How To Treat And Prevent Pinworms

Just the thought of a pinworm infection can make anyone squeamish. Pinworms are small, thin, white worms that infect humans. In the United States, it is the most commonly occurring intestinal worm infection. Pinworms make their way through the intestinal tract, and while an individual is sleeping, female pinworms lay eggs around the anus. It is possible for one female pinworm to lay thousands of eggs overnight. Individuals afflicted with the infestation suffer from restless sleep, insomnia, itching, nausea, abdominal pain, and irritability. This infection affects children and individuals in institutions, but it can easily be transferred to those who come in contact with them and care for them. There are some remedies and recommendations to prevent infection and reinfection from pinworms. Learn about some of them now.

Anti-Parasitic Medication

There is oral anti-parasitic medication patients can take to get rid of a pinworm infection. The treatment involves taking an initial dose of the medication, and two or three weeks later, patients need to take another dose. Patients may need to take more than one course of the medication to fully eradicate pinworms. In addition to the infected person, everyone in the house and all caretakers should be treated as well. If everyone is not treated, it can lead to more pinworm infections.

Additionally, to help relieve the itching around the anus, there are creams and ointments available. You need to make sure any touching or scratching of the area is minimal. Any touching will certainly transfer eggs to the hands, fingers, or other surfaces used to facilitate the scratching or touching. The key to making sure pinworms are gone is removing all sources that lead to reinfestation and eliminate the transference of eggs.

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Clean And Cut Fingernails

Since pinworm eggs are laid around the anus, it is important for individuals to clean and cut their fingernails. This is because when you go to the bathroom, the eggs can easily be transferred to the fingernails and hide there until they are passed on. Then, it can lead to either ingestion or infecting another person, especially if the hands are not washed properly. If an individual keeps their fingernails cut short, it reduces the ability for the eggs to get trapped underneath them.

Keeping fingernails clean is hygienic and contributes to the eradication of eggs on the fingers and nails. Additionally, individuals should make sure to keep their fingers and nails out of their mouth, so the eggs are not ingested. When this happens, individuals are just creating a cyclical environment, and as they kill off one set of eggs and worms, they are reintroducing eggs into the body again. Then, the eggs make their ways through the digestive system, and the female worms lay more eggs.

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Launder Clothing And Bedding

Female pinworms lay their eggs while individuals sleep. Therefore, they can be rubbed off on clothing, especially undergarments. They can also fall onto or rub onto bedsheets, blankets, towels, and washcloths. It is important to launder clothing and bedding in hot water to ensure the pinworms and their eggs are killed. This will make sure there are no worms or eggs on them and reduce the chance of reinfection. The more a patient washes their clothing and bedding, along with intense personal hygiene, the less of a chance they have of becoming infected again.

The purpose of all of the cleaning is to reduce the eggs from being transmitted from one place to another. The fewer places eggs and worms show up, the fewer instances of infestation there are. If the eggs are not eliminated, the cycle will begin again. It is very easy to ingest eggs because they are so small and can hide in so many different places, especially bedding and towels.

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Thoroughly Clean Surfaces In The Home

It is important to thoroughly clean surfaces in the home because pinworms can be transferred to multiple places. Encouraging thorough cleaning will help reduce an individual's chance of getting infected again. If individuals do not want to chance picking up pinworms from places around the house, it is important to clean their furnishings, counters, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Without thorough cleaning, eggs can remain, and pinworms can reinfest individuals who live in the house and those who care for them. Eggs can even become airborne and inhaled because they are so small. They make their way to the digestive system and start the process all over again. So, while an individual is treating the infestation with medication, making sure their home is kept clean is important to continue, along with good personal hygiene practices.

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Wash Hands With Warm Water And Soap

Many different illnesses can be reduced if individuals wash their hands regularly with warm water and soap. It removes dirt, germs, bacteria, eggs, and worms from the hands. Washing hands properly will help reduce the chance of carrying the eggs or worms to another location where someone else can get infected. Children are the worst offenders of not washing their hands properly. They then play with toys and touch each other while playing. This can transmit the eggs, lead to ingestion, and subsequently to infection. So, if washing hand with warm water and soap will wash away pinworms and any eggs that might be present. Keeping clean hands, along with all the other cleanliness activities, will help break the cycle of infestation.