If pinworms don't go away, you'll experience persistent itching, sleep disruption, and potential spread to others, with rare but possible complications like skin infections from scratching, urinary tract infections (UTIs) or vulvovaginitis in girls, or even appendicitis in very severe, long-term cases, requiring medical treatment to break the cycle.
The medications used for the treatment of pinworm are either mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate, or albendazole. Pyrantel pamoate is available without prescription. Treatment involves two doses of medication with the second dose given two weeks after the first dose.
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.
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.
Complications. Most often, pinworm infections don't cause serious problems called complications. Rarely, having many pinworms in the body can cause infection of female genitals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It takes 2 to 8 weeks from the time a person is exposed until symptoms start. As long as eggs are present. Eggs can cause infection even when they have been outside the body for as long as 2 to 3 weeks. Recommend parents/guardians call their healthcare provider if they suspect pinworms.
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.
Other types of worms may not cause any symptoms for example pork and beef tapeworms or strongyloides stercoralis. Other types of worms, such as dog tapeworm, may only cause symptoms after a long time, or if there is a severe infection.
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.
Treatment consists of a medicine to kill the worms AND good hygiene to break the cycle of infection described above. You can buy the following medicines from pharmacies. You can also get them on prescription. Mebendazole is the usual treatment for people aged over 2 years.
Pinworms don't cause any harm (just itching and restless sleep), and it won't take long to get rid of them.
EMVERM has a 95% cure rate against pinworm 1
Can I Take Repeat Doses If Threadworms Come Back? Ovex is an effective treatment against threadworms so one dose should do the trick. If you still see live threadworms after more than a week, then you may need to take a second dose two weeks after the first.
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.
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.
It starts to work straight away but it may take several days to kill all the worms. Mebendazole kills worms but not their eggs. You may need to take a second dose after 2 weeks.
COMBANTRIN® is only effective against adult worms, which means any eggs or immature worms inside the body might still linger after the initial treatment. In order to minimise the risk of reinfestation, a follow-up treatment two to four weeks later is strongly recommended if symptoms are still present.
The eye worm -Loa loa
The larvae of this nematode worm infect humans through fly bites, and the adult can travel through the body's tissue for years. Most common in west and central Africa, symptoms include itching, swelling and even brain damage in very unlucky victims.
Chagas disease is often called a silent killer because many people don't realize they have it until complications from the infection kill them.
Knowing if you have parasites involves recognizing symptoms like digestive issues (diarrhea, bloating, pain), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, skin rashes, or muscle aches, but often infections are subtle or asymptomatic, so a doctor's diagnosis through stool samples or blood tests is crucial for confirmation, especially if you have persistent symptoms like fever, extreme fatigue, or blood in your stool.