How To Get Rid Of Pinworm
The pinworm (Genus Enterobius) is a parasitic roundworm of the phylum Nematoda. The best known is the human pinworm, also known as the threadworm Enterobius vermicularis and the more recently discovered Enterobius gregorii. The adult pinworm male is 1-4 mm in length, while the adult female is 8-13 mm and possesses the long, pin-shaped posterior for which the worm is named. The human pinworm is commonly found in children.
Treatment of Pinworm
•Get yourself tested immediately for pinworms. Your doctor may ask you to help make the diagnosis of pinworm by placing a sticky piece of clear cellophane tape against your child's rectum. Pinworm eggs will stick to the tape and can be seen under a microscope in a laboratory. The doctor might also take some samples from under a child's fingernails to look for eggs. It is important not to continue treating pinworms after you get rid of them.
If your child has a pinworm infection, the doctor will probably give everyone in your family one dose of an antiworm medicine to eliminate infection. After 2 weeks, the doctor may give a second dose of antiworm medicine. Although the medicine takes care of the worm infection, the itching may last about a week after the medicine is taken. So the doctor may also give your child a cream to help stop the itching. Routine household cleaning measures (including washing everyone's pajamas and bed linens) will also help reduce the spread of pinworm infection to the family.
•Anti-pinworm drugs such as Albenza (albendazole), Vermox or Ovex (mebendazole), Piperazine and Pin-X or Reese's Pinworm Medication (pyrantel pamoate) are commonly used to treat pinworms as well as ascaris lumbricoides (the roundworm). It's not a necessity to visit a doctor to get these drugs, as Pin-X is available as an over-the-counter medication. On the other hand, Albenza and Vermox are prescription drugs in the US.
These medicines kill the pinworms 95% of the time, but don't kill the eggs. The person being treated may have to return after a time of two weeks to be re-treated. Another precaution is to wash the hands before eating (to prevent any pinworm eggs under fingernails from being ingested) and to wash any area or clothes that have touched by or been in the vicinity of the infected person. Treating the entire family is often necessary for cure.
•One method is consuming food grade Diatomaceous Earth. It's composed of the remains of single-celled organisms (an algae) from way back in the day when much of the U.S. was still covered in water. It's said that one tablespoon of food grade (that's the important part) diatomaceous earth will cure just about any worm infection, and a number of other intestinal problems as well. Diatomaceous earth isn't just a good natural remedy for pinworms, but is also used in it's various forms as a natural pesticide.
•White willow bark, known primarily as the original source of salycilic acid (i.e., aspirin), is also used as a natural remedy for worms. Two capsules (about 800 mg) of white willow bark extract taken daily for 3-4 weeks (if you can wait that long) should be enough to cure you of a pinworm infection. But, as is the case with many natural remedies, there is no guarantee that this remedy will work. Luckily for you, a pinworm infection isn't considered a very serious infection, and you can find another remedy if this one doesn't work out.
Prevention of Pinworm
Here are a few ways to prevent pinworm infections in your family:
•Remind kids to wash their hands after using the toilet, after playing outside and before eating.
•Make sure your kids shower or bathe every day and change underwear daily.
•Keep kids' fingernails short and clean.
•Tell kids not to scratch around their bottom or bite their nails.
•Wash your kids' pajamas every few days.
Symptoms of Pinworm
Often, someone can have a pinworm infection without having any symptoms. When symptoms are present, the most common one is itching around the rectum. After pinworm eggs are ingested, it takes about one to two months for itching around the rectum to begin.
The itching is usually worse at night and is caused by worms migrating to the area around the rectum to lay their eggs. When a child scratches the itchy area, the result can be eczema or a bacterial infection around the rectum. In girls, pinworm infection can spread to the vagina and cause a vaginal discharge.
If your child has a pinworm infection, you might also see the worms in the toilet after he or she goes to the bathroom. They look like tiny pieces of white thread and are really small—about as long as a staple. You might also see them on your child's underwear in the morning.
If your child has a pinworm infection, all members of your family will need to be treated with medication to help prevent the infection from coming back. As you're trying to get rid of your child's pinworm infection, remember that pinworms are quite common among kids and aren't harmful. By taking a short course of medication and following some preventative tips, you'll be rid of the worms in no time.