and irritability during the day and restlessness and difficulty in sleeping during the night.
Call Your Doctor If:
Pinworm is seen. Skin around the anus gets red or tender. Anal itching lasts more than 1 week. You think your child needs to be seen.
Pinworms are also called “threadworms.” They're the most common type of intestinal worm infection in the U.S. and one of the most common in the world. They're thin and white and about one-quarter to one-half inch long -- about as long as a staple. Tapeworms are flatworms that look a bit like ribbons.