Pinworms are the Childhood Infection You’ve Never Heard Of
When we become parents, we know that treating our kids for illness and disease is part of the deal. (Thank goodness for amazing doctors!)
I expected to be dealing with things like strep throat, ear infections and pink eye – even lice and ticks.
We’ve had some more obscure things like ringworm, molluscum and Fifth Disease.
As a forty-something mom of three, I thought I’d heard of everything my kids could bring home. So imagine my surprise when one of my kids got pinworms (also called threadworms).
After my consultation with Dr. Google, I was ready to take action (and you can too!).
Follow along for a crash course on this parasite (yup, you read that right), including treatment options and prevention.
📷: Informed Health
in this article
Everything You Need to Know About Pinworms
What Are Pinworms?
First things first: unlike ringworm, which is really a fungus, pinworms are actually worms.
Pinworms are tiny white worms that live in the intestines. They look like tiny pieces of rolled-up toilet paper.
Pinworms typically affect children ages 4-11, but anyone can get them.
They spread when someone swallows the microscopic eggs, usually on contaminated hands, bedding, clothing, toys or surfaces.
Pinworm Symptoms
The most typical pinworm symptom is itching around the anus, especially at night. This is when the worms are most active because the females are laying eggs while the person is sleeping.
As a result, restless sleep is another common symptom.
Girls and women can also have vaginal itching or irritation.
A pinworm infection isn’t dangerous, but the itching and irritation can be really uncomfortable.
How To Get Rid of Pinworms
At Home Testing
Before you start treating for pinworms, it’s best to confirm your suspected diagnosis.
You might get lucky and actually spot the worms around the anus; however, since they like the damp darkness within the body, that’s not always possible.
The best way to test for pinworms at home is actually really simple: the pinworm tape test.
- First thing in the morning – before bathing or using the toilet – press clear (not translucent) tape to the skin around the anus.
- Repeat for three mornings in a row, and then take them to the doctor for microscopic testing.
- Don’t try to collect a stool sample – pinworm eggs don’t usually reside there.
Pinworm Treatment
Once you’ve confirmed that you have a pinworm infection, there’s an easy over-the-counter remedy.
The actual medication is Pyrantel Pamoate. But you can just ask a pharmacist where to find the pinworm medicine. I got ours at Walgreens.
Everyone in your household should take the pinworm medication, even if they don’t have symptoms, to prevent reinfection.
The medication kills the worms, not the eggs. So you’ll need to take it once to kill the active worms, and then again in two weeks. The second dosage kills the worms from any eggs that hatched in the meantime.
Pro tip: The tiny bottle was only enough for about three doses, so it took two bottles per round to cover our whole family of five.
In addition to the medication, everyone in your house will need to:
- Wash hands often especially after changing diapers or going to the bathroom
- Shower every morning to remove eggs from the skin
- Keep fingernails short and avoid biting them (eggs can get stuck underneath them)
- Wash bedding, pajamas, underwear, towels, and soft toys in hot water – dry on high heat if possible
- For itching, gently wash around the anus with warm water or use a little 1% hydrocortisone for severe itching
- Get medical advice if the person is under 2, pregnant or breastfeeding
See a doctor if pinworm treatment fails after completing the full two-dose regimen and following household hygiene steps, or if symptoms return.
Pinworm Infection Prevention
Handwashing is key to preventing pinworms from spreading throughout your family.
Wash with soap and warm water after using the toilet, changing diapers, touching the anal area and before eating or handling food.
Avoid shaking out dirty laundry because the eggs can fly through the air. The eggs can survive on indoor surfaces for two to three weeks.
FAQs
How do you get pinworms?
Pinworm eggs are spread from direct transfer between the hands and anus to the same person or others.
They can also spread through clothing, bedding, food and other surfaces.
How do I get rid of pinworms?
The medications used for the pinworm treatment include Mebendazole, Pyrantel Pamoate, or Albendazole. Pyrantel Pamoate is available without a prescription.
Treatment involves two doses of medication, with the second dose given two weeks after the first dose. The medications kill worms, but cannot kill eggs.
Can pinworms go away on their own?
No. Untreated pinworms lay more eggs, making it easier for the infection to spread.
What happens if you let pinworms go untreated?
Heavy infestations that go untreated can lead to a urinary tract infection and possibly affect the pelvic organs, but these are rare.
Will I see pinworms in my poop if I have them?
The worm may be seen around the anus. You don’t usually see pinworms on stool.
How long are you contagious with pinworms?
A person is infectious as long as eggs are present on the perianal skin. Eggs can survive on indoor surfaces for about two to three weeks.
Should you quarantine if you have pinworms?
No. People don’t usually need to be excluded from work or school if they are infected with pinworms.
Can pinworms kill you?
Pinworm infections are extremely unlikely to kill you and are generally not considered dangerous, causing only itching and discomfort.
Yes, it’s Uncomfortable, but You’ve Got This!
Like lice, getting rid of pinworms is relatively easy to do, but also a big hassle.
Remember these three things: (1) treat everyone, (2) wash hands often, and (3) launder bedding/clothes daily.
The five of us took our two doses, and I religiously followed all these hygiene tips for those two weeks. My infected kid’s pinworms died, and no one else got them.
If you do those things, pinworms won’t get the best of you either!
