How Do You Know You Have Pinworms

What Is a Pinworm Infection?

Pinworm is an abdominal infection caused by tiny parasitic worms. Information technology's a common infection that affects millions of people each year, peculiarly schoolhouse-historic period kids.

If your child develops a pinworm infection, try not to worry. Pinworms don't cause whatever damage (just itching and restless sleep), and it won't take long to become rid of them.

How Practise Pinworm Infections Spread?

Pinworm infections (besides known as "seatworm infection" or "threadworm infection") are contagious.

Pinworms become into the body when people ingest or breathe in the microscopic pinworm eggs. These eggs can be found on contaminated hands and surfaces, such as:

• bed linens
• towels
• wear (especially underwear and pajamas)
• toilets
• bathroom fixtures
• nutrient
• drinking spectacles
• eating utensils
• toys
• kitchen counters
• desks or lunch tables at school
• sandboxes

The eggs pass into the digestive system and hatch in the small intestine. From the small intestine, pinworm larvae get to the large intestine, where they live as parasites (with their heads attached to the inside wall of the bowel).

Nigh 1 to 2 months afterward, adult female pinworms leave the big intestine through the anus (the opening where bowel movements come out). They lay eggs on the skin right effectually the anus, which triggers itching in that area. Oft, this happens at dark.

When someone scratches the itchy area, microscopic pinworm eggs transfer to their fingers. Contaminated fingers can then carry pinworm eggs to the mouth, where they go dorsum into the body, or stay on various surfaces, where they can live for 2 to 3 weeks.

If you're wondering if your family pet could give your child a pinworm infection, it can't. Pinworms don't come up from animals.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Pinworm Infection?

The most common signs of a pinworm infection are itching around the anus and restless sleep. The itching is usually worse at nighttime considering the worms move to the expanse around the anus to lay their eggs. In girls, pinworm infection tin spread to the vagina and cause a vaginal discharge. If the itching breaks the peel, it also could lead to a bacterial skin infection.

If your child has a pinworm infection, you can see worms in the anal region, especially if you look about 2 or 3 hours later on your child has fallen comatose. You also might meet the worms in the toilet after your child goes to the bathroom. They look like tiny pieces of white thread and are really small — about equally long as a staple. You might also see them on your child'due south underwear in the morning time.

Abdomen pain and nausea are less common symptoms but can happen if there are many pinworms in the intestines.

How Are Pinworm Infections Diagnosed?

Your doc may ask you to help brand the diagnosis of pinworm by placing a sticky piece of clear cellophane record against the peel around your child'south anus. Pinworm eggs volition stick to the tape and tin can be seen nether a microscope. The best time to do this is at nighttime or in the morning time earlier a bath (when at that place's the most pinworm action effectually the anus). The doctor as well might take some samples from under a child'southward fingernails to wait for eggs.

How Are Pinworm Infections Treated?

If your kid has a pinworm infection, the doctor volition recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antiworm medicine. This is given in one dose and repeated in 2 weeks. The doc may determine to treat the entire family, specially if your child has had a pinworm infection earlier.

Although medicine takes care of the worm infection, the itching may continue for about a week. So the md also might give your child a cream or other medicine to help terminate the itching.

Regular manus washing and routine household cleaning (including frequent changing of underwear, and washing everyone'southward pajamas, towels, and bed linens) as well will aid prevent the spread of a pinworm infection within the family unit.

Tin Pinworm Infections Be Prevented?

Here are a few ways to preclude pinworm infections in your family:

• Remind kids to wash their hands often, especially after using the toilet, subsequently playing outside, and earlier eating.
• Make sure your kids shower or breast-stroke every day and change underwear and swimsuits daily.
• Keep kids' fingernails curt and clean.
• Tell kids non to scratch effectually their bottom or bite their nails.
• Wash your kids' pajamas every few days.

When Should I Call the Md?

Telephone call the medico if your kid complains of itchy skin or ever seems to be scratching the anal or vaginal area.

Also ask about whether pinworms could be to blame if your kid has trouble sleeping or has begun to wet the bed. (Pinworms can irritate the urethra — the aqueduct through which pee leaves the bladder and exits the body — and lead to bedwetting.)

Remember that pinworms are quite common among kids and aren't harmful. By taking medicine and following some prevention tips, yous'll be rid of the worms in no time.

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Source: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/pinworm.html

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