Pinworms: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Prevention - Moms
Did you know that one of the reasons you wash your hands with soap and water is to remove microscopic worm eggs from underneath your fingernails?
The mere thought of it is gross and embarrassing. However, infection-causing germs are everywhere and they spread quite fast, especially among kids. Not all infections are associated with being unclean, but they are discomforting altogether. That said, worms have a bad reputation for causing disease and death, and some like pinworms are known for irritating the intestines.
According to the CDC, the groups most predisposed to pinworm infections are kids below the age of 18. Additionally, the contagion is the most common worm infection in the United States, and it's more common in households with school-aged kids.
What Are Pinworms?
The New York State Department of Health defines pinworms as white, parasitic worms that affect the large intestines of individuals. The worms are also popularly known as 'threadworms,' because they look like tiny threads of white cotton that can stretch to a length of up to 13 millimeters.
Pinworm infections, enterobiasis, arise mostly at night according to CDC reports. The female pinworms get out of the intestines via the anus. The worm lays its eggs anywhere on the surrounding skin. That explains why a child wakes up less than an hour after falling asleep, complaining of anal pain or itching.
Where Do Pinworms Come From?
Pinworms are intestinal worms that live in the human body and use it to survive and reproduce. The worms lay thousands of tiny eggs that cannot be observed by the naked eye.
Unintentionally breathing in or swallowing pinworm eggs can result in a pinworm infection. The eggs, which are deposited in the anal area, can spread to the mouth by ingesting contaminated food and drinks or through contaminated fingers. Once ingested, the eggs hatch in the colon and rectum and grow into adult worms in two to six weeks.
How Can You Tell If Your Child Has Pinworms?
About four weeks after consuming pinworms, your child may experience interrupted sleep, intense anal itching, and mild nausea.
In a severe case, your child may lose appetite, feel sporadic abdominal pain, have difficulty sleeping, experience severe anal irritation, and lose weight.
Can Adults Get Pinworms?
While adults are less likely to get pinworms, mothers of infected kids can get exposed to the infection, according to MedicineNet.
Likewise, pinworms may contaminate the urethra and vagina through sexual contact with an infected adult.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Pinworms?
If your child is diagnosed with a pinworm infection, the physician will recommend a prescription medication for fighting worms. Also, during treatment, your child may experience mild abdominal reactions and will often require to take two doses to clear the infection entirely.
Strong hygiene precautions can lessen the risk of infection and re-infection. This implies cleaning every surface in your home as well as toys, utensils, towels, bed cloths, clothing, particularly pajamas and underwear. It also means cleaning your kitchen counter and washing your hands before touching any food item.
For mild infections, the home remedies that treat pinworms include eating raw garlic, ingesting a teaspoon of cold-compressed coconut oil, and eating raw carrots to boost bowel movement and promote digestion. Raw garlic and pure coconut oil can also be applied topically to the anal area, according to Healthline.
After receiving treatment, itching should stop within seven days. However if not treated, pinworms can result in Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in women, and also affect the vagina, fallopian tubes, uterus, and other pelvic regions.
Thus, if your child is diagnosed with pinworms, every person in the home needs to get treated too, even if they do not have symptoms.
How Can Pinworms Be Prevented?
Aside from frequent cleaning of surfaces, cleaning the anal area every morning can help lessen the volume of pinworm eggs on your body, given that the worms deposit their eggs at night.
Also, changing bedding and underwear daily helps kill the eggs; also, laundering in hot water produces enough heat for pinworm eggs to dry. Keep your child's fingernails short to prevent eggs from accumulating and encourage your child to avoid biting his or her fingernails.
Along with that, suggest that your child refrains from scratching the anal area and to wash his or her hands well to minimize the risk for infection.
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