Is your child feeling restless due to a constant anal itch? This could be due to an infection around the rectum, called pinworms. Pinworms in kids are very common but can be easily treated with oral and topical medication.
Worms in kids usually occur due to poor hygiene and cleanliness. In this post, MomJunction tells you about pinworms in children, their causes, symptoms, home remedies and prevention.
What is a pinworm infection?
Pinworm infection develops in the intestine of young children and is mostly found in kids aged between five and ten years. Pinworms are very tiny but can be seen with a naked eye.
They live inside the colon of a human body and multiply when the female worms lay eggs during the night. Therefore, the itchiness is the highest during bedtime.
What does a pinworm look like?
Pinworms look similar to small pieces of dental floss or white cotton thread. Hence, they are also called threadworms. They are about half an inch in size and look like a jelly type structure.
Is a pinworm infection harmful to kids?
No, worms in children are not harmful or life-threatening. An infection caused by pinworms only results in severe itching and sleepless nights. But it is always advisable to take precautions and seek expert advice.
There are various remedies to cure pinworm infection and visiting a doctor would help in recovering faster.
Is pinworm infection contagious?
Yes, an infection caused by pinworms is contagious and spreads quickly among children, especially those who are in daycare facilities. It can spread through a toilet seat, not maintaining a hygienic environment and through other ways, which we will see next.
How does pinworm infection spread?
A very significant cause of pinworm infection is the lack of hygiene. Threadworms in children can spread in the following ways:
- Transfer of eggs: When an infected child scratches their anus and touches any object, the eggs can transfer from their hands to the object, and spread to other children when they use the same unclean object.
- Air: Eggs can also be present in the air exhaled by an infected person. Thus, pinworm infection can spread even when the eggs get deposited on a food item, and a child eats it.
Pinworm eggs have a life of about two weeks when they are deposited on clothing, bedsheets or any object. Therefore, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene is extremely important to keep your children safe.
Symptoms of a pinworm infection
Here are the most common symptoms of worms in children (1):
Normal symptoms:
- Rashes and itching around the anus
- Irritable bowels
- Sleeplessness
Severe symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Vaginal discharge in girls of any age
- Extreme weight loss
- Disturbed behavior
How is a pinworm infection diagnosed?
Tape test is used to identify the pinworm infection in children (2). This test can be performed either at home or at a doctor’s clinic. It does not require any preparation and can be done quickly to detect pinworm eggs around the anal area. Tape test is a common name and is also referred to as Oxyuriasis test or Enterobiasis test in medical terminology.
The test can be done on three alternate days to improve the chances of detection, and involves three simple steps:
- Cut an inch of cellophane tape and stick it firmly near the anal opening for a few seconds.
- Gently remove the tape and place it in a ziplock bag. Don’t forget to wash your hands after securing the tape.
- Take this sample to your doctor for examination of the eggs and worms, if any.
How to treat pinworm infection?
If your kid is diagnosed with pinworm infection, then the doctor might prescribe some medications such as mebendazole or albendazole, and pyrantel pamoate, which is available without a prescription (3). They may also prescribe Terramycin 5mg per pound of your child’s weight (4) .
For the child to recover quickly, give the medicines as directed by the physician and complete the entire course of dosage. Your doctor may advise the whole family to take a precautionary dose of medicines as pinworms are contagious.
Note that it is not advisable to use over-the-counter medicines for children. Therefore, consult a doctor for advice.
Home remedies to treat pinworm infection
Some of the most popular home remedies for curing a pinworm infection are:
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV): The acidic nature of vinegar aids in fighting infections. Mix two tablespoons of ACV in a glass of water and make the child drink it twice a day. This helps in flushing out the worms from the body (5).
- Garlic: Garlic kills the eggs and worms. It can be added in the food or topically applied at the anal area to fight the bacterial infections. Do not use garlic if your child has even mildly sensitive skin (4).
- Virgin coconut oil: Coconut oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties, which help battle the infection caused by pinworms. Swallowing a teaspoon of pure coconut oil in the morning and applying it topically over the anus before going to bed will benefit the child (6).
There is no scientific research to substantiate the cure of pinworms through home remedies, but the effectiveness is anecdotal. A home remedy which works for one person may or may not work for another. Also, do not use home remedies if your child is allergic to any of the ingredients.
How to prevent pinworms in children?
Pinworm eggs can spread quickly if precautionary steps are not taken. Some of the necessary preventive measures are (3):
- Personal hygiene: Do not share towels, bed sheets or any clothing with an infected person. Make the children wash hands and bathe properly. Change their inner garments at least twice a day and wash them immediately.
- Sunlight: Pinworm eggs die when sunlight hits the surface where they are lying. Therefore, open the doors and windows to bring as much sunlight into the room as possible.
- Don’t scratch: Even if the itch is irresistible and out of your control, ask the child not to scratch. Scratching a lot will lead to a rash and complicate the healing process. You can also trim the child’s nails to reduce the after-effect of scratching. Also, let them wash their hands immediately after scratching.
- Laundry: Wash the clothes and bedding used by an infected person in hot water to make the sure infection is completely out.
Next, we answer a few questions that our readers frequently ask.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is it possible to get pinworms from my pets?
No. Pinworms or Enterobius vermicularis can live only in human bodies. Therefore, getting an infection from your pets or vice-versa is ruled out.
2. Can pinworm infection occur again?
Yes, pinworm infection spreads easily and may recur if your child is living in unhygienic conditions or does not maintain cleanliness in his/her daily lifestyle.
Pinworms are not a serious ailment and can be avoided through simple hygiene measures. The best practice to avoid the spread of this infection is to keep your house clean, do the laundry at frequent intervals and most importantly wash the child’s hands every time after using the toilet and before eating any food.
Did you try any remedies to prevent the pinworms? Let us know about them in the comments section below.
References:
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