Pinworm eggs in feces in children: symptoms, treatment, how to get rid of

A common parasitic disease among adults and children is enterobiasis. Let's consider the causes of the disease, its pathogen, routes of infection and treatment methods.

Pinworm eggs (enterobius vermicularis) are the most common type of helminthiasis. They belong to the genus of nematodes, that is, roundworms. The highest infection rate is in children, according to various statistics from 25 to 100%. They are the ones who bring parasites into the family, infecting adults.

• The main cause of enterobiasis is the contact-household route of infection. The eggs of the worms excreted by the patient are transferred to household items, clothing, food. In some cases, insects act as carriers, for example, flies or cockroaches.
• Parasites live in the human intestine. Their life cycle begins with the ingestion of eggs with food or water. Once in the small intestine, microscopic larvae emerge from them, which turn into adults within 20 days.
• Gradually, the helminths migrate to the large intestine, where they live for about 4-6 weeks. During this time, sexually mature females lay eggs, crawling out of the rectum through the anus. In this case, one clutch can contain more than 10-15 thousand eggs.

It is the migration of pinworms in the perinatal area that causes unpleasant symptoms that allow one to suspect infection. There is severe itching in the anus, which intensifies at night. If the patient touches the itchy tissues that contain the parasite's eggs, they will stick to the fingers and get under the nails, from where they can get into the mouth or onto other objects. This leads to re-infection and a new generation of worms.

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What do pinworm eggs look like?

People infected with nematodes often wonder what pinworm eggs look like. Adult parasites can be seen in feces with the naked eye. They look like small scraps of white thread. The eggs can only be seen under a microscope, they are oval, flattened on one side and convex on the other.

• The adult female is 10 mm in length.
• The adult male is 5 mm in length.

The worm has a pointed body. This feature became the basis for the name of the parasite. The female has a distal end bent toward the abdomen. The pinworm attaches to the intestinal walls with a special device - a small swelling near the mouth opening.

Dimensions

Pinworm eggs are so small that they can only be seen under a microscope. Adults are 5-10 mm in size. They have an oval, asymmetrical shape and a colorless shell that consists of two contours. In feces, they look like thin white threads.

Despite the fact that the helminth eggs are small and indistinguishable without special equipment, they are very infectious. Adult females lay them in huge quantities from 5 to 15 thousand. In 5-6 hours, larvae mature in them, which gradually turn into sexually mature individuals, repeating the cycle of the previous ones.

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How long do pinworm eggs live?

How long pinworm eggs live depends entirely on the temperature and humidity of the external environment. Optimal conditions for survival are a temperature of 20-40 degrees and high humidity - about 90%. In such an environment, the parasites remain viable for several months.

High or low temperatures quickly kill worms. That is why taking infected items out into the cold, boiling or treating them with steam destroys helminths.

Symptoms of enterobiasis

People infected with pinworm eggs develop symptoms characteristic of this pathology. Symptoms depend on the number of parasites and the characteristics of the patient's body. Most often, patients complain of the following problems:

• Itching of the anus (spot-like).
• Attacks of nausea and vomiting.
• Dry mouth.
• Cramping pain in the abdomen.
• Loss of appetite.
• Frequent urge to defecate.
• Diarrhea with mucus or constipation.
• Headaches and dizziness.
• Sleep disorders.
• Decreased concentration.
• Vulvovaginitis in women.
• Allergic skin rashes.
• Cramps.
• Bed-wetting.

If the dirty hands disease is mild, then after falling asleep the patient experiences mild itching in the perianal area. As a rule, this symptom persists for 1-3 days, then disappears and makes itself known again after 2-3 weeks. Such periodicity is associated with the change of generations of worms due to reinvasion. If there are a large number of worms in the intestines (massive infection), then the itching is constant and very painful.

There are also secondary manifestations of enterobiasis in the body. Regular scratching of the anus leads to abrasions, secondary bacterial skin infections and dermatitis, which significantly aggravate the course of the disease. Some infected people develop intestinal disorders - frequent stools with mucus, small erosions, irritation of the mucous membrane of the internal and external sphincters.

In severe cases of helminthic invasion, headaches, dizziness, and insomnia occur. Possible symptoms include neurasthenia and psychasthenia. Cases of enterobiasis appendicitis caused by a combination of helminth infestation and secondary bacterial infection have been recorded in medical practice. In women, worms crawling into the genitals causes severe vulvovaginitis and purulent lesions. Cases of enterobiasis endometritis and pelvic peritoneal irritation have also been described.

