Pinworm Dangers

It’s the most common type of worm infection in the United States, and it’s not head lice. Health experts say pinworms are usually found in children who then pass it on to adults.

Dr. Pierre Loredo, a pediatrician with Lee Memorial Health System, says washing your hands will lower your risk for a pinworm infection. “Pinworms are small, threadlike, white worms. They’re about a third to a half an inch long.”

Pinworms are three times more common than head lice. “What happens is you’ll have it in kids, especially kids in crowded areas such as your preschool or your daycare. But then what happens is it’s contagious and the parents pick it up,” said Dr. Loredo.

Pinworms are usually passed in crowded areas with children like parks and preschools. If a child touches a contaminated toy, toilet seat, even clothing, they could be at risk for a pinworm infection. “A child swallows or inhales a pinworm. The eggs hatch in the intestine. The female lays eggs in the perianal region. A child scratches that region and now their hands are transmitted,” said Dr. Loredo.

Scratching is the most common symptom. “To find out if your child has it you could place a clear adhesive tape on the anus of the child in the morning and pull the tape off and look for thread like worms,” said Dr. Loredo.

If the child has pinworms there are treatments available. “You want to treat all family members. And you want to go ahead and treat again 14 days later should the symptoms reoccur. Then you want to wash the sheets, clothes, anything that could be contaminated,” said Dr. Loredo.


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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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