Threadworms, also referred to as a pinworm infestation, infect the intestines and are the most common worm infection in the United States, according to MedlinePlus. The eggs of the worms spread easily in unsanitary conditions or from individuals with poor hygiene. School-aged children easily spread the infection from direct person-to-person contact. Medications can help rid the worms from the body, but without proper measures, the worms can easily reoccur.
Transmission
Threadworms enter the body after a person ingests the eggs. Children catch the infection by coming into contact with items contaminated with the eggs and then placing the hands into the mouth. The worms move through the digestive tract and end up in the small intestines. In the small intestines, the eggs hatch and the worms move to the large intestine to mature. Female worms leave the anus to lay eggs. Without proper hygiene, the eggs transfer to objects and the cycle repeats. Once ingested, the eggs take one to two months to mature into adult worms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a threadworm infestation include intense itching at the anus. The itching increases during the night and may become disruptive to sleep. Scratching the anus can cause irritated or infected skin wounds. The itching occurs due to the female worms laying eggs outside the anus during the night. Although a loss of appetite and weight loss are not common symptoms of this worm infestation, they may occur. Females may experience itching in the vagina if a worm migrates to that area. Some individuals may not experience any symptoms with a threadworm infestation.
Diagnosis
To help diagnose threadworms, the individual can place a piece of clear tape over the anus upon waking in the morning to collect the eggs that the female worm deposited overnight. A physician can examine the eggs under a microscope to confirm the existence of the threadworms.
Treatment
Anti-parasitic medications, available over-the-counter and by prescription, help remove the threadworms from the body. Usually only one dose of the medication eradicates the worms from the body. A repeated dose two weeks later helps treat eggs that may have hatched after the first treatment and treats a possible reinfestation. Proper hand washing, cleaning toilets, laundering linens and clothing, and avoiding the urge to scratch the anus can help reduce the chance of the eggs spreading. Treating the entire family with anti-parasitic medications---even if members have no symptoms---can help prevent the spread of the infestation, according to MayoClinic.com.
Complications
Complications associated with a threadworm infestation include a reinfestation of the worms and the spread between family members. Females with an infestation may also be at risk for developing an infection in the vagina and pelvic inflammatory disease. Some individuals may also have an increased risk of developing a urinary tract infection, especially females.
