Pinworms (also known as roundworms) live in the human intestine. These are small, white, round parasites that look like small white cotton threads. They are present all over the world and tend to infest especially children; while they are not dangerous, they are still annoying and can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Examine the Infestation Life Cycle
Step 1. Learn how pinworms spread
They can affect young people and adults alike and are transmitted via the fecal-oral route. They are spread among people through the ingestion of eggs that have contaminated fingers, bed, clothing, and other items. For example, an infested child will have itchy buttocks, and scratching will hold eggs on their fingers or under their fingernails. In this way he can spread them on objects or other people or infest himself again.
Step 2. Assess the risk
As you can imagine, the more time you spend with people who have little (or no) knowledge of hygiene rules, the higher the risk of infestation.
- High risk: children of school or preschool age, people living in institutions (hospices, prisons, nursing homes and so on), family members, roommates and those who care for the first two groups. Babies touch anything and generally without worrying about washing. They often put their hands or fingers in their mouths, touch toys, tables and other objects by rubbing their hands on clothes. The same thing happens in residential centers. Both of these groups of people become a kind of petri dish where pinworms can proliferate.
- Moderate risk: as you can well understand by analyzing people who are at high risk, those who come into contact with some or all individuals belonging to this category are classified as "at moderate risk" of infestation. There is not much to do other than following all standard hygiene rules. Since you can't avoid people just because they are affected by pinworms, all you can do is protect yourself as best you can.
- Low risk: basically all other people fall into this category. Adults who have very little or no contact with people at high or moderate risk or who interact in a limited way with those at moderate risk are unlikely to get infested.
Step 3. Learn about the life cycle of these nematodes
Once the pinworm eggs have been ingested, an incubation period of 1-2 months or longer must be waited for pregnant adult females to mature in the small intestine.
- Upon reaching maturity, females move to the colon and lay eggs around the anus during the night when their host sleeps. In this phase they use a kind of "glue" that allows the eggs to adhere to human tissues and it is this substance that triggers the itching sensation.
- So it explains why itching is typically greater at night: when worms move to the area around the rectum to lay eggs.
Step 4. Learn how they spread
By scratching the itchy spots you can contaminate your fingers with tiny eggs. From here, the eggs enter the body through the mouth or other mucous membranes.
This hand-to-mouth transition can also take place indirectly. The eggs can first pass over various surfaces, such as a shirt or desk, where they can live for two or three weeks and then come into contact with someone else's hands who, without washing them, can put them in their mouth
Step 5. Pay attention to other signs of infestation
In addition to a noticeable irritating sensation in the rectum area, some people may be infested with pinworms without exhibiting other symptoms. However, when "they are" present, the symptoms can be:
- Restlessness, sleep disturbances, especially if they have never been a problem before
- Infantile enuresis;
- Irritability (e.g. episodes of bruxism);
- Vaginal discharge in women
- Skin infections of bacterial origin.
Step 6. Look for the presence of worms
If you show any of these symptoms, you can check for worms with the naked eye in the following ways:
- You can see them in the anal (rectum) area, especially two to three hours after the infected person has fallen asleep. Use a flashlight to see better.
- You can also observe them in the toilet bowl after defecating. Check if they flounder in the stool. The worms are very small, about this long: _. They look like small pieces of white thread.
- You can also notice them in children's underwear in the morning.
Step 7. Take a sample from the infected area
If you suspect a pinworm infestation, your doctor may ask you to put a piece of clear tape over your rectum. That way, if there are any eggs, they will stick to the ribbon. The doctor will analyze it under a microscope to assess its presence.
- The doctor may also take some samples from under the infested person's fingernails and examine them for eggs.
- You can also use a specific spatula. This tool literally collects every element present in the anal area and is placed in a plastic tube for examination.
Part 2 of 2: Preventing Pinworm Infections
Step 1. Practice and teach the correct techniques for washing hands
This is the best way to avoid a nematode infestation. The hands are the part of the body that can spread worm eggs more easily, so by ensuring their hygiene you can avoid this risk. Have you and other family members wash their hands before eating or handling food, after going to the bathroom, and after changing diapers.
- Use warm water and mild soap and scrub your hands vigorously for about 30 seconds. Mentally sing the song "Happy Birthday" or the ABC song twice.
- Wash your hands before, during and after coming into contact with friends / relatives or colleagues who live in institutions (nursing homes, hospices, etc.).
- Keep your hands away from your mouth whenever you go to these places or schools.
- Be sure to wash your hands after caring for children who have been treated for worms.
Step 2. Keep your nails clean and trim them regularly
Avoid eating them. Remember this is a favorite hiding place for pinworm eggs. If you have come into contact with roundworms or have scratched an itchy area where they have hidden (such as clothing or exposed skin), they will go under your nails.
- However, be careful not to cut your nails too short, as this could cause other health problems for you or the fingers of the person you are caring for.
- Always clean the area under your nails with great care when washing your hands, bathing or showering. It should be a normal hygiene procedure to keep the area clean.
Step 3. Do not scratch the skin of the anal area
Make sure the children wear tightly fitting pajamas, underwear, and gloves. This makes it harder for them to scratch at night and pick up worms on their fingers.
Every family member should take a bath or shower every morning and change their underwear every day (showering would be better, to avoid contaminating the water in the tub). During the pest control treatment you should take a shower every evening and morning, to eliminate the eggs laid during the night
Step 4. Avoid eating when in bed
Doing so would increase the risk of coming into contact with the eggs.
Step 5. Run a wash cycle in very hot water and tumble dry on high-heat bedding, towels, and clothing that you fear or know for sure have come into contact with something infested
In fact, to avoid any doubt, you should wash everything in hot water. Just be careful not to mix red socks with white laundry.
Be very careful when handling the bedding, clothing, and towels of an infected person (or who you suspect may be). Do not shake fabrics and wash infested items (underwear, sheets, pajamas, and towels) separately from other clothing
Step 6. Keep the rooms well lit
Keep curtains and draperies open throughout the day, as pinworm eggs are sensitive to sunlight.
Advice
- A pinworm infection doesn't mean a lack of cleanliness. It can be avoided by simply putting in place simple hygiene measures, but it does not indicate that the family or individual is unclean.
- Treatment involves two doses of an over-the-counter or doctor-prescribed drug, and the second dose should be taken two weeks after the first.
- In nurseries and schools where there is a severe infestation, all sick subjects must be treated in the same period and the treatment must be repeated two weeks later.
- Always wear clean underwear and wash it often.
- Eggs are rarely found in stool or urine samples.
- Keep in mind that a new infestation can easily happen. If one or more family members are infected, all people living in the same home must undergo treatment.
- If several new infestations occur after treatment, steps must be taken to identify the source of the problem. You also need to consider the children's school or playmates, caregivers, and other family members, as all could be the source of the infestation.
- Always consult your doctor before managing a case of suspected pinworm infection.
- Use a sanitizer or antibacterial wipes instead of a sponge to clean the bathroom fixtures, sinks, and other surfaces.
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The places where eggs can spread more easily are:
- Bed linen, towels, underwear and pajamas;
- Toilet and bathroom sanitary facilities;
- Food, glasses, cutlery and kitchen counter;
- Toys and sandboxes;
- Benches and tables for lunch in schools.
Warnings
- Pinworm infections typically affect more than one person in home and residential settings.
- In pediatric care centers, there are often more than one cases of infestations.
- Just because you fall into a certain risk category doesn't necessarily mean you will infest yourself.
