Pinworms are a common intestinal parasite in children. Although it is thought to be more common in communities with low socioeconomic status, it is common in all segments of society, as young children have a lot of contact in environments such as schools, kindergartens or parks.
Pinworm is a white parasite from the roundworm family that lives in the human intestine. This parasite settles in the intestines after ingesting its eggs by mouth and tries to survive there. Transmission occurs when a person who has direct or indirect contact with feces fails to wash their hands and has oral contact with their hands. It is especially common among school-age children. It can also be found in infants who are starting to walk and trying to explore the world with their hands. These worms appear in the stool and are about 5-10 mm long. They are white and can be seen moving or immobile.
Why Does It Happen?
Pinworms enter the human body with eggs and are usually ingested orally. Eggs can get on hands and food. Therefore, if the child does not pay attention to hand hygiene and especially if fruits and vegetables are not washed sufficiently, there is a possibility that the parasites can enter the body. Pinworm eggs that are ingested orally settle in the small intestine and stay there for 1-2 weeks. During this time, the adult worms move on to the large intestine. The female worms reach the rectal area of the child and lay their eggs there. This usually happens at night and causes itching in this area.
What are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of pinworms in children are as follows:
- Itching in the rectal or vaginal area (especially worse at night) \
- Teeth grinding \
- Salivation (especially at night) \
- Insomnia \
- Restlessness \
- Abdominal pain \
- Abdominal swelling \
- Loss of appetite \
- Anemia \
- Short stature \
- Weight gain retardation \
What is the Treatment?
A doctor should be consulted for pinworm treatment. Antiparasitic drugs are usually used. Repeated doses may be necessary. It is also important to take hygiene measures. Washing hands frequently, washing fruits and vegetables well and cleaning after using the toilet should be taken into consideration. And it should not be forgotten that this problem is a problem of the whole family, all treatments should be applied to all members of the household.
If left untreated, pinworms can cause weight loss, urinary tract infections, reproductive organ infections, skin irritation and severe anemia.For this reason, treatment should be started immediately when symptoms of pinworms are noticed in children.
This article is for general information only and does not replace an examination or diagnosis. Please consult your doctor about your child's condition.
