Pinworms: how to treat in adults and children, signs of pinworms, photo

A person from the very first moment of life in a large and far from friendly world lies in wait for thousands of dangers and hundreds of enemies.

Some are completely invisible to the naked eye (for example, germs and viruses), some are huge, like beasts of prey, and some that do not seem to pose any threat, but no less dangerous than the toothy Tambov wolf are parasites and worms. And their main danger is that they harm from within the body.

As you probably already understood, the conversation will focus on parasites, in particular parasitic worms (helminths) that infect humans and cause great harm to the body. Pinworms are one of the representatives of this kind of parasite.

What are pinworms

As already mentioned, pinworm (gostriki) is a worm. According to the zoological classification, it belongs to the genus nematodes (round worms. Of all the variety of nematodes, not all are parasites, there are also completely harmless species that inhabit both land and water).

Pinworm (gostriki) is a representative of worms leading a parasitic lifestyle. Not only people suffer from it, but also great apes. Cause a disease called enterobiasis. Pinworms are found in both children (even babies) and adults (women and men).

Outwardly, they are an elongated cylindrical body with a length of 0.2 to 1.5 cm of gray-white color, the diameter decreases closer to the ends of the body. This species is represented by individuals of different sexes. They live in the small intestine and cecum. Fertilization takes place in the ileum, after which the males die, and the female, filled with eggs through anus penetrates the surface of the body, where it lays eggs and also dies. The life cycle does not exceed a month.

The main harm is caused by toxic waste products of parasites, which cause disturbances in the work of the intestines, increased fatigue. Also, during reproduction, pinworms have a strong irritating effect on the skin in the region of the anal folds and in the groin area. In advanced stages, they can cause severe diseases of the internal (including genital) organs.

Causes of pinworms in the body

The main threat to others is a person infected with this type of parasite. Already after 4-6 hours after laying, pinworm eggs become infectious. Getting on surrounding objects, clothes, water, food, through contact with a carrier, they become dangerous to other people. It is impossible to notice them without special equipment.

The most common infection factors include:

• lack of basic hygiene (unwashed hands, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, raw water);
• the presence of insect parasites (flies) that carry eggs;
• lack of sanitation of the premises where the infected people were;
• repeated self-infection when combing itchy areas of the skin.

When examining samples taken in public toilets, a huge number of pinworm eggs were found in them.

For these reasons, children are mainly susceptible to infection with enterobiasis.

Once through the mouth opening into the intestinal environment favorable for maturation, new worms begin to hatch from the eggs in a period of 3 to 6 weeks. The period of maturation of eggs is called the incubation period. Upon reaching puberty, the parasites begin to mate and actively reproduce.

Pinworm symptoms in humans

A suspicion of a person being infected with pinworms can be determined using external symptoms (see. photo above):

• persistent or recurrent itching in the anal area in the evening and at night;
• restless sleep, especially in children (including teeth grinding);
• bowel disorders;
• abdominal pain and salivation;
• increased fatigue.

The appearance of the external symptoms of pinworm infection can be very different in children and adults. In children, the manifestations are brighter and more noticeable, while pinworms in adults can cause little noticeable discomfort, which is often overlooked.

It is important to remember that external signs that are not similar to pinworm symptoms do not always indicate infection, but when they appear, it is necessary to urgently pass all the necessary tests in order to timely start treatment.

Diagnostics

It is almost impossible to determine whether a person is infected or not at an early stage without a special examination. But, with symptoms and complaints in medical institutions, the patient a swab or scraping is taken from the perianal folds using a special adhesive tape or cotton wool soaked in glycerin.

With an advanced stage of infection, pinworms can be visually seen in feces and even on bedding.

After the symptoms have been confirmed by medical analysis, it is necessary to begin treatment for pinworms. It is especially important not to start the disease, but to start treating it on the first day.

Treatment and prevention of pinworms in adults

If pinworms are diagnosed in adults, then home treatment with medication may well be effective. There is no shortage of such medicines in pharmacies now. Here are some pinworm pills for adults:

• Levamisole-decaris;
• Vermox;
• Mebex;
• Helmintox;
• Telmox;
• Nemozole is one of the strongest anthelmintic drugs complex effect, used in advanced stages of infection, helps to quickly get rid of pinworms.

What are the best drugs to use, it is better to consult a doctor. To increase the effectiveness when taking these drugs, you should pay attention to the diet for the period of treatment and try not to eat foods that fix the stool, before going to bed, do not overload the stomach with abundant food, it is advisable to take laxatives in the morning funds.

Another important factor in successful treatment will be repeated use of the selected medication for about a couple of weeks. destruction of the remaining parasites in the body, since not all medicines work against pinworm larvae and eggs.

With severe itching, antiallergenic medications should be taken (Cetrin, Suprastin, Villain). This will also help to avoid scratching and will prevent parasite eggs from getting on clothing and the surrounding environment.

In addition to drug treatment during this period, certain hygiene rules must also be observed:

• wash your hands thoroughly before eating, after using the toilet;
• cut short nails (so that helminth eggs cannot accumulate under them);
• change underwear several times a day;
• disinfect bed linen (washing and ironing with a hot iron);
• regular disinfection of premises, especially the toilet.

Compliance with these rules will help remove pinworms in adults as soon as possible and minimize the possibility of re-infection.

In general, with the simplest of hygiene, adults are not exposed to such diseases as often as children.

Treatment and prevention of pinworms in children

As shown by numerous statistical studies, the susceptibility to pinworm infection in children under certain conditions can be 100%. Sometimes this process takes on the character of an epidemic (mainly in kindergartens). But even in children, the symptoms of pinworm infection do not always manifest themselves sharply, especially at the beginning.

