How to Treat Pinworms

Pinworms are tiny parasitic worms that live in your large intestine. While
they do not pose a significant health problem, they are a nuisance. Symptoms
include anal itching, sleeplessness, irritability, and anal irritation due
to scratching.

Things You'll Need

• Clear Tapes

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Instructions

• 1

  Assess whether you or your child have pinworms. The simplest method is to place a piece of cellophane tape against the anus. Do this first thing in the morning, before bathing or having a bowel movement. The eggs and sometimes a worm will get stuck to the tape. Then they can be brought to your doctor for a diagnosis.

• 2

  Treat the pinworms once they're diagnosed. Many safe and effective medications are available, both over the counter and by prescription. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a recommendation.

• 3

  Treat all family members, whether they have symptoms or not. Pinworms are very easily transmitted.

• 4

  Curing pinworms is easy, but reinfestation is very common. Take precautions to keep this from happening.

• 5

  Discourage children from scratching the anal area. Dressing small children in a one-piece sleeper or pajamas is one way of doing this. The eggs are often spread from hand to mouth, so will this help prevent reinfestation.

• 6

  Wash your hands thoroughly every time you use the bathroom and before meals or touching food; instruct your children to do the same.

• 7

  Keep your nails short. This will prevent eggs from getting underneath them.

• 8

  Don't bite your nails, and discourage your children from doing so.

• 9

  Launder sheets, bedding and towels in hot water. The eggs can live for up to two weeks outside of a human host.

• 10

  Clean and disinfect bathroom surfaces. Wash bathroom cups, toothpaste tubes and other bathroom objects.

• 11

  Vacuum thoroughly. Wash and clean toys and stuffed animals.