$Unique_ID{BRK00131}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What are Pinworms?}
$Subject{pinworms diagnosis treatment Infection Infections Parasites
Parasite Pinworm roundworm colon anus eggs egg anal itching itch intestinal
tract roundworms intestine intestines}
$Volume{A-12}
$Log{
Anatomy of the Colon*0001601.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What are Pinworms?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION:  It's not an experience I really want to talk about, and so I have
nowhere to turn but to you.  I can't believe it myself, but my physician has
made the diagnosis of pinworms on my child, and bases his opinion on a test he
did with Scotch Tape.  Now he wants my whole family to take an expensive
medicine.  What do you think of this mess I am in?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWERS:  Your reaction is not uncommon, but then neither is the infection
your youngster is suffering from.  It is estimated that as many as 42 million
Americans may have pinworms in their systems.  The pinworm is a type of
roundworm, small (between 5mm and 10mm long) and whitish in color.  They live
in the human colon, but the female lays her eggs, as many as 10,000 at a time,
in the skin folds around the anus.  And that causes the symptom most typical
of this disease, an itching around the anal area, sometimes associated with
restless sleep and night awakenings.  Many individuals, however, display no
symptoms or complaints.  Once the eggs have been laid, they may survive for as
long as three weeks, during which time they hatch into larvae and find their
way back up the lower intestinal tract.  They are transmitted from one
individual to another when they are picked up in the fingernails during
scratching, and deposited on material (clothing or toys) which then find their
way to the mouth and the eggs are swallowed.  The most commonly used test to
discover these eggs IS the transparent adhesive tape test, which picks up the
minuscule eggs from the area around the anus, and then used to transfer them
to slides for microscopic examination.  Since pinworms are so highly
contagious it is often wise to treat all the members of the immediate family
the first time a diagnosis is made to attempt to prevent recurrence, which
unfortunately is very common.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.