Parasitic worms known as soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are passed to the soil through the feces and may remain in the soil for months or years. (Theoretically, airborne eggs can land on toothbrushes.) (12) Keep toothbrushes in a closed cabinet.Refrain from eating in the bedroom to avoid possibly swallowing eggs that have landed in bed linens.Clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces daily, especially faucets and the toilet flusher.Vacuum carpets and clean floors at least once a week, paying special attention to the bedrooms and bathrooms.Wash bed linens, pajamas, towels, and washcloths with each use do not shake before laundering.Wear snug underwear, avoiding boxer shorts.Shower each morning to help remove eggs from the skin.Wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom and before eating.Scrub fingernails with a nail brush daily.

If any member of your household is a nail-biter or thumb-sucker, this method is likely not right for you. These practices also reduce the risk of reinfection. ( 11)Īdhering to stringent hygiene measures for six weeks, which is the lifespan of a pinworm, can clear up an infection without medication. Over-the Counter (OTC) While pyrantel (Pin-Away) and Reese’s Pinworm Medicine (pyrantel pamoate) are available without prescription, they’re considered less effective than the other choices.(3) They’re generally not recommended for use in children under 2 years old. Prescription The drugs mebendazole (Emverm) and albendazole (Albenza) are oral meds that cause pinworms to be expelled through bowel movements.No matter which is used, an initial dose is given, followed by a second dose two weeks later to prevent reinfection by worms hatched from eggs not killed the first go-round. One of the following is usually the treatment of choice. ( 10) Treatments include the following: Medication Options for Pinworms Your healthcare provider will likely recommend that all members of your household get treated in order to prevent infection and reinfection, including those who don’t exhibit symptoms. (4) But most people would rather be sure the infection is gone and opt for treatment. With proper hygiene, a pinworm infection is usually considered self-limiting, which means it can resolve on its own with no long-term ill effect. The eggs laid on the skin surrounding the anus can survive for up to three weeks, which allows plenty of time for the infected person to scratch the area, have the eggs become embedded under the fingernails, and inadvertently reinfect themselves, thus continuing the parasites’ lifecycle. Individuals who are caregivers to the infected ( 5).Those who share a household with infected individuals.While pinworm infections affect people of all ages and socioeconomic background, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) those who are most impacted include: In addition, because pinworm eggs are so teeny, they can become airborne, where they are inhaled and ingested. To become infected, an individual either directly (via their hands or fingernails) or indirectly (via contaminated clothing, toilet seats, bedding, toys, or food, for example) transfers pinworm eggs from the anus to their mouth. Quite simply, one gets a pinworm infection after ingesting worm eggs.

Pin worms in human poop pictures