Pinworm

Introduction: Pinworm

Pinworms, also called threadworms, typically infect the bowel of children in tropical areas.

Symptoms of Pinworm

• No symptoms
• Anal itching
• Anal scratching
• Disturbed sleep due to itching
• Vagina itching

See full list of 9 symptoms of Pinworm

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Pinworm:

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Medical Textbooks Online about Pinworm

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Pinworm

• Worms around the anus
• Cellophane tape anal swab

Read more about tests for Pinworm

Wrongly Diagnosed with Pinworm?

• Misdiagnosis of Pinworm

Misdiagnosis and Pinworm

Antibiotics often causes diarrhea: The use of antibiotics are very likely to cause some level of diarrhea in patients. The reason is that antibiotics kill off not only "bad" bacteria, but can also kill the "good" bacteria in the gut. This leads to "digestive imbalance" where there are too few remaining "good" bacteria in the digestive system. The treatment is typically to use "probiotics", such as by eating yoghurt cultures containing more of the good bacteria. See digestive imbalance and probiotics....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Pinworm

Causes of Pinworm

Read more about causes of Pinworm.

Treatments for Pinworm

• No treatment - some doctors recommend no specific treatments other than waiting.
• Soothing ointment - for itching
• Anthelmintic drugs
• Mebendazole
• Pyrantel pamoate (Povan)

See full list of 7 treatments for Pinworm

Videos for Pinworm

Patient Surveys for Pinworm

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Pinworm
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Prognosis for Pinworm

Prognosis for Pinworm: Rarely serious, many resolve even without treatment.

More about prognosis of Pinworm

Prevention of Pinworm

Prevention information for Pinworm has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Pinworm.

• Bathe frequently
• Clean underclothing
• Clean night clothes
• Clean bed sheets
• Washing hands

Read more about prevention of Pinworm

Statistics for Pinworm

• Medical statistics for Pinworm
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Pinworm
• Death and Mortality statistics for Pinworm
• Society statistics for Pinworm

Stories from Users Related to Pinworm

• Not Pinworms, so what is it? Please help...
• Pinworms.. HELP!

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Pinworm, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
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Article Excerpts about Pinworm

Pinworm Infection: DPD (Excerpt)

This infection is caused by a small, white intestinal worm called Enterobius vermicularis (EN-ter-O-be-us ver-MIK-u-lar-is). Pinworms are about the length of a staple and live in the rectum of humans. While an infected person sleeps, female pinworms leave the intestines through the anus and deposit eggs on the surrounding skin. (Source: excerpt from Pinworm Infection: DPD)

Parasitic Roundworm Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)

Pinworms are small, threadlike roundworms found primarily in the colon and rectum. The life cycle of the pinworm – egg, larva, and mature worm – takes place inside the human body and requires from three to six weeks to complete. (Source: excerpt from Parasitic Roundworm Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Definitions of Pinworm:

Infection with nematodes of the genus ENTEROBIUS; E. vermicularis, the pinworm of man, causes a crawling sensation and pruritus. This condition results in scratching the area, occasionally causing scarification. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Small threadlike worm infesting human intestines and rectum especially in children - (Source - WordNet 2.1)