Pinworm infections are caused by a small, white intestinal worm. Pinworms live in the rectum of humans. While an infected person sleeps, the female leaves the intestine through the anus and deposits eggs on the surrounding skin. The main symptoms of infection are rectal itching, disturbed sleep and irritability. Pinworms are the most common worm infection in the United States. School age children have the highest rate of infection. The mode of transmission is the fecal-oral route. You can become infected after ingesting infective pinworm eggs from contaminated surfaces or fingers.
Diagnosis: Checking the rectum at night or first thing in the morning could reveal the presence of adult worms. These will appear as tiny white threads. Occasionally, worms are seen in the stool of infected persons. If you have found worms on your child call the office for treatment.
Treatment: Pinworms are treated with prescription medication which is a two dose treatment. Close family contacts may also require treatment.
To prevent the spread of infection: change and wash your underwear each day, change pajamas frequently, trim fingernails short, encourage good hand washing after using the toilet, before eating and after changing diapers. Discourage nail biting and scratching of bare anal areas, these practices help reduce the risk of continuous self infection.
After diagnosis, linens and towels of the infected person should be washed in hot water. Vacuuming the entire house or washing sheets everyday are probably not necessary or effective.
~Centers for Disease Control