Have you noticed that your child has been irritable and unable to sleep for several nights? Do you complain of itchy anus? It is probably a intestinal parasitic infection, popularly known as "worms."
The so-called pinworms are actually an infection caused by a worm or pinworm called enterobius vermicularis. It is a very common infection in childhood. Almost all children suffer from them at some point in their lives. But don't worry, although it may be unpleasant, it is not a serious infection and its treatment is quite simple and effective.
How can I tell if my child has pinworms?
- The main indication that your child may be suffering from a pinworm infection is a intense itching in the anal region which, in the case of girls, can spread to the vaginal area. These discomforts occur especially at night since it is the time when the female worms go out to the anal region and deposit their eggs, producing irritation and itching.
- It is also frequent that due to children scratching, there are skin erosions that can become infected.
- In the case of girls, as the vagina is very close to the anal region, it can occur genital itching and abnormal discharge. Sometimes they have burning when urinating so the parasitosis can be mistaken for a urinary infection.
- Itching can cause difficulty sleeping or nighttime awakenings. If this happens, the child may be listless during the day due to accumulated fatigue from lack of sleep.
- Due to discomfort and itching some children may suffer from bruxism (clench and grind your teeth overnight).
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, check your child's perianal area for worms. These are like white strings 0,5 to 1 cm thick. Do the check-up at night, a couple of hours after the child falls asleep, as this is the ideal time to catch these pesky tenants red-handed. You can also see if those little white threads appear in your children's poop.
How do you get the infection?
Earthworms are quite contagious. Their eggs spread primarily through children's hands that, when feeling the itch, scratch and remove the eggs attached under the nails. If the child puts his hands in the mouth or the mouth of another child, they enter the body again and cause a new infection.
It can also happen that the eggs have remained in the anal area long enough to hatch. The larvae then enter the anus into the intestine, where they become adults, beginning a new cycle.
Another source of infection is the different surfaces on which the eggs can end up being deposited, surviving up to two or three weeks. Among the most frequent outbreaks are:
- Dirty clothes especially underwear and pajamas.
- Linens and towels
- Food contaminated by irrigation with fecal water.
- Toys
- Cookware
- Tables and other materials from schools and nurseries.
- Arena parks, playgrounds, swimming pools….
- Contaminated atmospheric dust.
Which is the treatment?
Eliminating pinworms is pretty straightforward. The doctor or pediatrician will prescribe an oral medication. Normally a single dose is taken, although depending on the type of infection the doctor may indicate another dosage. Treatment must be carried out by all members of the family.
In addition, we must wash clothes, sheets and towels with hot water. It is also important to cut your nails and take a hot shower every morning to remove any eggs that may have deposited in the anal area during the night.
After 15 days we must repeat the treatment and all the protocol that accompanies it, since there is no medication that kills the eggs and if they hatch we re-infect ourselves.
What can we do to prevent?
- Wash your hands well after using the bathroom and before eating, focusing on the area under the nails.
- Keep your children's nails short.
- Wash underwear, lingerie, and towels frequently.
- Change your children's underwear daily.