Pinworm eggs in children

The most common type of worms that cause enterobiasis are pinworms. Pinworm eggs are diagnosed in children more often than in other categories of the population. Such statistics are related to the peculiarities of parasite infection.

Routes of infection:

1. Oral-household - worms enter the child's body from dirty hands, unwashed vegetables and fruits, household items, toys.
2. Contact - parasites get on the hands of the patient, who spreads them through contact with family members and other people.
3. Self-infection – occurs due to poor hygiene. When a child starts scratching themselves a lot, the eggs end up on their hands, repeating the infection cycle.

Most often, worms enter the body from unwashed vegetables or fruits. That is why the infection is called "disease of dirty hands". In the intestine, the eggs turn into larvae that feed on its contents. Having reached the sexually mature stage, the parasite begins to actively reproduce. During this period, females, moving through the large intestine and rectum, lay about 10-15 thousand future nematodes around the anus.

During this period, characteristic symptoms appear, which allow parents to suspect a helminthic invasion in a child:

• Itching in the anal area, worse at night.
• Vaginal itching in girls.
• Digestive and appetite disorders.
• Tearfulness, capriciousness.
• Rapid fatigue.
• Skin allergic reactions.
• Paleness of the face and skin due to decreased hemoglobin levels.
• Signs of intoxication with pinworm waste products.

The child begins to complain of severe itching in the bottom and scratch the affected area. The unpleasant sensations are associated with the fact that when laying eggs, the female injects isovaleric acid into the tissue. With severe scratching of the tissue, wounds appear that can become inflamed and develop into secondary infections (dermatitis, vulvovaginitis, allergies). In the case of self-infection and a large number of parasites, the child may experience bouts of nausea and vomiting, and toxic lesions of the nervous system may develop due to the release of toxins by the worms.

To diagnose pinworm eggs in children, it is necessary to submit feces and scrapings for enterobiasis from the perianal folds. To obtain reliable results, it is better to submit the analysis in the morning, that is, before visiting the toilet and hygiene procedures. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment. The therapy is undergone not only by the baby, but also by the whole family. In addition to the drug approach, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the house, wash and iron bed linen and underwear, disinfect toys and other household items.

Taking medications to destroy parasites lasts 3-5 days with a repeat course after 2 weeks. It should be taken into account that anthelmintic drugs lead to the death of worms, which are gradually destroyed, but remain in the child's body. Because of this, signs of intoxication appear: headaches, dizziness, poor appetite, nausea, gastrointestinal disorders. To prevent such symptoms, immediately after anthelmintic drugs, it is necessary to start taking sorbents. They will remove toxic substances from the child's body without side effects.

Almost every child has pinworm eggs. To prevent infection, you should make sure that your child washes his hands after each visit to the toilet or returning from a walk, thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits, and, if possible, treat the child's toys, especially those that are outside. In most cases, timely and properly performed hygiene measures significantly reduce the risk of infection.

Diagnostics

To detect parasitic infection, the patient must undergo appropriate tests. Diagnostics are performed using microscopy of perianal scraping. The enterobiasis test should be done in the first half of the day before defecation and before hygiene procedures. It is performed in two ways: using adhesive tape (attached to the anus) and a cotton swab with petroleum jelly.

Such diagnostics can give false negative results, since female pinworms do not lay eggs every day. For this, microscopy is carried out 2-3 times every two weeks.

In this case, a regular stool test for pinworm eggs is not informative. This is due to the fact that the eggs are laid not in the intestines, but near the anus. The patient is also prescribed a general blood test. With parasitic invasion, the level of eosinophils is increased. This indicates an allergic reaction of the body to the introduction of the helminth. If an inflammatory reaction is observed, this indicates a complicated course of invasion from the gastrointestinal tract.

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Perianal scraping for pinworm eggs

The procedure for collecting biomaterial around the anus to diagnose enterobiasis is a perianal scraping for pinworm eggs. This analysis allows you to determine the presence of parasites with an accuracy of up to 90%. Before taking it, you need to do a little preparation to get reliable results:

• Do not visit the toilet before scraping.
• Do not wash yourself, as this can wash away all the pinworm eggs.
• Do not take laxatives 24 hours before the procedure.

