Pinworms are a common intestinal parasite that can cause rectal itching, but are considered one of the least dangerous parasitic worms. They are contracted through close contact with an infected person or ingesting their microscopic eggs. Pinworms can be treated with medication and good hygiene practices.
No one wants to think about it or admit it, but if you have an itchy back, pinworms could be to blame. Pinworms, a member of the roundworm family, are one of the most common intestinal parasites in the world, infecting more than 40 million individuals each year in the United States alone. Although this parasitic infection can be annoying, the main symptom being rectal itching, they are considered one of the least dangerous parasitic worms. While pinworms occur most often among school-age children, people of any age and socioeconomic class can get a pinworm infection.
Pinworms live in the human intestine, with an adult male generally measuring 1 mm (0393 in) to 4 mm 157 in) and an adult female measuring 8 mm (315 in) to 13 mm (512 in). ) long. The pinworm itself has a long pin-shaped rear end, which gives the parasite its name. Pinworms are contracted through close contact with someone who has them and by ingesting the microscopic eggs laid by the female pinworm.
It can take up to one to two months after ingesting pinworm eggs before pinworm symptoms appear. It is at this point that the female pinworm migrates from the large intestine to the area around a person’s rectum to lay more eggs. When the rectal area is scratched, pinworm eggs can be transferred to the fingers and surroundings, where they can survive for up to three weeks. Pinworm symptoms are usually worse at night, when female pinworms are most active.
Pinworms are usually diagnosed by a doctor from a stool sample. Adult pinworms can be visible to the naked eye, appearing as pale threads in an individual’s stool. They can also occasionally be seen in or around the anus. Pinworms generally do not migrate to other areas of the body, nor do they cause symptoms more severe than itching, however they can escalate to the point where the itching is so bothersome that a patient cannot sleep well at night. Pinworms are not zoonotic, meaning they cannot be transferred from animals to humans.
Pinworms can be treated with prescription or over-the-counter medications. While it’s not necessary to treat all members of a family if one has a pinworm infection, it might be recommended in certain situations by a doctor. Pinworm drugs kill adult pinworms and are therefore usually given in two doses, two weeks apart. Disinfecting household items such as bedding and toilet seats is recommended, and following good hygiene practices generally prevents re-infection. A doctor or other qualified medical professional can perform the required tests, prescribe the necessary medications, and provide proper guidance on how to treat pinworms.
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