pinworms

Pinworms are parasites whose appearance in the human intestine leads to the development of enterobiasis. The name of this disease comes from Enterobiusvermicularis, a Latin term used in medical science to refer to the human pinworm, which is the most common type of helminthic invasion.

Enterobiasis caused by pinworms is also known by the commonly used name "dirty hands disease". This reflects the very essence of this disease, since it is caused by neglect of personal hygiene rules or their insufficient observance. For the same reason, children are mainly at risk of being exposed to pinworms. These intestinal parasites are called pinworms due to the fact that the female's body has a shape that is very pointed towards the tail.

The presence of pinworms in the body is accompanied by the appearance of intestinal disorders and a feeling of severe itching in the anus. The most common way of infection is direct contact with those people who are carriers of pinworm eggs. Getting into the esophagus and then into the gastrointestinal tract, into the duodenum, larvae of microscopic size, no more than 0.15 mm, emerge from the eggs. Adult male pinworms are 2-5 mm in size, and females reach sizes from 9 to 13 mm.

The development of larvae into adults occurs as they move towards the end of the large intestine, during which they feed on food passing through the intestine. The result of this migration is mating, after which the males, having fertilized the females, die, and the latter remain at the beginning of the large intestine. Subsequently, the females lay eggs on the skin surrounding the anal sphincter, and in turn die.

When a person gets pinworms, it is often quite difficult and problematic to get rid of them, as constant autoinvasion can occur. To relieve the itching sensation in the anus, many scratch it, which leads to eggs getting under the nails and subsequently into food, which ultimately leads to a new appearance of parasites in the intestines. Thus, the circle is closed.

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Structure of pinworm

So, what is the structure of pinworms and what do these parasites look like when their eggs enter the body, nesting in the human intestine?

Pinworm is a parasitic roundworm nematode Enterobius vermicularis from the group of thin helminths or worms. The name pinworm, widely used to designate it, this parasite received due to the fact that the tail end of the female's body is pointed in shape.

Females are larger than males, reaching up to 10 millimetres in length, while the latter are approximately half as long. Males are about 5 millimetres in length. The body shape of male and female pinworms is also not identical. Unlike the spindle-shaped body of the female, which is pointed at one end, the rear end of the male's body curls up like a snail.

The bodies of pinworms of both sexes are white with a grayish tint. In their front part there is a swelling called a vesicle. The function of the vesicle is to allow the parasite to attach to the inner walls of the intestine.

Female pinworms lay eggs that are oval in shape and have a shell without any particular color. The pinworm egg is convex on one side and flattened on the other.

The protective shell of the eggs, dissolving in the duodenum, releases the larvae, which move in the direction of the lower parts of the small intestine and the upper parts of the large intestine to the cecum and the initial part of the colon. There, in the process of growth and development, after a two-week period, the pinworms become capable of reproducing offspring.

To sum up the above, it can be stated that the structure of the pinworm is maximally adapted for the parasitic existence of this pathogen of enterobiasis in the human intestine. For example, due to their small size, pinworms easily penetrate the human body, and the presence of a vesicle makes it easier for them to attach to the intestinal walls.

The pinworm cycle

The life cycle of pinworms after the eggs of these parasites appear in the intestines begins with the hatching of larvae from these eggs. It takes two to four weeks for the larva to develop into an adult. The overall lifespan of pinworms is no more than one month.

Their habitats in the human body are the cecum, the upper parts of the large intestine and the lower parts of the small intestine.

Once fertilized, the females begin to move towards the rectum, after which, exiting the anus, they lay eggs in close proximity to it. As a rule, this happens at night, since when a person sleeps, the muscles of the anal sphincter are relaxed.

The number of eggs laid by one female can reach 13 thousand. Having fulfilled their function of continuing the population, pinworms approach the end of their life cycle. They dry out and turn into an amorphous mass.

The maturation of eggs is observed after 4 to 6 hours from the moment of their laying. In order to ensure the development of eggs, certain suitable conditions are necessary. In particular, a high degree of humidity and a high temperature of 34-36 degrees Celsius. The perineum and perianal folds are capable of providing such conditions.