At the slightest complaint of itching in the anus, scratching in this area, sleep disturbances and others mentioned above, symptoms, you must immediately contact a medical institution for diagnosis and subsequent treatment (if confirmed diseases).

If you do not start treatment in a timely manner, then the disease can progress, and poisoning of the child's body with toxins worms lead to severe pain in the stomach, affect mental health and the general condition of the body child.

Note! In girls, an additional symptom may be urinary incontinence (enuresis) due to irritation of the urethra.

In the first place, of course, is the prevention of the disease. It is clear that it is far from immediately possible to accustom a child to regular adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, but the educational efforts made will help to avoid problems with pinworms in the future.

Important! When diagnosing, it is desirable, and rather obligatory, repeated tests, since pinworms do not lay eggs every night and it is not a fact that they will be in the collected analysis material.

If, nevertheless, infection has occurred and is detected, treatment should be started immediately. The selection of the necessary medications, dosage and regimen of administration is carried out exclusively by a doctor! Self-medication should be avoided so as not to aggravate the disease and to avoid re-infection.

Most often for treatment of pediatric enterobiasis the following drugs are used:

• Levamisole;
• Piperazine;
• Albendazole-nemosol (a unique remedy for pinworms, proved to be the most powerful medicine for infection with parasites, it is prescribed only by a doctor!);
• Pirantel;
• Mebendazole.

Before taking medications, it is necessary to prepare the child's body properly. Avoid dry, heavy meats, fixing foods, preferring sour-milk options, soups and fruits. Dinner should be very light.

According to the doctor's recommendation for dosage - take medication in the morning, and in the evening give the child a laxative to remove the dead parasites from the body. For the period of treatment, all family members must observe strict hygiene rules:

• wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet, before eating;
• cut your nails short;
• watch carefully so that the sick child does not bite his nails;
• change the child's underwear as often as possible;
• wash and iron bed linen thoroughly with a hot iron;

Disinfect thoroughly, especially in the washroom with the use of disinfectants.

Besides directly anthelmintic drugs to alleviate itching, you need to take antihistamine syrups and drops for children (for example, cetrin, loratodine), treat areas of inflammation soda solution. With severe itching, the use of an enema from a soda solution is indicated (half a teaspoon of soda in a glass of warm water).

To relieve the symptoms of toxicosis after the death of parasites in a day, it is advisable to give the child some enterosorbent (activated carbon, enterosgel, polyphepan and others). But, exactly every other day, so as not to reduce the effectiveness of the main drug.

Important! The course of treatment must be repeated after two weeks, since not all parasites can die due to the selective effect of drugs only on adults. It is important to inform the administration of educational and educational institutions about the infection in order to take preventive and disinfection measures!

There are several well-known folk remedies for the treatment of enterobiasis (in the common people - worms). Let's consider the most famous ones.

Treatment of pinworms with folk remedies at home

The most famous natural preparation practiced since ancient times is pumpkin seeds. They contain substances that have a detrimental effect on parasites.

However, it should be remembered that only unpeeled seeds are effective for treatment and prevention! You can take them both in pure form and in combination with other products. For example, crushed fruits with olive oil are taken on an empty stomach 3 hours before meals for three days. After a couple of days, repeat the course of admission.

You can cook decoctions and seeds and use on an empty stomach, followed by a laxative to remove dead parasites.

Another folk remedy is garlic, but with its use one must be careful and not use if the patient has gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, stomach ulcer etc.). Before going to bed, use a few chopped cloves of garlic, mixed with water, washed down abundantly. Carry out the treatment for 3 evenings, repeat the course in a week.

Also enough effective mixture of onions with sunflower oil and salt, which should be taken in a tablespoon before bedtime for a week. Naturally, with a repetition of the course in 10 days.

You can use various enemas (for example, with a solution of boiled garlic and milk); an enema with a small (up to 300 grams) amount of cool water is suitable to relieve itching.

Complications that pinworms cause in humans

Most people do not experience major complications from pinworm infection. Rarely, if parasites are left untreated, they can cause urinary tract infections in women. Pinworms can also move from the anus to the vagina, affecting the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs. Pinworms can also cause vaginitis, endometritis (inflammation of the uterus), or other infections in women.

Having a large number of pinworms can cause abdominal pain.

Overgrowing these parasites can rob your body of essential nutrients, leading to weight loss.

General information about prevention

The main factor in the prevention of diseases (especially in children) associated with parasites is, first of all, prevention! It consists not only in observing the rules of personal hygiene, but also in informing parents, children and others citizens about ways to prevent infection, ways of transmission of pathogens, the consequences of diseases and ways treatment. For this, all possible means of information should be used, from personal conversations and lectures to television, radio, interactive programs and the Internet. You also need to take into account the following recommendations:

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap after using the toilet. Be especially careful after having a bowel movement and changing diapers. Do the same before preparing food and meals. This is the BEST preventive measure.
• Keep your nails dry and clean.
• Give up habits, gnaw your feet or open old wounds or scratches, pinworm eggs can spread through them.
• Daily morning shower to remove pinworm eggs that may have been laid overnight.
• Change underwear and clothes daily.
• Machine wash items in hot water to clean bedding, clothing, and towels that contain pinworm eggs.
• The room should be well lit all day because eggs are sensitive to sunlight.

Currently, the number of diseases associated with infections with pinworms (and other parasites) has decreased significantly, but periodic outbreaks nevertheless occur. They are associated primarily with non-observance of basic hygiene standards. Eliminating these shortcomings and carrying out systematic preventive work, especially in children's educational institutions, will reduce the incidence of parasites even more.

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