Infestation of female genital tract is unusual (7) and most often presents as accidental finding of ova on cervical smears or as vulvovaginitis, salpingitis, pelvic pain, pelvic masses, irregular menstrual cycles, postmenopausal bleeding (2, 4, 5). Other extraintestinal manifestations of enterobiasis are also rare.
The classic treatment of E. vermicularis infection includes a single dose of pyrantel pamoate, mebendazole or albendazole, repeated after 2 weeks from the initial dose. The treatment must be given to all family members. Experience with mebendazole treatment for extraintestinal enterobiosis is limited.
The commonest extraintestinal site of infection is the female genital tract [1]. The male worm dies in the bowel during copulation, and the gravid female worm can migrate from the perianal region to the vagina and can ascend and reach peritoneum through the uterine cavity and fallopian tube.
To treat pinworms affecting urinary and genital organs, combination therapy with oral mebendazole (Vermox) and ivermectin (Stromectol) for the worms as well as a topical therapy for the eggs may be required.
A person with threadworms (also known as pinworms) may have an itchy bottom or redness and scratch marks around the bottom. A child with threadworms may be irritable, not sleep very well and lose their appetite. Threadworms (come out of the anus at night to lay their eggs between the buttocks, causing extreme itching.
Threadworms do not go away by themselves, and people do not build up immunity to them, so they must be treated in order to eradicate them totally from the body.
Imaging tests
If you're infested with worms, the mass of worms may be visible in an X-ray of the abdomen. In some cases, a chest X-ray can reveal the larvae in the lungs. Ultrasound. An ultrasound may show worms in the pancreas or liver.
The common residence of the adult pinworm is the large intestine, where it attaches to the cecum and appendix. Following mating, the gravid female must lay as many as 16,000 eggs. They live for an average of eight to 13 weeks.
If left untreated, the intense itching and scratching associated with these infections will result in secondary bacterial infections. Some of these may be difficult to treat. Untreated people can continue to infect other people.
Enterobius is transmitted by ingestion of ova through contaminated hands or food which leads to egg disolvement and release of larvae. Then fertilization of mature female worms occurs (usually in caecum or terminal ileum) who then migrate to perianal region and lay eggs resulting in itching.
DO WORMS AFFECT PREGNANCY? In a study led by Prof. Arron Blackwell, of the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, they found that infection with different species of helminths can either positively or negatively impact a woman's fertility.
Belly pain and nausea are less common symptoms but can happen if there are many pinworms in the intestines.
Over the last few years we have all become aware of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar but did you know this fermented apple cider can also work as an effective worm treatment for our four-legged friends.
Worms are mainly spread in small bits of poo from people with a worm infection. Some are caught from food. You can get infected by: touching objects or surfaces with worm eggs on them – if someone with worms does not wash their hands.
Typical pinworm infections don't cause serious problems. In rare circumstances, heavy infestations can cause infection of female genitals. The parasite can travel from the anal area up the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes and around the pelvic organs.
Chlorine dioxide gas inactivates pinworm eggs in a non-invasive and non-corrosive manner.
Your doctor can confirm the presence of pinworms by identifying the worms or eggs. To help your doctor make a diagnosis, you can perform the tape test.
Pinworm eggs rarely are found in routine stool or urine samples.
Pinworms are small white worms about 1/2 inch long and as thin as a thread. They can sometimes be seen in and around the child's bottom (anus) and in bowel movements.
The worms will die after 6 weeks so provided you do not swallow any new eggs then no new worms will grow to replace them. Strict attention to hygiene should be sufficient.
So many of us or our family members have experienced this relatively mild though distressing infection. Pinworm is the most common worm infection in North America with up to 50% of some groups of school aged children getting infected.
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.