If proper hygiene rules are not observed in relation to this part of the human body, female pinworms can continue to migrate until they reach the vagina and uterus, also penetrating the fallopian tubes and appearing in the pelvic cavity. Where they bring with them colonies of pathogenic microbes from the intestines.

The pinworm cycle during its development consists of the eggs entering the intestines, transforming into larvae, which within a few weeks reach adulthood, and the adults in turn lay eggs again, thereby completing the process, and everything is repeated from the beginning.

Causes of pinworms

The causes of pinworms are characterized by the ways in which infection with these intestinal parasites occurs. Pinworms can be transmitted from person to person, or from animal to person.

Their presence in humans causes severe itching in the anus, and by scratching the perineum, the carrier of such an infection contributes to the entry of pinworm eggs under the nails. If basic hygiene rules are not observed, the patient, while eating, brings them back into the body, where they, ending up in the intestines, begin their new life cycle. And by physically contacting with other, healthy people by shaking hands, touching them, such a person becomes a carrier of the disease.

Pinworm eggs can sometimes be found in animal fur, making any contact with a pet a call for careful hand washing.

Thus, the causes of pinworms are mainly reduced to factors that are related to the fact that people, especially children in kindergartens and elementary school, often may not adhere to the prescribed hygiene rules. This is especially true for kindergartens and elementary schools, where children not only closely contact each other, getting such an intestinal infection themselves, but also often become carriers of this disease to teachers, teachers and parents. It is not for nothing that many call enterobiasis caused by pinworms "disease of dirty hands".

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Pinworm infestation

Pinworm infection occurs as a result of physical contact between a person who is a carrier of these parasites in the intestines and healthy people. The eggs that are laid by female pinworms can get on the skin of the patient. In addition, their presence can be noted on objects that a person infected with these parasites has come into contact with. Infection of a healthy person occurs when pinworm eggs enter the body through inhalation of dusty air or during meals. Insects such as flies and cockroaches can also act as carriers of pinworm infection, bringing their eggs onto food.

A fairly common phenomenon is the possibility of repeated self-infection, which is called autoinvasion. In this case, literally the following occurs. When a person with pinworms scratches the anal area, where there is a strong itch from the eggs they have laid, the latter appear under the nails. And if you wash your hands thoroughly before eating, these eggs, along with food, end up in the intestines again. In this regard, the risk of repeated infection with pinworms is especially high for those who have a bad habit of biting their nails. This mainly concerns children.

Therefore, to prevent infection with pinworms, you need to wean your child off this, and also cut your nails short, wash them with soap at least twice a day, morning and evening, and keep your hands clean.

Incubation period for pinworms

The incubation period for pinworms, or rather in the case of enterobiasis, which occurs due to these intestinal parasites, is approximately 15 days.

In some cases, the disease takes a clinically pronounced form, while in others its course may not be accompanied by the manifestation of any obvious symptoms.

A mild form of the disease is characterized by a mild itch in the anus. It appears mainly in the evening before going to bed, and after 1 to 3 days it stops spontaneously. But after a 2-3 week period it can resume again. This periodicity corresponds to the time when generations of pinworms change, when reinvasion occurs. If a massive repeated reinvasion leads to the fact that pinworms in the intestine form a large cluster, the sensation of itching haunts the person, without ceasing, and becomes unbearable. The intensity of itching reaches its maximum mainly at night, especially favorable for pinworms to be able to lay eggs unhindered, which will already be mature by morning.

Intensive pinworm infestation leads to malaise and general weakness of the body, increased fatigue and sleep disturbances. Pain symptoms are concentrated in the navel area and are acute. They occur mainly during meals, less often - after meals.

Regularly recurring attacks of abdominal pain over a long period of time may be a motivating factor for seeking medical advice, but it is usually not possible to make a clear, definite diagnosis while the incubation period for pinworms is ongoing.

How long do pinworms live?

How long do pinworms live? It should be noted that there is currently no single, definite opinion or confirmed data on their overall lifespan. According to some sources, pinworms do not live longer than one month, while others cite the figure of 3 and a half months.

