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Pinworms

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Enterobiasis; Oxyuriasis; Threadworm; Seatworm; Enterobius vermicularis; E vermicularis; Helminthic infection

Treatment:

The main treatment is a single dose of either mebendazole or albendazole (anti-parasitic medication), available over-the-counter and by prescription. More than one household member is likely to be infected, so the entire household is often treated. The single dose treatment is often repeated after 2 weeks, in order to treat eggs that hatched since the original treatment.

To control egg infestation, wash hands before meals and after using the toilet, keep fingernails short and clean, wash all bed linen twice weekly, and clean toilet seats daily.

Avoid scratching the infected area around the anus, because this contaminates the fingers and everything else that is touched afterwards. Keep hands and fingers away from the nose and mouth unless they are freshly washed. Carry out these measures while family members are treated with medication.

Expectations (prognosis):

Pinworm infection is fully treatable.

Complications:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Vaginitis
• Re-infestation (repeated infection with the parasite)

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment if you or your child have symptoms of pinworm infection, or if you have seen pinworms on your child.

• Review Date: 9/5/2006
• Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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