The most common worm infection in school-aged children.
The infection is produced by a helminth (worm) called Enterobius vermicularis.
People usually become infected by unknowingly touching and ingesting the microscopic pinworm eggs.
The most common symptoms are intense anal itching especially at night, irritability at night, irritation or infection of the skin around the anus due to constant scratching, loss of appetite and rarely bruxism (teeth grinding). This infection does not usually cause fever.
Diagnosis is made by a complete medical history and physical examination.
Treatment is with drugs against worms. A first dose is usually administered, and a second dose is repeated after 2 weeks. It is recommended to treat all family members or people living together, to strictly clean hands and to wash bed linen and towels often.
- Division of Parasitic Diseases. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Disponible en URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ ncidod/dpd/parasi
- Speich B, Ali SM, Ame SM, et al. Efficacy and safety of albendazole plus ivermectin, albendazole plus mebendazole, albendazole plus oxantel pamoate, and mebendazole alone against Trichuris trichiura and concomitant soil-transmitted helminth infections: a four-arm, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect Dis 2015; 15:277.
- Weatherhead JE, Hotez PJ. Worm infection in children. Pediatr Rev. 2015 Aug;36(8):341-52; quiz 353-4.
- Imbert P, Moulin F . Antihelmintic drug in children. Arch Pediatr. 2010 Jun;17(6):840-1.
- Kucik CJ, Martin GL, Sortor BV. Common intestinal parasites. Am Fam Physician. 2004 Mar 1;69(5):1161-8.