However, it is an unambiguous and undoubted fact that these intestinal parasites are quite resistant to various environmental factors and can show considerable resistance to the effects of disinfectants. Outside the human body, pinworms can remain viable for up to 25 days. The fundamental factor influencing the lifespan of pinworms is how favorable the conditions are in which these pathogens of enterobiasis are found. Thus, when in tap water, pinworms can remain alive for one to three weeks. The maximum lifespan that they can achieve in this case is determined mainly by the degree of oxygen saturation of the water and its temperature.

As for how long pinworms live, we can draw the following conclusion: it largely depends on where they live: inside the human body or in the external environment. The lifespan of pinworms in the human intestine is directly related to their life cycle, during which the fertilization of females occurs, followed by the laying of eggs, hatching of larvae and the formation of adult individuals, which in turn produce a new generation of parasites.

Symptoms of pinworm

In some cases, when infected with these parasites, pinworm symptoms may not be detected in almost any manifestations, or may be expressed extremely weakly, implicitly. Therefore, the first thing on the basis of which it becomes possible to assume that there is an enterobiasis lesion is the appearance of itching in the perianal area. This discomforting sensation lasts approximately 3 days from the moment of occurrence, after which it spontaneously passes. However, a fairly frequent tendency for it to renew after a 2-3-week break is noted. This time period is by no means accidental, since it reflects the cyclicality with which the change of generations of pinworms occurs in the patient's body. When the infection with these intestinal parasites is massive, the itching can often become simply unbearable for a person. In turn, this leads to the fact that scratches appear on the skin in the perineum, dermatitis may occur. In addition, the possibility of a secondary infection is not excluded.

Enterobiasis caused by pinworms is characterized by all sorts of digestive disorders. These include frequent stools of a porridge-like consistency, in some cases with the presence of some mucus. Tenesmus is observed - frequent urges to empty the intestines, which, however, do not lead to defecation and are accompanied by severe pain. Pain symptoms can also be noted in the abdomen and perineum. In addition, pinworms provoke nausea, cause vomiting, lead to dryness of the oral mucosa, and a deterioration in appetite.

The course of the disease, characterized by a severe degree of invasion, is accompanied by headaches and dizziness, sleep disturbances, increased fatigue and the appearance of irritability.

If pinworms penetrate into the female genital organs, all sorts of inflammations develop as a result, similar in their symptoms to the course of gonorrhea.

Due to the presence of these parasites in the cecum, attacks of acute appendicitis of enterobiasis origin may occur.

Pinworm symptoms occur in the form of specific negative reactions of various organs and systems of the human body to the presence of parasites. This is manifested, first of all, in a change for the worse in the balance of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in the intestine, leading to dysbiosis. Which increases the risk of damage by pathogens of acute intestinal infections.

Pinworms in pregnant women

Cases when pinworms are detected in pregnant women are not an out-of-the-ordinary, exceptional phenomenon. But if in a normal state getting rid of such an infestation with intestinal parasites is not so difficult and problematic with the help of appropriate drugs, then during the period when a woman is carrying a child, this can really become a problem raised to the nth degree. After all, for pregnant women, the use of such antiparasitic drugs is contraindicated. In addition, those who are preparing to soon experience all the joys of motherhood are often worried about whether there is a danger that due to their infestation with pinworms, any harm can be caused to the future baby. To dispel all such fears, we note that they have absolutely no basis. Pinworms do not have the ability to penetrate the child's body during its intrauterine development. Accordingly, the risk of somehow adversely affecting the baby's development is excluded.

Thus, the issue takes on a different color and consists in getting rid of pinworms and minimizing the possibility of negative consequences associated with them, primarily for a pregnant woman. Today, many proven and effective methods of non-drug treatment of these parasites are known, which could be suitable for a woman in position. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that in order to avoid the occurrence of all kinds of allergies, you should consult a doctor before using them.

Another effective measure against pinworms is an enema with baking soda in an aqueous solution. And the use of anesthetic ointment can help cope with itching in the perineum.

Pinworms in pregnant women will not affect the development of the child in the intrauterine period, but when choosing measures against these parasites, you need to be careful so as not to allow this treatment to harm either him or the expectant mother. A preliminary medical consultation is essential.