The scraping is done with a cotton swab, adhesive tape or a wooden spatula. If the procedure is done at home and a cotton swab is used, then after the analysis it should be placed in a sealed clean container. The adhesive tape must be delivered to the laboratory for testing within 8 hours after the material is collected.

Perianal scraping is taken very quickly. The results of the analysis can be obtained in a day, since the material is valid for 24 hours. If the result is negative, but there are symptoms of invasion, then the verification algorithm is repeated in 2-3 days. It should also be noted that the diagnostic result is valid for 10 days. After their expiration, the analysis must be repeated.

Form for scraping for pinworm eggs

Taking a perianal scraping for enterobiasis is a mandatory procedure for both adults and children. The analysis is prescribed in the following cases:

• Before a child enters preschool or school.
• Before admission to inpatient treatment.
• To visit the swimming pool.
• When applying for a medical record.

The results obtained during the study are recorded on a special form for scraping for pinworm eggs and stool examination.

The form looks something like this:

Macroscopic examination	Results
Consistency
Form
Color
Smell
Residues of undigested food
Mucus:
over feces
mixed with feces
Pus
Blood
Parasites
Microscopic examination	Results
Detritus
Plant fiber
Starch
Muscle and connective fibers
Fat:
neutral
fatty acids
soaps
Intestinal epithelial cells in mucus
Crystals
Parasites
PH reaction
Blood pigments (occult blood)
Soluble protein
Microflora
Other studies

Normally, there should be no traces of parasites in the analysis. But since pinworms lay eggs with a certain periodicity and often change generations, then to obtain reliable data, the analysis is carried out 3 times with an interval of 1-3 days. Signs of infection are noted on the form as follows:

1. If single worm larvae are detected, i.e. a weak invasion, then a + is put on the form.
2. If there are several parasite eggs in the scraping, i.e. the degree of infection is average, then this is marked as ++.
3. In case of a high degree of invasiveness and a large number of helminths, a +++ is given.

A negative test result may also be due to the presence of pinworms. False negative data appear with a single collection of biomaterial. This is observed in 50% of cases. Sometimes the immune system suppresses the activity of parasites, so their presence can only be judged by local symptoms. All of the above cases require treatment.

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Pinworm eggs in feces

To get rid of parasites in a timely manner, it is necessary to regularly undergo tests for various parasitic invasions. This is especially important for children, since this category of the population is most susceptible to infection.

A special scraping is used for diagnosis, as pinworm eggs may not be detected in feces, since a mature individual rarely gets into the feces. In the case of a massive helminthic invasion, adult pinworms are visible in the feces, which look like thin fragments of white thread.

If you do not start treatment in a timely manner, it can lead to serious complications. First of all, this is due to the fact that worms have an allergic, toxic and mechanical effect on a living organism. Their presence can cause various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and the process of urination, and even cause inflammation of the genitals. Timely medical attention and treatment can prevent the above problems.

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Analysis for pinworm eggs

If you have symptoms typical of helminthic invasion, you should see a doctor (therapist, infectious disease specialist) and undergo diagnostics. Pinworm egg testing can be done in a clinic or at home. For this, use the adhesive tape method or scraping. In some cases, stool testing is prescribed. It is extremely important that the biomaterial arrives at the laboratory no later than 8 hours after it is collected.

During the examination, the laboratory technician checks for the presence of parasites in the feces and scrapings. If the analysis is positive, the patient is prescribed a course of treatment. Therapy is indicated for both dead and live pinworms in the excrement. Since a sick leave is not opened for enterobiasis, this can cause significant inconvenience, especially with severe parasitic infestation.

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How to get tested for pinworm eggs?

When receiving a referral for diagnostics of helminthic invasion, it is necessary to know how to take a test for pinworm eggs. First of all, you should properly prepare for the test:

• A week before the procedure, you should stop taking antibacterial, diuretic and antidiarrheal drugs.
• The consumption of alcoholic beverages, fried and fatty foods is temporarily prohibited.
• If you are scheduled to donate blood for helminthiasis, you should refrain from eating or drinking until the test is done.
• If a scraping is prescribed, it is not recommended to wash or defecate before it is performed.

