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$Unique_ID{BRK03711}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Enterobiasis}
$Subject{Enterobiasis Oxyuriasis Pinworm Infection Seatworm Infection
Roundworms Ascariasis Hookworms}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
747:
Enterobiasis
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Enterobiasis) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Oxyuriasis
Pinworm Infection
Seatworm Infection
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Roundworms (Ascariasis)
Hookworms
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Enterobiasis or pinworm infection is the most common type of parasitic
infection found in children. The infection is contracted by swallowing or
inhaling the tiny eggs of the pinworm. Enterobiasis rarely causes any
physical problems, except for the main symptom, severe rectal itching.
Symptoms
The major symptom of Enterobiasis is itching in the anal area. There may
also be restlessness and difficulty sleeping. Secondary bacterial infections
may develop in the areas that are constantly scratched, and there may be
vaginal involvement in young girls. Very rarely, Enterobiasis may lead to
appendicitis or inflammation of the fallopian tubes in females.
Many children with Enterobiasis show no symptoms. In rare cases nausea,
loss of appetite, vomiting, involuntary discharge of urine at night
(enuresis) or stomach pain may occur. The disorder is usually first
identified when live pinworms are noticed in the feces.
Causes
Enterobiasis is contracted by ingesting the eggs of pinworms which may be
carried on fingernails, clothing, toys or bedding. The eggs may also be
inhaled in dust. The infection may be transmitted to others by hand-to-mouth
contact with contaminated food or objects.
The female worm, residing in the large intestine, usually crawls out
through the anus at night and deposits her eggs in the surrounding area. The
sticky, gelatinous substance in which the eggs are deposited and the
movements of the female worm usually cause intense rectal itching. The adult
female worm dies after laying the eggs. However, the eggs may survive for as
long as three weeks. As the child scratches the area, the tiny eggs become
imbedded under the fingernails. These eggs may be swallowed, continuing the
parasites' life-cycle. The parasites reach maturity in the large intestine
within two to six weeks.
Affected Population
Enterobiasis is a common disorder affecting both sexes in equal numbers. It
most frequently occurs in children during nursery school or kindergarten
years. An entire classroom of children may be affected very quickly as the
infection is spread from one child to the next.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Enterobiasis.
Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Roundworms (Ascariasis) are found in tropical areas. Young children are
most commonly affected. Roundworm eggs are passed to the soil through the
feces and may remain in the soil for months or years. They are transmitted
to humans by hand-to-mouth contact. Symptoms may include fever, cough,
wheezing, stomach cramps, and intestinal obstruction. Treatment is usually
with such drugs as pyrantel pamoate or mebendazole.
Hookworms are contracted primarily by walking barefooted through
contaminated soil. They are most commonly found in temperate and warm, moist
climates. The worms penetrate the skin and travel to the small intestine
where they attach themselves to the mucosa and suck blood. The most common
symptom is abdominal pain. Anemia may also occur.
Therapies: Standard
Enterobiasis usually is self-limiting if good hygiene is followed. However,
most individuals prefer some type of treatment, and the drug pyrantel pamoate
is usually prescribed. One dose of pyrantel pamoate, repeated in two weeks,
usually stops the infestation. Reinfestation is likely since eggs deposited
as long as one week after therapy may survive, and eggs deposited before
therapy may survive for up to three weeks. The entire family is usually
treated. Petroleum jelly may be applied topically to relieve itching.
Treatment to prevent reinfection includes careful attention to personal
hygiene, especially the washing of hands and fingernails, clothing and bed
linens.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
January 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Enterobiasis, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-5717
Centers for Disease Control
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 329-3534
References
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and
Co., 1987. Pp. 1796-1797.
THE MERCK MANUAL, Volume 1, 14th Ed.: Robert Berkow, M.D., ed.-in-chief;
Merck Sharp & Dohme Laboratories, 1982. Pp. 2051-2053.
ENTEROBIASIS. M.K. Libbus; NURSE PRACT (September, 1983; issue (8)).
Pp. 17-18.