Pinworms: How They Spread and How to Prevent Them

Pinworms are small parasites that can live in the colon and rectum. People get them by swallowing their eggs, which hatch in the intestines. At night, while the person sleeps, female pinworms leave the intestines through the anus and lay eggs on the skin nearby.

How they spread

Pinworms spread easily. When an infected person touches the anus, eggs stick to their fingertips, and they can pass them on directly by hand or through contaminated clothing, bedding, food or other objects. The eggs can survive on household surfaces for up to 2 weeks.

Symptoms

Infection is more common in children. Many people have no symptoms. Some feel itching around the anus or vagina, which can become intense, disturb sleep and make them irritable.

Diagnosis and treatment

A health care provider diagnoses the infection by finding the eggs, often collected with a piece of clear sticky tape. Mild infections may not need treatment; if medicine is needed, everyone in the household should take it.

Prevention

To avoid infection or reinfection:

• bathe after waking up;
• wash pyjamas and bed sheets often;
• wash your hands regularly, especially after using the bathroom or changing nappies;
• change your underwear every day;
• avoid biting your nails;
• avoid scratching the anal area.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Pinworms," from the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. https://medlineplus.gov/pinworms.html
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