The smear is taken using adhesive tape, a wooden spatula or a cotton swab. To obtain reliable data, the analysis of the scraping contents is carried out on the same day. It is better to take the smear in the morning, since the female pinworm lays eggs at night. If no parasites are found in the scraping, but there are symptoms of infection, then other tests are prescribed:

1. This may be a stool test for worm eggs. The accuracy of this method is significantly lower than that of a smear, but it can detect not only intestinal parasites, but also their larvae and eggs. To conduct the analysis, it is necessary to collect morning feces in a special container and submit it to the laboratory.
2. Another option for testing pinworm eggs is an enzyme immunoassay of blood. This method is used extremely rarely due to its high cost. But it is 100% accurate. The analysis shows not only the type of parasites, but also the stage of infection, the number of worms in the body. Blood is taken from a vein for testing.

What to do if pinworm eggs are found?

If the results of the tests confirm enterobiasis, then you need to know how to treat this condition and what to do. If pinworm eggs are found, then both medicinal and non-medicinal methods can be used to eliminate them.

1. Non-drug therapy

This method is indicated for patients who have certain contraindications to anthelmintic drugs. It is based on careful observance of hygienic procedures to prevent re-invasion.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after going outside or using the toilet.
• Do not bite your nails or put your hands in your mouth (especially important for children).
• During treatment, the patient must wear underwear at all times and limit access to the genitals and anus, that is, minimize the risk of scratching the skin.
• Change your bed linen daily, after ironing it with a hot iron.
• Wash yourself with soap in the morning and evening.

To relieve itching, you can do soda enemas. Take ½ teaspoon of soda per 250 ml of boiled water at room temperature. You can apply a cotton swab soaked in Vaseline to the perianal area at night, which will prevent the movement and spread of parasites.

2. Drug treatment

This method is more reliable, as it guarantees quick elimination of parasites. The medications are prescribed by the attending physician, individually for each patient. This can be a single dose of medication or a course of therapy for 3-5 days. As a rule, such treatment is carried out in two courses with an interval of two weeks.

Medicines cause the death of worms, but do not contribute to their elimination from the body. For this, in addition to antihelminthic tablets, it is recommended to take sorbents: Lactofiltrum, Polyphepan, Smecta.

For successful and rapid treatment of pinworms, you can use complex therapy, which is carried out according to the following scheme:

• Sorbent for 3-5 days.
• Cleansing enema.
• A single dose of an anthelmintic drug.
• Cleansing enema.

At each stage, hygienic procedures should be strictly observed. The course should be repeated after 2 weeks. Also, do not forget about preventive methods that will prevent re-infection.

How to get rid of pinworm eggs?

Surely all patients diagnosed with enterobiasis are interested in the question of how to get rid of pinworm eggs. It is quite easy to destroy parasites. But only a doctor should decide which method will be more effective and appropriate, and individually for each patient. The doctor takes into account the characteristics of the patient's body and existing contraindications, the degree of infection with helminths.

The patient is prescribed antihelminthic drugs with different active components. Along with drug therapy, hygienic measures should be strictly observed. To prevent the spread of eggs, it is necessary to take a shower daily, wash with soap after each visit to the toilet, and keep your hands and food products clean.

To prevent secondary infection, you need to change your bed linen and underwear daily. Wash clothes only in hot water with the addition of powders and other household chemicals. It is also necessary to treat all household items that the patient comes into contact with: carpets, pillows, toys, blankets, etc. They can be taken out into the cold, since low temperatures are destructive to pinworm eggs.

At what temperature do pinworm eggs die?

There are many methods of both treatment and prevention to combat parasites. An important factor in destroying helminths is temperature. A favorable environment for the development of pinworms is +35-40°C with humidity of at least 70%. If the humidity level decreases, the development of worms stops.

Knowing at what temperature pinworm eggs die, you can quickly destroy them and prevent their appearance. You can fight parasites with both high and low temperatures.

Let's consider the pattern of death of worms, their larvae and eggs at low temperatures:

• -40°C – most parasites will die within 2-3 hours.
• -25°C – adult pinworms and larvae will die within 72 hours.
• -30°С – worms will be destroyed in 6 hours.
• –18°С (shock freezing in household refrigerators) – food products are disinfected within 96 hours.