Pinworms during lactation

While the child is not yet born and is in the mother's womb, intestinal parasites are in no way able to enter its body. But after childbirth, the woman must do everything possible to protect the newborn from this type of infection. If a woman is diagnosed with pinworms during lactation and during the period when she is breastfeeding, breastfeeding should be stopped. Milk should be expressed and drained. This is based on the fact that antiparasitic drugs taken by a nursing mother can negatively affect the condition of the baby.

Continuing breastfeeding while undergoing treatment and prophylactic measures against pinworms may be acceptable only if no medications are used.

Such non-drug treatment measures may be, for example, the following. In order to prevent the possibility of repeated autoinvasion, the anus can be stuffed with a cotton swab between bowel movements. This will prevent pinworms from exiting the anus and laying eggs of a new generation of parasites in the perianal area.

To get rid of pinworms, enemas may also be advisable, which should be accompanied by hygienic measures. The use of this method, however, can adversely affect the course of hemorrhoids, if a woman has them. In such cases, breastfeeding must be interrupted for the duration of taking medications against pinworms.

Pinworms during lactation, as we can see from all of the above, make it necessary to wean the baby from the breast for the time required to treat the nursing woman with medication, since they can cause undesirable consequences for the child.

Pinworms in children

The nature of the disease enterobiasis, which is caused by pinworms in children, is manifested in a more significant degree of expression of the main symptoms inherent to it compared to its course in patients in adulthood. These intestinal parasites in children cause severe intoxication of the body with the products of their vital activity, which is accompanied by the appearance of headaches, sleep disorders, increased fatigue, irritability, absent-mindedness and memory impairment in the child. In some cases, urinary incontinence may occur, and for girls there is a risk that pinworms will get into the genitals, causing vulvovaginitis.

Children do not have the same self-control as adults and do not always follow basic hygiene rules, which is why they are more likely to scratch their perineum, and as a result, are more likely to become re-infected, and in addition, in kindergartens and in elementary school they are in close contact with each other, becoming carriers of parasites for each other.

Pinworms in children require immediate treatment, an important point of which is to prevent re-infection, for which it is necessary to control that the child adheres to the rules of personal hygiene, as well as change him into fresh underwear and clothes every day. It is also necessary to keep in mind that if pinworms are detected in a child, all family members must undergo treatment for them.

Why are pinworms dangerous?

Timely detection of parasites in the human intestine and immediate appropriate treatment with a high degree of probability guarantees the onset of absolute recovery. So what threats to the body are hidden in the occurrence of helminthic infestation and what are the dangers of pinworms?

First of all, the negative consequences of their presence are that as a result of their growth and reproduction processes, all sorts of waste products are formed that can have a toxic and poisonous effect on the body. Pinworms can also provoke inflammatory processes in the cecum, leading to cases of acute appendicitis.

In addition, the danger of pinworms lies in their destructiveness in relation to beneficial microflora in the intestines, which becomes a factor causing the development of dysbacteriosis, as well as provoking the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. Pinworms have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the immune system, which increases the possibility of allergies, and in addition, increases the risk of atopic dermatitis.

When pinworms are present in the intestines, this becomes the reason why during the period of this disease a significant decrease in the effectiveness of vaccination may be observed, up to a complete lack of effect from the administered vaccine.

Pinworms are dangerous for little girls because they can penetrate the genitals. Along with them, fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms are brought in from the intestines, which can cause vulvovaginitis.

What is dangerous about pinworms? First of all, at the very beginning of their appearance

There may be some significant alarming symptoms that are not obvious, and the consequences often become known only as the parasites develop and multiply in the human body. It is also necessary to take into account that during the initial infection with pinworms, the phenomenon of autoinvasion is often observed, during which secondary and tertiary infection occurs. Therefore, when pinworms are detected, the issue of hygiene becomes very relevant.

Consequences of pinworms

Pinworms parasitize in the human intestine, using a special formation on the body - vesicles, sticking to its walls. They damage the intestinal mucosa, as a result of which large fragments of food can enter the blood through such damaged areas. This becomes one of the prerequisites for the development of an allergic reaction. In the process of their life activity, these intestinal parasites release a lot of substances harmful to the body, leading to intoxication.

