Threadworms are a common, non-fatal parasite that can live in the human small intestine. It is unusual in developed countries where the water and soil are not contaminated with fecal matter. If you do contract threadworms, avoid swimming because you may contaminate the water.
Although chlorine levels found in pools are not high enough to kill pinworm eggs, the presence of a small number of pinworm eggs in thousands of gallons of water (the amount typically found in pools) makes the chance of infection unlikely.
Showers that take unfiltered water directly from lakes or rivers may also spread the infection, but the worms aren't found in the sea, chlorinated swimming pools or properly treated water supplies.
What precautions must I take? Medicine will kill the worms in the gut, but not the eggs that have been laid around the anus. These can survive for up to 2 weeks outside the body on underwear, bedding etc. Good hygiene will clear any eggs from the body and the home, and prevent any eggs from being swallowed.
Showers may be better than baths because you have less chance of getting water that has pinworm eggs into your mouth. Do not fan or fluff the bedding of a person with pinworms. Doing this can release pinworm eggs into the air. You can swallow eggs that are in the air when you breathe through your mouth.
Avoid simple carbohydrates, such as those found in refined foods, fruits, juices, dairy products, and all sugars, except honey. Eat more raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets, and carrots, all of which have been used traditionally to kill parasites.
Once you've administered the treatment, it's recommended that children shower rather than bathe for at least a few days afterwards. This helps to remove any remaining eggs from the anal region.
Should I keep my child home from school? You usually don't need to keep your child home if they have a threadworm infection.
Because pinworms lay their eggs at night, washing the anal area in the morning can help reduce the number of pinworm eggs on your body. Showering may help avoid possible re-contamination in bath water. Change underwear and bedding daily. This helps remove eggs.
Exclusion of people with worms from childcare, preschool, school and work is usually not necessary. If there are loose bowel motions, exclusion should be for at least 24 hours after the diarrhoea has ceased. Make sure children wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating.
Also, if the scientists expose the earthworms to indoor pool chlorinated water, the earthworm will have an abnormal reaction. The chlorine will come in contact with the earthworms skin causing them to be irritated and have respiratory problems.
Can my family become infected with pinworms from swimming pools? Pinworm infections are rarely spread through the use of swimming pools. Pinworm infections occur when a person swallows pinworm eggs picked up from contaminated surfaces or fingers.
Threadworm is spread when children scratch their bottom, causing the eggs to collect under the fingernails. The child then carries the worm eggs back to their mouth with their hands. The eggs can also be spread indirectly, in food, dust, or other items. The eggs can survive up to two weeks outside the body.
Yes. A pinworm infection can also be spread through: Bed sheets and undergarments: Eggs can spread through contact with contaminated sheets, towels or underwear of infected people.
Pinworms can survive up to two weeks on clothing, bedding or other objects, if kept at room temperature.
Wash bedsheets, pajamas, underwear, washcloths and towels in hot water to help kill pinworm eggs. Dry on high heat. Don't scratch. Avoid scratching the anal area.
Strict hygiene measures can help clear up a threadworm infection and reduce the likelihood of reinfection. The lifespan of threadworms is approximately 6 weeks, so it's important that hygiene measures are followed for at least this length of time.
Treatment for pinworm infection
Medication is available to kill the worms and this is usually prescribed for the person who is infected and all other members of the household. One dose may be followed up with a second dose 2 weeks later to take care of any surviving worms.
In order to stop the spread of pinworm and possible re-infection, people who are infected should shower every morning to help remove a large amount of the eggs on the skin. Showering is a better method than taking a bath, because showering avoids potentially contaminating the bath water with pinworm eggs.
How serious are threadworms? They are more embarrassing than anything else, because they can cause an irresistible urge to scratch the bottom. They are generally harmless and don't cause long-term damage. However, scratching can aggravate the problem and make it more difficult to treat.
Medicine kills the threadworms, but it does not kill the eggs. Eggs can live for up to 2 weeks outside the body. There are things you can do to stop becoming infected again.
The life cycle of threadworms
This tends to occur at night when you are warm and still in bed. The eggs are too small to see without a microscope, but cause itching around the anus due to accompanying irritating mucus. You then scratch around the anus to relieve the itching.
COMBANTRIN® is only effective against adult worms, which means any eggs or immature worms inside the body might still linger after the initial treatment. In order to minimise the risk of reinfestation, a follow-up treatment two to four weeks later is strongly recommended if symptoms are still present.
Modern dewormers do not require the user to be on an empty stomach before deworming, so users can deworm at any time, but the best time is to drink early in the morning on an empty stomach or drink after dinner about 2 hours .
The medicine should start to work straight away but it may take several days to kill all the worms. It's important to take the medicine as a pharmacist or doctor tells you. Do not stop early if you have been told to take it for several days.