Similar measures to render products harmless are used in supermarkets and large food warehouses, where meat and fish are stored at low temperatures. When buying fruits and vegetables, it is better to store them in the refrigerator so that pinworm eggs that may be on their surface lose their invasive properties. In addition to food, low temperatures are effective in cleaning household items. Thus, washed linen can be taken out into the cold, and contaminated toys can be pre-treated with soapy water and also taken out into the fresh frosty air.

Not only low temperatures can destroy helminths. Parasites are neutralized during cooking, washing, ironing and steam treatment.

• At +70°C the parasite and its eggs will be destroyed within 5-20 seconds.
• At +60°C pinworms die within five minutes.
• At +50°C, worms live no more than 10 minutes.

Based on this, we can conclude that washing clothes at +70°C, preparing fish/meat products by frying, treating vegetables or fruits with boiling water completely kills worms.

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Can pinworm eggs be killed with UV light?

According to the conducted studies, sunbathing, i.e. ultraviolet baths, do not affect parasitic invasion. Quartzization is also ineffective - air treatment with an ultraviolet irradiator to destroy bacteria, viruses and microbes. That is, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to kill pinworm eggs with ultraviolet light is negative.

Effective destruction of parasite eggs from bed linen and underwear is achieved by washing at high temperatures and ironing the linen. Disinfestation of toys can be carried out in a hot-air disinfection chamber at a temperature of + 50°C for 10 minutes. To disinfect laboratory equipment for helminthiasis, boiling or placing the instruments in a container with a 10% lysol solution or a 5% carbolic acid solution for 6-8 hours is recommended.

Does alcohol kill pinworm eggs?

Some patients are interested in the question of whether alcohol kills pinworm eggs. First, it should be understood that any alcoholic drink contains an ethanol molecule, but in different percentages. Ethanol is effective against a wide range of harmful microorganisms, including helminths (worms, pinworms).

It has been experimentally confirmed that a solution consisting of 70% pure ethanol is suitable for disinfection. This substance is produced under the name ethyl alcohol 70% and is used in medicine for disinfection. In order to destroy parasites, they must be in direct contact with alcohol. Death is based on the denaturation of microorganism proteins.

As for alcohol, for example, vodka, which has 40% of revolutions, such solutions do not act on parasites. That is, to destroy pinworms, the intestines should be practically treated with ethyl alcohol 70%, which is destructive for any living creature.

Trying to remove pinworms with alcohol can have a negative result. Getting into the intestines with food, alcohol reaches the second half of the small intestine, where intestinal worms live, but it does not affect them. Of course, a belly full of strong alcohol can kill a couple of worms, but it will cause much more harm. As a result of such therapy, the immune system will suffer greatly, increasing the risk of any infection, including repeated parasitic invasion.

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Medicines for pinworm eggs

Enterobiasis should be treated by a doctor. Medicines for pinworm eggs are prescribed after a comprehensive diagnosis. When selecting medications, the doctor takes into account the individual characteristics of the patient's body (age, presence of chronic diseases, intolerance to certain medications), the stage and degree of infection.

A positive therapeutic effect is possible both with long-term use of anthelmintic drugs and with a single dose. Many drugs act on larvae and on adult individuals. Antihelminthic therapy should be combined with the use of antihistamines, enterosorbents and antiseptics, which eliminate the severe consequences of enterobiasis.

Effective medicines for pinworm eggs:

1. Albendazole

A medicinal product with anthelmintic activity. Affects the polymerization of β-tubulin, destroys it. This leads to disruption of the absorption of helminths' nutrition and their death. The drug is effective against larval forms and adult individuals.

• Indications for use: enterobiasis, neurocysticercosis, echinococcosis (with damage to the abdominal cavity, liver and lungs), arachnoid intragastric cysts, ascariasis, triconeliasis, opisthorchiasis, giardiasis, ankylostomiasis, mixed helminthiasis.
• Method of administration: tablets are taken orally, after meals, with water. For pinworms, take 400 mg once or divide into two doses of 200 mg during the day. Therapy is repeated after 21 days.
• Side effects: headaches, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, abdominal pain, increased activity of liver enzymes, pancytopenia, reversible alopecia, renal dysfunction, hypertension, skin allergic reactions. Overdose is manifested by increased side effects.
• Contraindications: patients under 2 years of age, pregnancy and lactation, intolerance to the components of the drug. The drug is taken with special caution in case of liver cirrhosis, retinal pathologies in cysticercosis, suppression of bone marrow hematopoiesis.

