General Information About Pinworms
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is an intestinal parasite infection caused by worms that are barely visible to the naked eye, resembling thin white pieces of thread about 1 centimeter long, which live and breed in human intestines.
It is transmitted very easily. The parasites lay eggs around the anus at night, causing itching. When the child scratches the area, the eggs get under their fingernails; from there, they are transferred to toys, bedsheets, or directly to the mouth, passing to other people (via ingestion).
The most typical symptom is severe anal itching that prevents sleep at night. Additionally, restlessness, teeth grinding during sleep, loss of appetite, and vaginal itching/discharge in girls may be observed.
Yes. Especially at night or early in the morning, when looking around the child's anus or on fresh stool, tiny white moving worms can be seen with the naked eye.
Pinworm eggs usually do not show up in standard stool tests. For diagnosis, a piece of tape is pressed against the anal area in the morning before the child goes to the toilet or washes, and the sample (Cellophane Tape Test) is examined under a microscope.
Because the parasite is highly contagious, it is absolutely necessary for all members of the household to take Antiparasitic pills/syrup at the same time, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. Additionally, washing the bedsheets at 60 degrees and keeping fingernails short prevents recurrence.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
