How Do You Know if a Toddler Has Worms

What Is a Pinworm Infection?

Pinworm is an intestinal infection caused by tiny parasitic worms. Information technology'southward a mutual infection that affects millions of people each yr, particularly school-historic period kids.

If your child develops a pinworm infection, try not to worry. Pinworms don't cause any harm (just itching and restless sleep), and information technology won't have long to become rid of them.

How Do Pinworm Infections Spread?

Pinworm infections (also known every bit "seatworm infection" or "threadworm infection") are contagious.

Pinworms get into the body when people ingest or breathe in the microscopic pinworm eggs. These eggs can be institute on contaminated hands and surfaces, such as:

• bed linens
• towels
• article of clothing (especially underwear and pajamas)
• toilets
• bathroom fixtures
• nutrient
• drinking spectacles
• eating utensils
• toys
• kitchen counters
• desks or lunch tables at school
• sandboxes

The eggs pass into the digestive organisation and hatch in the pocket-size intestine. From the small intestine, pinworm larvae get to the large intestine, where they live as parasites (with their heads fastened to the within wall of the bowel).

About one to 2 months later, adult female person pinworms leave the big intestine through the anus (the opening where bowel movements come out). They lay eggs on the skin correct around the anus, which triggers itching in that area. Often, this happens at dark.

When someone scratches the itchy expanse, microscopic pinworm eggs transfer to their fingers. Contaminated fingers tin can then carry pinworm eggs to the mouth, where they go back into the body, or stay on various surfaces, where they can live for two to iii weeks.

If y'all're wondering if your family pet could requite your child a pinworm infection, it tin't. Pinworms don't come from animals.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Pinworm Infection?

The nearly mutual signs of a pinworm infection are itching effectually the anus and restless sleep. The itching is usually worse at nighttime considering the worms motility to the expanse around the anus to lay their eggs. In girls, pinworm infection tin spread to the vagina and crusade a vaginal discharge. If the itching breaks the peel, it besides could lead to a bacterial skin infection.

If your child has a pinworm infection, yous tin can meet worms in the anal region, especially if you look nearly ii or 3 hours after your kid has fallen comatose. Yous also might see the worms in the toilet later your kid goes to the bath. They wait like tiny pieces of white thread and are really pocket-size — about as long as a staple. You might also see them on your child's underwear in the morning time.

Belly pain and nausea are less common symptoms just can happen if there are many pinworms in the intestines.

How Are Pinworm Infections Diagnosed?

Your dr. may ask you to help brand the diagnosis of pinworm by placing a sticky piece of clear cellophane tape against the skin effectually your child'southward anus. Pinworm eggs will stick to the record and can be seen under a microscope. The best fourth dimension to practise this is at night or in the morn earlier a bath (when there's the nigh pinworm activity around the anus). The doctor also might have some samples from under a child'south fingernails to look for eggs.

How Are Pinworm Infections Treated?

If your child has a pinworm infection, the md volition recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antiworm medicine. This is given in i dose and repeated in ii weeks. The medico may decide to treat the entire family, especially if your child has had a pinworm infection before.

Although medicine takes care of the worm infection, the itching may continue for about a week. So the doctor also might give your child a cream or other medicine to help cease the itching.

Regular manus washing and routine household cleaning (including frequent changing of underwear, and washing everyone's pajamas, towels, and bed linens) also volition help prevent the spread of a pinworm infection inside the family unit.

Can Pinworm Infections Be Prevented?

Here are a few ways to prevent pinworm infections in your family unit:

• Remind kids to wash their hands ofttimes, specially afterwards using the toilet, after playing outside, and before eating.
• Make sure your kids shower or bathe every twenty-four hour period and modify underwear and swimsuits daily.
• Keep kids' fingernails curt and clean.
• Tell kids not to scratch effectually their bottom or bite their nails.
• Wash your kids' pajamas every few days.

When Should I Phone call the Physician?

Call the doctor if your child complains of itchy skin or always seems to be scratching the anal or vaginal expanse.

Also ask about whether pinworms could exist to arraign if your child has problem sleeping or has begun to moisture the bed. (Pinworms can irritate the urethra — the aqueduct through which pee leaves the float and exits the body — and pb to bedwetting.)

Recall that pinworms are quite common amidst kids and aren't harmful. Past taking medicine and following some prevention tips, you'll be rid of the worms in no time.

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Source: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/pinworm.html

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