Pinworms

What are pinworms?

Pinworms, also known as threadworms, belong to a group of parasites called roundworms. They use the human body to survive and reproduce, and live in the large intestine for up to six weeks.

The side effects caused by threadworm are caused when the female exits the anus each night to lay eggs. This is what causes the itching sensation around the bottom. Once the eggs hatch more worms are produced and the infection cycle continues. These worms can live outside of the body for up to two weeks which makes the risk of transmission very high if treatment is not immediately sought.

Pinworm is extremely contagious. Its eggs can be transferred through surfaces that are likely to come into contact with people. Regular washing of these surfaces and cleaning under your fingernails can help to stop the spread of this infection.

Who gets pinworms?

Pinworm infections are more common among children under the age of 10. However, they can be picked up by anyone. It’s believed that children pick up the infection easier due to poorer hygiene practices. Shared toys and equipment also help them spread more easily.

When one person in a household gets pinworms there is a strong possibility that everyone else in the house will get them too. It’s for this reason that we recommend whole families receive treatment at the same time and not just the person who contracted them. ^[1]

How common are pinworms?

Pinworms are one of the most common parasitic worm infestations. It’s not something that you should worry about though. Symptoms are rarely severe, they’re just irritating. Treating this parasite is also pretty easy.

What causes pinworms?

Pinworms are spread when their eggs are ingested. This commonly happens when the eggs get under your fingernails from surfaces or food and are then swallowed. Once swallowed, these eggs will then hatch in the large intestine. The newly hatched worms will then grow into adults which lay their own eggs and the whole cycle starts again.

At night, female pinworms exit the anus to lay eggs around it. Because this causes itching, people tend to scratch their bottom, which gets the eggs under their fingernails. These people then spread the eggs when they touch other surfaces. The eggs can live for up to two weeks outside the body, so the risk of infection is very high.

What are the symptoms of pinworms?

If you have pinworms you’ll usually be able to see them in your stools or on your bedsheets. The worms look like a thin, white thread and are around one centimeter in length. They tend to cause itching around the vagina or anus, particularly at night. This itchiness can wake you up. Less common symptoms can include bed-wetting, weight loss and irritated skin around the anus or vagina.

Can pinworms lead to other problems?

It’s rare that pinworms lead to any serious problems. The main ones you’ll notice are irritated skin around the anus from frequent scratching or sleep problems if the itching regularly wakes you up during the night.

Even though this might not sound severe, it’s still important that you get treatment for your pinworms as soon as they are diagnosed. This minimizes the risk of the worm spreading to other people. Treating pinworm early also lessens the risk of it spreading to other areas of the body and causing diseases. Although this risk is rare, it is still worth mitigating.