The consequences of pinworms in their harmful effect on the functioning of the nervous system are present in the patient's state of increased irritability, headaches, dizziness and sleep problems. A person infected with pinworms is prone to excessive physical and mental fatigue.

Appearing in the vermiform appendix of the intestine, pinworms can cause appendicitis.

Due to enterobiasis caused by pinworms, negative changes occur in the processes of digestion and assimilation of food products eaten by a person, and the acidity of gastric juice decreases.

Many children infected with these parasites experience changes in the intestinal microbiome.

The presence of pinworms in the body is also associated with a number of complications caused by their penetration into places other than the intestines. Thus, as a result of a high degree of infection or in connection with a specific individual reaction against the background of increased sensitivity to pinworm antigens, there is a possibility of developing eosinophilic enterocolitis.

When pinworms enter the female genital organs, they cause vulvovaginitis accompanied by a secondary urinary tract infection. Further migration of parasites to the pelvic organs is fraught with oophoritis and salpingitis.

It is extremely rare for pinworms to penetrate the intestinal wall into the peritoneal cavity, which can cause the development of peritonitis.

The consequences of pinworms, as is obvious, can be the most unfavorable. But at the same time, the treatment of this disease does not present significant difficulties, being timely identified. Thus, its diagnosis and the adoption of the necessary medical measures become relevant.

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Diagnosis of pinworms

Pinworm diagnostics based on the results of a routine stool test is inconsistent, since it is impossible to determine the presence of these parasites. This is explained by the fact that they lay eggs not in the human intestine, but outside it, on an area of skin in close proximity to the anus. Thus, when a patient is suspected of having enterobiasis caused by pinworms, the main method of examination is to take an imprint (scrape) from the skin in the anus to identify adult pinworms and the eggs they have laid. For this, a special spatula soaked in a glycerin solution is used, or such a diagnostic action can be carried out using the Graham method, which uses adhesive tape.

It is often not difficult to detect adult females in normal household conditions. They can be seen in feces immediately after the completion of defecation. A person can detect parasite eggs by independently examining the skin around the anus.

Thus, pinworm diagnosis is carried out through a laboratory parasitological examination of a person who is suspected of being a carrier of such an intestinal infection.

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Analysis for pinworms

If a child or an adult has parasites in their intestines, they will experience a characteristic itch in the perineum, which usually begins to increase in intensity in the evening, allergic reactions will occur, appetite will worsen, sleep will be disturbed, an apathetic state will occur, etc. Such changes in health may serve as a basis for trying to determine the objective cause of such negative phenomena and, as one of the diagnostic measures, conducting a pinworm test.

To establish an accurate diagnosis, it is advisable to use a microscopic examination method. The material used for such an analysis is obtained by scraping or imprinting with adhesive tape from a skin area in the perianal area, where female pinworms mainly lay eggs. Based on the results obtained, their presence is confirmed, and therefore a diagnosis of enterobiasis can be made. In order to ensure the highest possible reliability of diagnostic data, the analysis should be carried out for at least three days in a row, or with a break of one day. The rationale for this is the fact that pinworms do not lay eggs every day.

On the day before such an analysis, it is not recommended to apply greasy creams to the child’s perineum between the buttocks.

Pinworm testing is only adequate when performed in this manner. This is due to the fact that these parasites cannot be detected by a regular stool test because they do not lay eggs inside the intestines.

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Treatment of pinworms

Of all the parasites that appear in the human intestine, pinworms are the least dangerous and therefore should not cause any cause for alarm or any significant concern.

In many cases, treatment of pinworms can be limited to the use of traditional medicine alone, and as for pharmacological drugs, as a rule, special antihelminthic agents are used for 2 to 3 courses with breaks of several weeks, and at the end of each course, a control analysis is done.

All therapeutic measures must be accompanied by strict adherence to hygiene rules, and therefore parents must carefully monitor their child in this regard.

In a group of children, if any of them has been exposed to such an intestinal infection, the corresponding medical measures are necessarily applied to all the others as well.

As strange as it may sound, the disease can often go away on its own, even if no targeted treatment for pinworms is undertaken.

By and large, all that is necessary for this is to carefully follow basic hygiene rules.