Albendazole is available in tablet form, 3 tablets per package, each with a dosage of 400 mg.

2. Vermox

A broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug. It is highly effective against enterobiasis and trichuriasis.

• Indications for use: ascariasis, pinworm infection, ancylostomiasis, trichuriasis, helminthiasis of mixed etiology.
• Method of administration: pediatric and adult patients are prescribed 1 tablet (100 mg) once. To prevent re-invasion, repeated administration is indicated after 2 and 4 weeks at the same dosage.
• Side effects: dizziness, headaches and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic skin reactions.
• Overdose: abdominal pain, reversible liver dysfunction, hepatitis, neutropenia, nausea and vomiting, stool disorders. For treatment, gastric lavage and activated charcoal should be taken.
• Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, patients under two years of age, liver failure, Crohn's disease, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, pregnancy and lactation.
• Overdose: abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. There is no specific antidote, so symptomatic treatment is indicated. Gastric lavage with an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate 20 mg/100 ml of water is recommended.

The medicine is available in tablet form, 6 tablets per package with a dosage of 100 mg each.

3. Helmintox

A medicinal product with the active substance pyrantel. It has antihelminthic properties at different stages of their development.

• Indications for use: ascariasis invasion, enterobiasis, ancylostomiasis.
• Method of administration: tablets are prescribed for patients over 6 years of age. For children weighing more than 12 kg and under 6 years of age, a suspension is indicated. The dosage is calculated using the formula patient's body weight (kg)/12.5. The course of treatment is 2-3 days.
• Side effects: nausea, headaches and dizziness, hallucinations, diarrhea, drowsiness, abdominal pain, hyperthermia, sleep disorders, paresthesia, skin allergic reactions, hearing disorders, increased transaminase activity. Overdose is manifested by increased side effects. Treatment is symptomatic.
• Contraindications: myasthenia, liver failure, intolerance to the components of the drug. With special caution, the drug is prescribed to pediatric patients, during pregnancy and lactation, liver pathologies.

Gelmintox is available in tablet form (6 tablets of 125 mg/package or 3 tablets of 250 mg/package) and in suspension form (15 ml in a bottle).

4. Decaris

A medicine for the destruction of worms, pinworms and other parasitic worms. Has a broad spectrum of action. A single dose causes paralysis and death of parasites.

• Indications for use: ascariasis, ancylostomiasis, necatoriasis, strongyloidiasis, trichostrongylosis, trichuriasis, enterobiasis.
• Method of administration: orally after the last meal, i.e. before bedtime. For adults 150 mg, for children 2.5 mg/kg of body weight.
• Side effects: abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea. No side effects or overdose symptoms have been recorded.

The medicine is available in tablet form: 1 tablet of 150 mg or 2 tablets of 50 mg.

5. Mebendazole

Synthetic anthelmintic. Has a broad spectrum of action. Particularly effective against infections caused by intestinal nematodes.

• Indications for use: ascariasis, trichuriasis, enterobiasis, strongyloidiasis, taeniasis, ankylostomiasis, mixed helminthic infestations.
• Method of administration: orally, swallowing whole with water, crushing or adding to food. For pinworm eggs, the recommended dose is 100 mg once, repeated after 2-4 weeks.
• Side effects: headaches and dizziness, increased fatigue, pain in the abdominal and epigastric region, bowel disorders, various allergic reactions, reversible alopecia, hematuria, hepatitis.
• Contraindications: intolerance to the active and auxiliary components of the drug, severe liver dysfunction, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy and lactation, patients under 2 years of age. It is prescribed with special caution to people with diabetes.
• Overdose: various gastrointestinal disorders, liver dysfunction, neutropenia, hepatitis. There is no specific antidote, symptomatic therapy is indicated.

Mebendazole is available as tablets for oral administration, 6 in a pack, and as chewable capsules.

In addition to the above-mentioned drugs, the following may be prescribed for treatment: Mebex, Medamin, Nemozol, Piperazine, Pirantel, Telmox. Along with anthelmintic drugs, antihistamines should also be taken, for example: Zodak, Loratidine, Cetrin. They will help to avoid severe skin itching and the spread of pinworms throughout the body due to scratching the skin.

