The worms get into the body when people swallow the tiny pinworm eggs. The eggs can be on contaminated hands, under fingernails, and on things people touch a lot, such as: clothing, bed linens, and towels. bathroom surfaces.
Children can get threadworms when they accidentally get worm eggs on their hands and swallow them. This might happen if they put their hands in their mouths or bite their nails after coming into contact with people with worms or with worm-infected dust, toys or bed linen.
Personal hygiene: [1,5]
Avoid biting and scratching around the anus. Wash/shower every morning to remove eggs on skin. Wear pants, or tightfitting nightwear in bed – and change daily washing at 40ºC or above. Consider wearing cotton gloves at night to avoid scratching.
Kids in school get pinworms easily because they spend a lot of time with other kids, who may have pinworms. They might touch something with pinworm eggs on it when they're playing with other kids and eat the eggs without even knowing it.
If pinworm infection occurs again, the infected person should be retreated with the same two-dose treatment. The infected person's household contacts and caretakers also should be treated. If pinworm infection continues to occur, the source of the infection should be sought and treated.
Washing your hands with soap and warm water after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before handling food is the most successful way to prevent pinworm infection.
Children can get threadworms again after they've been treated for them if they get the eggs in their mouth. This is why it's important to encourage children to wash their hands regularly.
Pinworms can come back if your child comes into contact with pinworm eggs again. They can stay alive in your home for up to 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure everyone in your family washes their hands carefully after going to the toilet, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. Wash your bed linens and clothes.
If your child has a pinworm infection, the doctor will recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antiworm medicine. This is given in one dose, then repeated in 2 weeks. The doctor may decide to treat the entire family, especially if your child has had a pinworm infection before.
Your children may come into contact with eggs in schools or nurseries, particularly in the toilets if they are not cleaned properly. This is why your child may have recurring threadworms, even if your home and personal hygiene are of a very high standard.
Treatment to get rid of worms
If you have worms, your GP will prescribe medicine to kill them. You take this for 1 to 3 days. The people you live with may also need to be treated. Any worms in your gut will eventually pass out in your poo.
A doctor or pharmacist may advise you to take mebendazole again after 2 weeks, to stop reinfection. However, if the infection comes back, speak to a doctor for advice. It's also important to have good personal hygiene to stop the worms coming back.
Give to children 1 year up to 5 years (12-59 months) of age. It is safe and effective to give deworming in combination with vitamin A every 4-6 months.
A single dose treatment is usually effective and is given to the infected person and all family members at the same time. You can buy worm treatment from pharmacies, without a prescription. Children do not need treatment regularly, just in case they have worms.
A worming treatment every three months is usually enough to prevent problems from developing. It may be necessary to deworm your dog slightly more regularly if they scavenge a lot. Remember to protect your dog against lungworm as well as gut worms. What to expect after treatment.
Most people don't experience serious complications from pinworm infections, but in rare cases the following complications can occur: Urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs can develop if you do not treat the pinworm infection. Vaginitis and endometritis.
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.
Although rare, other complications of a pinworm infection may include: Urinary tract infections. Weight loss. Infection of part of the abdomen (peritoneal cavity)
Other intestinal worm infections are also treated with medicines that kill the parasite without harming the person, such as albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin and praziquantel. Your doctor or a gastroenterologist will advise on the appropriate medicine and the dose.
Tell your pediatrician that you are treating the worms, Dr. Ratner said. If the infection doesn't go away after over-the-counter treatment, it's time for a pediatrician visit and possibly a prescription for a medication called Albendazole.
Stomach/abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Medication can effectively treat pinworm infections, though reinfection is possible. Serious complications and long-term health effects are rare.
Threadworm infections most commonly affect young children because they often forget to wash their hands and they share toys with other children. People who are in close contact with someone with a threadworm infection also have a high risk of infection.
New Delhi: Everyone - both young and old - has high risk of getting infected by worms. Worms being a very common health problem for children and adults alike, experts recommend that deworming should get done twice a year or every six months, starting from the age of two years old.
Treatment should be offered at least once each year for intestinal worms and at least every two years for schisto- somiasis. If infection is particularly common, the frequency of treatment may be increased to twice a year for intestinal worms and once a year for schistosomiasis.