Diet for pinworms

One of the effective ways to combat this type of intestinal infection, without using pharmacological drugs in the treatment process, is a diet for pinworms.

Certain products that help expel parasites can be a fairly adequate replacement for medications. This primarily means that you need to include in your diet, for example, mustard, horseradish, garlic, cayenne pepper, walnuts, and pomegranate.

Of the above list, garlic deserves special attention. Its beneficial effects have been repeatedly confirmed. It can be consumed during meals in the amount of 1 clove per day for three days in a row, repeating this course after one week. Another way to use garlic for pinworms is to prepare a special infusion with milk. To do this, boil several cloves with a glass of milk and leave to infuse. The child should be given this infusion to drink throughout the day and observe changes in his condition.

You can also make a tincture from onions. This is done by chopping one large onion and pouring alcohol in a 1:1 ratio. After a week of keeping in a dark place, the resulting folk remedy against pinworms is ready for use.

A decoction of pumpkin seeds and unrefined extra virgin oil will also be useful to include in the diet when infected with intestinal parasites. Take one glass during the day before the morning meal until the severity of symptoms subsides.

Banana has also proven itself to be a good component of an antiparasitic diet.

Its peel must be dried, either in the sun or in a dryer, and then ground. The resulting powder is mixed with half a glass of water, and this solution is drunk three times a day before meals. This must be done for two days, monitoring the condition of the feces.

A diet for pinworms can become one of the important factors that contribute to the effective elimination of this parasitic lesion of the human intestine. And in some cases, just like folk remedies, it can be a justified alternative to the use of chemical drugs or be an addition to the prescribed therapy with medications.

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Prevention of pinworms

Prevention of pinworms as one of its main tasks has the need to ensure all factors that exclude or minimize the possibility of infection or self-infection. In this regard, the main requirement is mandatory compliance with sanitary and hygienic rules.

Parents should cut the nails of small children short, wash their hands with soap, and wash them with soap in the morning and evening. Before going to bed, the child should wear thick underwear, which should be ironed with a hot iron in the morning. The child's chamber pot should be doused with boiling water after cleaning and washing.

If a child has been infected with pinworms, then all family members without exception must undergo antiparasitic treatment at the same time as the child, and in kindergartens, the entire group of children, teachers and service personnel.

The premises must be cleaned with a wet method on a regular basis.

In conditions of increased risk of infection, such as when a child is in a kindergarten, summer camp, etc., it is necessary to change underwear every day, boil it and iron it.

After successful recovery from pinworms, a person is prescribed dispensary registration for one and a half months. The degree of effectiveness of the implemented treatment measures is assessed in a 3-week time period, starting from the 2nd week after completion of treatment. Recovery is confirmed if no eggs are found in the perianal scraping three times with a break of 1 to 2 days.

As we can see, prevention of pinworms mainly involves protecting a person from infection with intestinal parasites, and when the disease is defeated, helping to prevent re-infection and autoinvasion.

Why do I dream about pinworms?

You can find quite a large number of the most diverse and varied interpretations of what pinworms dream about. Dream books offer many different interpretations of such a dream.

So, seeing a pinworm in a dream can act as a prediction that in the very near future there will be changes in your personal life.

Pinworms in a dream can serve as harbingers of the appearance of a person, by connecting your life with whom it will be possible to find a new meaning and experience new bright feelings. On the other hand, for a woman, such a dream can serve as a warning that the signs of attention shown to her by a man in this expected new meeting will be ambiguous and will be distinguished by ambiguity.

If a man dreams of pinworms, this predicts that he will find someone who will bring comfort to his home and become a good housewife.

When there are people present in a dream along with a pinworm, it is possible that you will soon be able to attend a wedding celebration or a lavish birthday or anniversary celebration. A dream with a pinworm and some animals suggests a possible meeting with a friend you haven't seen for a long time.

Pinworms in a dream in large numbers speak of victory over the machinations of ill-wishers. Seeing someone with pinworm disease promises life at someone else's expense. When a child suffers from pinworms in a dream, this speaks of excessive anxiety and overprotection of one's child.

Thus, from all the many versions of what pinworms mean in dreams, we have considered a certain average, generalized definition of this dream.