In addition to drug therapy, enterobiasis can be treated using unconventional methods. Let's look at the most popular folk methods for treating pinworms:

1. For children

• Take 250 ml of boiled water at room temperature and dissolve 1 teaspoon of sea baking soda in it. The enema should be done 3-4 times a day for 2 days.
• Sitz baths with warm water and washing with tar soap have healing properties. The procedure should last at least 20 minutes, after which the child should be washed and put on clean underwear. The therapy is carried out for 5-7 days every evening.
• Grate a large carrot on a fine grater and pour 1 liter of cow's milk over it. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 25 minutes. Strain and give the child 1 glass on an empty stomach. Duration of treatment is 3-4 days.

2. For adults

• Every morning for a week you need to eat 100 peeled pumpkin seeds on an empty stomach. 30 minutes after that you should take any laxative. To consolidate the effect, the treatment should be repeated in a week.
• Take sauerkraut brine (older than 1 month) and take 250 ml in the morning and evening after meals. Duration of therapy is 5-7 days.
• Take 1 large lemon and squeeze the juice out of it, mix with a teaspoon of sea salt and 250 ml of purified water. Take the drink in the morning on an empty stomach. The course of treatment is 3 days.
• Peel one large onion and grind it into a pulp. Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt and 50 ml of olive oil to the onion. The resulting mixture should be eaten before bedtime, washed down with water. Duration of treatment is 5 days.

There are also effective methods for removing pinworms using herbs:

• Take two teaspoons of dry crushed wormwood and centaury. Pour 250 ml of boiling water over the herbal raw material and boil for 15 minutes over medium heat. Take the remedy on an empty stomach and before bed, 1 tablespoon.
• Pour 250 ml of boiling water over two tablespoons of crushed dry thyme. It is better to brew the infusion in a thermos. After cooling, strain and take ½ glass. After two hours, drink a saline solution (1 teaspoon of sea salt per 250 ml of water).
• Take equal parts oak bark and valerian herb. Pour 250 ml of boiling water over everything and let it brew for 4-6 hours. Take the medicine in the morning before meals. An hour after taking the infusion, eat a clove of garlic or drink 3 tablespoons of sunflower oil. This therapy should last 10 days.
• Take equal proportions of pumpkin seeds and wormwood. Pour the resulting mixture with vodka at a ratio of 1:2. The medicine should be infused for a week, after which it should be taken 50 ml before bedtime.

Before using both medicinal and non-medicinal methods, you should consult an infectious disease specialist or a helminthologist. Self-medication is not allowed, since any antihelminthic agent has toxic effects, so it requires caution in prescribing and using.

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Prevention

Primary prevention of pinworm egg infestation is reduced to observing personal hygiene rules. Secondary prevention is aimed at preventing re-infection and spread of the parasite. The following measures are recommended for this purpose:

• Washing hands with soap after going outside or coming into contact with a foreign object.
• Processing fresh vegetables and fruits with boiling water.
• Thorough heat treatment (roasting) of fresh meat and fish before consumption.
• Washing bed linen and underwear at high temperature followed by ironing.
• If there are children's toys in the house, they should be thoroughly washed with a soap solution.
• Keep your nails short.
• If you have pets in your home, they can carry pinworm eggs on their fur, although they are not susceptible to the disease. Therefore, pets should be washed and combed regularly.

In some cases, it is very difficult to avoid helminthic invasion, especially in preschool and school institutions. Therefore, in order to maximally protect yourself and your family, you should take anthelmintic drugs 1-2 times a year, but only with the consent of a doctor.

Forecast

Pinworm eggs cause great harm to the human body, disrupting the functioning of its organs and systems. The prognosis of helminthic invasion depends entirely on the timeliness of its diagnosis and the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment. If enterobiasis is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications:

• Mechanical damage and the introduction of parasites into the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Pinpoint hemorrhages and erosions.
• Granulomas of epithelioid and giant cells and eosinophils on the peritoneum and uterine mucosa with inclusions of pinworm eggs and their adults.

Pinworm eggs have a sensitizing effect on the body. In most cases, this leads to the development of allergic reactions. Female worms can penetrate the female genital organs, bringing bacteria from the intestines, causing inflammatory and purulent diseases. To prevent the above consequences, you should carefully observe hygiene, and at the first symptoms of pinworm infestation, consult a doctor for diagnosis and undergo a course of antihelminthic therapy.