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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