Contact Us. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Parasites - Enterobiasis also known as Pinworm Infection. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Pinworm Infection FAQs. Minus Related Pages.
On This Page What is a pinworm? What are the symptoms of a pinworm infection? Who is at risk for pinworm infection? How is pinworm infection spread? Can my family become infected with pinworms from swimming pools? My little kids like to co-bathe — could this be how they are becoming infected?
How is pinworm infection diagnosed? How is pinworm infection treated? Should family and other close contacts of someone with pinworm also be treated for pinworm? What should be done if the pinworm infection occurs again? How can pinworm infection and reinfection be prevented? To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. Treatment for pinworm infection Your doctor might want to perform a test to make sure the problem is a pinworm infection.
Preventing another pinworm infection Suggestions to prevent another infection during treatment include: All family members should wash their hands and nails thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after going to the toilet, after changing nappies, before preparing food and before eating food. Discourage scratching of the bottom and nail biting. Keep fingernails short.
Daily bathing and showering. Wash all sheets, bed linen, pyjamas and sleepwear in hot water to kill any pinworm eggs. Clean toilet seats and potties regularly with disinfectant remember to store the disinfectant out of reach of children. All family members should take the medication, regardless of whether they are experiencing symptoms.
Pinworm infection , Department of Health, Victorian Government. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. Related information. Female pinworms move to the anal area to lay their eggs, which often results in anal itching.
When you scratch the itchy area, the eggs cling to your fingers and get under your fingernails. The eggs then get transferred to other surfaces, such as toys, bedding or toilet seats.
The eggs can also be transferred from contaminated fingers to food, liquids, clothes or other people. Typical pinworm infections don't cause serious problems. In rare circumstances, heavy infestations can cause infection of female genitals. The parasite can travel from the anal area up the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes and around the pelvic organs. This can cause problems such as inflammation of the vagina vaginitis and inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus endometritis.
Pinworm eggs can cling to surfaces, including toys, faucets, bedding and toilet seats, for two weeks. You also might see the worms in the toilet after your child goes to the bathroom. They look like tiny pieces of white thread and are really small — about as long as a staple. You might also see them on your child's underwear in the morning. Belly pain and nausea are less common symptoms but can happen if there are many pinworms in the intestines. Your doctor may ask you to help make the diagnosis of pinworm by placing a sticky piece of clear cellophane tape against the skin around your child's anus.
Pinworm eggs will stick to the tape and can be seen under a microscope. The best time to do this is at night or in the morning before a bath when there's the most pinworm activity around the anus. The doctor also might take some samples from under a child's fingernails to look for eggs. If your child has a pinworm infection, the doctor will recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antiworm medicine.
This is given in one dose and repeated in 2 weeks. The doctor may decide to treat the entire family, especially if your child has had a pinworm infection before. Although medicine takes care of the worm infection, the itching may continue for about a week. So the doctor also might give your child a cream or other medicine to help stop the itching.
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