Pinworms - Children

• A white, very thin, threadlike worm, about 1/4 inch long. (The worm is usually seen in the anal and buttock area, especially at night or early morning.
• It moves (if it doesn't wiggle, it's probably lint or a thread).
• Itching and irritation of the anal area and buttocks.

Low Risk

If your child has had contact with a child with pinworms but has no symptoms, (and over a month has passed), your child probably won't get them. If contact is within the last 4 weeks, your child has a small chance of getting pinworms.

Scotch Tape Test

If you're still concerned, call the office for instructions on doing a Scotch tape test for pinworm eggs in about 1 month (reason: The swallowed egg will not mature into an adult pinworm for 3 or 4 weeks).

Guidelines to Reduce Reinfection Risk or Spread to Others

• Infection is caused by swallowing pinworm eggs. A child can get pinworms no matter how carefully you keep the kids and the house clean. The following hygiene measures, however, can help to reduce the chances of reinfection of the child and new infections in other people. Pets don't carry pinworms.
• Have the child scrub the hands and fingernails thoroughly before each meal and after each use of the toilet. Keep the fingernails cut short, because eggs can collect here. Thumb-sucking and nail-biting should be discouraged.
• Each morning give the child a shower, with rinsing of the anal area. Do this for 3 days after taking the pinworm medicine.
• Don't eat food that has fallen on the floor.
• Vacuum or wet-mop the child's bedroom once a week, because any eggs scattered on the floor are infectious for 1 or 2 weeks.
• Machine-washing at hot temperature will kill any eggs present in clothing or bedding.
• Contagiousness: Mildly contagious within the home. Children with pinworms do not need to miss any day care or school.