Healthy Living

Pinworms

Pinworms are a type of parasite that lives in the digestive system of humans. They are common throughout the world, especially in school-age children.
Adult pinworms look like small, white threads that are no more than 13 mm (0.5 in) long. You need a microscope to see the eggs.

What causes pinworms?

Most people get pinworms by swallowing the worms’ eggs. This happens when someone with pinworms scratches around the bum gets eggs on his or her hands (or under the fingernails), and touches you or a surface that you later touch. Then when you put your hand in your mouth, the eggs go through your mouth to your stomach and then to your rectal area around your bum. The eggs turn into worms in about a month. A pinworm crawls out of the body during the night and lays eggs on the skin around the anus. The wiggling motion when the worm lays eggs may irritate the skin and cause itching.

Pinworms spread easily

in families, daycare centres, schools, camps, and other places where groups of people live. If one person in your family has pinworms, others probably do too. Pinworm infections can happen to anyone. They are not related to being unclean.

Symptoms of Pinworms

The most common sign of pinworms is itching around the bum. Many people with pinworm infections have no symptoms and may never be aware of the infection. In rare cases, itching becomes severe and may cause restless sleep, loss of appetite, and stress. Pinworms don't usually cause serious health problems, and they do not carry disease. Scratching around the bum and rectal area can cause a skin infection.

Treating Pinworms

You can treat pinworm infections with over-the-counter and prescription medicines. These medicines can help keep you from getting infected again and from spreading pinworms to other people. If family members get pinworms again, all family members will need to take medicine to kill pinworms.

To keep pinworms from spreading or getting them again:

• Limit the chances of getting pinworms or of spreading them to others.
• Wash your hands carefully and often.
• Avoid scratching around your bum.
• Keep your fingernails short.
• Wash clothes and bedding regularly.
• Bathe and change your underwear every day.

For more information on Pinworms visit website below:

BC Health Guide
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw50481/descrip.htm

For more information on health and/or the locations of health centres in your area, visit the Resources section of this site.

Source:
BC Health Guide
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw50481/descrip.htm