Would you like to know what are the various symptoms of pinworms, so that you can start off with the treatments once they start showing? This article will tell you all about the symptoms that a person with pinworms exhibits.
Infection due to pinworms, is a common infection affecting several people across the world. Pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis), are human intestinal parasites, that are white, slender and threadlike worms, just third of an inch long, and they usually infest the human intestine. If one accidentally swallows the egg of pinworms, it goes and lodges itself in the intestines in order to hatch and mature. Once these worms turn into adults, they move down the digestive tract, reach the folds of the anal region and lays eggs there. Both adults and young children suffer from this problem of pinworms, but it’s children who suffer more.
Causes
Before we go into the details regarding the symptoms, let us first try and understand how this infection spreads. The female pinworm lays at least 15,000 eggs in the anus region of the infected person. When that person, scratches that area, the eggs get stuck beneath his/her nails. Now, if the person touches any food items or anything else, without washing his/her hands, the eggs then gets transferred to the object. If a second person, accidentally takes in these eggs, the infection spreads. Hence, it’s advisable to wash their hands properly before a meal, after using the toilet etc. Now that we know how the infection is spread, let us see what are the various symptoms in humans.
Symptoms
There are very few symptoms of pinworms in children as well as in adults. Sometimes, the only symptom might be minor itching around the anus as that is where the female pinworm lays her eggs, while sometimes, there might be no symptoms at all. Given below are some of the common symptoms.
- Itching around the anus and the vagina, is one of the most common symptoms in both adults and kids. Usually the female pinworm lays these eggs during the nighttime when the person is sleeping. The itching occurs due to the inflammatory reaction in the perianal tissue which occurs due to the worm and the eggs. Due to this itching and scratching, the skin in that area might break, leading to further infection.
- Sleeping problem is also another symptom. This problem arises due to the constant itching in the anus region.
- Another symptom is abdominal pain, but this happens mainly when the case of infection becomes severe.
- Burning sensation while urinating. Sometimes, the infected person might also experience pain while urinating
- Loss of appetite is another symptom, although this is a common symptom for several other infections as well
- Grinding of teeth (this happens mainly in children suffering from pinworms)
- Bed wetting
- The person also shows signs of skin rash or hives
- Nausea
- Fatigue due to lack of proper sleep
- Passing out stools with traces of blood in them
If the person experiences severe itching in the anal or in the vaginal area, or pain in the abdomen, then they should consult a doctor and follow whatever instructions he gives. Now, that we know about the various symptoms, let us see what are the various treatments that are available for getting rid of pinworms.
Treatment Methods
There are several treatments, out of which the most common being taking the Albenza tablet, which helps kill the worms. The eggs however remain for a long time, hence a second dose of this medicine is needed after two weeks, in order to get rid of rest of the worms. Tap water enemas might also be carried out in order to flush out the worms. Washing hands before eating, and after using the toilet is a must for treating the worms. There are also several over-the-counter pills for treating this infection.
If you notice these symptoms, then visit a doctor immediately. Also, as prevention is better than cure, take the necessary steps to prevent this infection. Make sure that your child washes his/her hands properly after using the toilet and also before meals, and that they follow a good personal hygiene. If you are careful, then this infection can be prevented from spreading further.
