Pinworms: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment - A Comprehensive Guide

Pinworms are tiny parasitic worms that can cause intestinal infections. Pinworms are the most common worm infestations in humans. Children are prime candidates for getting pinworm infestations.

Contracting Pinworms

• Humans are infected by ingesting microscopic pinworm eggs. Touching infected items such as bed linens, desks, lunch counters or contaminated food, then touching the mouth can transfer pinworms to human hosts.

Infestation

• Ingested eggs travel to the small intestines. There, the eggs hatch and the larvae make their way into the large intestines, where they attach themselves to the bowel wall.

Symptoms

• The female pinworm lays more eggs while in the large intestines. The eggs make their way to the rectal area, which causes extreme itching. Other symptoms include sleeplessness and irritability.

Treatment

• Treatment consists of an initial dose of albendazole, an anti-worm medication. A second dose is required a few weeks later to kill eggs that have hatched since the first dose. Dosage differs for adults and children.

Myth

• Household pets cannot pass on pinworms to humans. Only humans pass pinworms to other humans.