Page 139 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

COMMON CONDITIONS: CHILDREN’S PROBLEMS 137

Pinworms

Pinworms most often affect children. You may notice the tiny worms, like threads of cotton, in your child’s
stools, but usually the first sign is itching around the anus (and vulva in girls) at night when the worms lay
eggs. If your child scratches, the area may become sore and your child may pick up eggs on his or her fingers
and reingest them or pass them to others. If many worms are present, your child may have a stomachache.
See also Itchy anus, p.118.

See your doctor first
DRUG REMEDIES
Make an appointment to see your doctor
if you are not sure that your child has a Pinworm treatments (see p.188)
pinworm infestation, or if a child under include the worm-paralyzing drug pyrantel, which is
2 years has pinworms. the usual treatment for anyone over 2 years old. It is
available as a capsule or as a liquid to be taken by
mouth. A single dose should be effective, although a
second dose after 2–3 weeks is sometimes required.
What you can do yourself Make an appointment to see your doctor if a child
under the age of 2 has pinworms. These drugs affect
Pinworm infestation is usually easy to treat
the worms but not their eggs, so be very careful
at home with medicine and hygiene measures.
about hygiene for at least 2 weeks after
● Give your child a pinworm treatment to kill the administering treatment.
worms (see DRUG REMEDIES, right). Treat all other CAUTION: If you are pregnant or breast-feeding,
family members at the same time, even if they consult your doctor before using these treatments.
don’t have symptoms.
● Have your child wear underpants at night
to help prevent scratching.
PRACTICAL TIPS
● Bathe your child, or wash around his or her anus,
every morning to remove any worm eggs that have Essential hygiene Be scrupulous about
been laid during the night. hygiene to break the worm’s lifecycle, and to prevent
reinfestation and spread to other people.
● Ensure your child takes particular care with
● Ensure your child washes his or her hands before
hygiene (see PRACTICAL TIPS, right).
eating or handling food, and after using the toilet. Keep
● You don’t need to keep your child out of school nails short and discourage finger-sucking and nail-biting.
or separated from friends, but do remind him or ● Eggs can survive for 2 weeks on items such as
her to be especially careful about personal bedding and towels, so change these daily. Don’t
hygiene while away from home. shake them out because you may spread the eggs.
Wash items in hot water and dry them in a tumble-
● You don’t need to treat pets such as cats and dryer. Give your
dogs: they don’t carry pinworms. child a washcloth
and towel for his
or her own use.
Seek further medical advice Treating nails
Scrub under the
Arrange to see your doctor if: nails to remove
any eggs that may
● Your child continues to have symptoms after
be lodged there.
about 2–3 weeks despite treatment