Pinworms

• Pinworm infection is caused by small, white, worms called Enterobius vermicularis.
• When a person sleeps, female pinworms leave the intestines (bowel) through the anus (bum) and lay eggs on the surrounding skin
• Pinworms are about as long as a staple and live in the rectum (rear-end) of humans.
• Pinworm infection is most commonly found in pre-school and school-age children
• It often occurs in more than one person in the family.
• Adults are less likely to have pinworm infection, except mothers of infected children.
• Child-care centres and other similar settings often have children with pinworm infection.

• The most common symptom is intense itching around the anal (bum) area. 
• Other symptoms can include trouble sleeping, grumpiness and trouble sitting still. 
• The worms may be seen directly in sheets or around the anal area during the night.
• Most symptoms are mild and many infected people have no symptoms.

• Pinworm eggs can spread within a few hours after being laid on the skin. These eggs can survive up to 2 weeks on clothing, bedding, or other objects. You or your children can become infected after accidentally swallowing pinworm eggs from surfaces or fingers.

• Take a bath or shower when you wake up to help reduce the eggs on your skin.
• Change into clean underwear and bed clothes daily, especially after having treatment
• Wash underwear, bed clothes and bed linen of infected persons in hot water
• Because the eggs do not like sunlight, open blinds or curtains in bedrooms during the day
• All family members should wash hands after going to the toilet, before eating and after changing diapers
• Trim fingernails short
• Try not to allow nail biting and scratching bare anal areas
• Pinworm infection can be treated with either prescription or over-the-counter drugs.  Treatment usually involves medication in either liquid or tablet form. Family or other people that have been close to the infected person are also treated. If you think you or your child has a pinworm infection, call your doctor right away.