How to Get Rid of Pinworm Eggs

Pinworms are parasitic worms that can invade the body and reside in the intestines. This is a significant issue, especially for children. Learn how to effectively deal with pinworms so you can act quickly if your child or a family member is infected.

Diagnosing Pinworms. One of the easiest ways to diagnose pinworm infection is using tape. Wrap the tape around your finger (with the sticky side facing out). In the morning, right after your child wakes up, press the tape against the skin around their anus. The pinworm eggs will stick to the tape.

• Immediately place the tape into a sealed plastic bag. Be mindful that the tape with the eggs could spread the infection to others.
• Remember to perform the tape test before your child goes to the bathroom or takes a bath. Some doctors recommend performing this test over three consecutive mornings, but one test might be enough.

Visit the Doctor. Even if you only see pinworm eggs on the tape, it's important to take the child to the doctor for confirmation. The doctor can verify if the child has a pinworm infection rather than something else. Be sure to bring the tape with you for the doctor to examine.

• The doctor can examine the tape under a microscope to check for pinworm eggs.

Take Pinworm Medication. Pinworm infections can be treated with two doses of medication. The first dose is given when the eggs are first discovered. The second dose is taken two weeks later. This is necessary to eliminate the adult worms that hatch after the first dose, as the medication does not kill pinworm eggs.

• Everyone in the household must be treated at the same time.
• Common medications for pinworm treatment include mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate, and albendazole. Pyrantel pamoate can be purchased without a prescription. Other medications require a prescription from a doctor. Consult your doctor to determine which medication is most appropriate.

Understanding the Limitations of Natural Remedies. It's important to remember that there is no scientific evidence supporting these alternative treatments – their effectiveness is largely anecdotal or based on personal experiences passed along by word of mouth. There’s no way to confirm whether these remedies work in treating pinworm infections.

• Consult your doctor before trying any alternative methods. These remedies should always be used in conjunction with doctor-prescribed medication and should not be considered as the sole treatment.

Using Garlic. Garlic is considered an effective home remedy for treating pinworms. Start by consuming plenty of fresh garlic. Garlic may help reduce and eliminate pinworms when the infected person uses the bathroom. You can also use a mixture of garlic and oil around the anus. Garlic can kill pinworm eggs, and the oil helps soothe the itching.

• How to make the garlic mixture: Crush 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, then mix in a few teaspoons of castor oil or mineral oil. Use just enough oil to create a paste-like consistency. You can also make a paste by mixing garlic with petroleum jelly (Vaseline).
• Always consult your doctor about home remedies before using them.

Try Using Turmeric. Laboratory studies have shown that turmeric has the ability to kill parasites, although researchers are unsure whether it can eliminate parasites in humans. However, spicy foods like turmeric are believed to be effective in treating pinworms. You can take 300 mg of turmeric in capsule form three times a day.

• You can also consider drinking turmeric tea. Steep one teaspoon of turmeric in hot water for 5 minutes. Drink 2-4 cups per day.
• Avoid turmeric if you are taking blood-thinning medications, as turmeric increases the risk of bleeding.

Drink Wormwood Tea. Wormwood has long been used to expel worms from the digestive tract. You can mix 3-4 drops of tincture of wormwood in a glass of warm water and have your child drink one cup daily. Adults can drink two cups per day.

• Consult with your doctor before using wormwood tea.
• Do not use this herb if you are on anticonvulsant medication. If you have an allergy to ragweed, you may also be allergic to wormwood.

Wash Your Hands. Everyone in the household should wash their hands frequently. Be sure to wash your hands after performing the tape test for pinworms on your child or after coming into contact with a pinworm-infected person. Wash your hands before eating or putting your hands in your mouth. Remember to wash thoroughly with soap.

• Start by wetting your hands. Lather the soap well, ensuring to scrub between your fingers and around your nails.
• Use a soft toothbrush to clean under your nails – pinworm eggs can get stuck there, especially if the infected person has scratched.
• After lathering, wash well with warm water and dry your hands thoroughly.
• Keep nails short and trimmed to prevent irritation and reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

Shower in the Morning. Individuals with a pinworm infection should shower immediately after waking up. Pinworms lay eggs at night, so the area around the anus will be covered with thousands of eggs. These eggs can spread to others or hatch into new worms. As soon as you wake up, the infected person should remove any contaminated clothing and take a shower.

• Opt for a shower instead of a bath. Bathwater will become contaminated with pinworm eggs, which could enter the body or mouth, leading to re-infection.

Keep Underwear and Bedding Clean. Since pinworms lay their eggs in the anus, individuals infected with pinworms must change their underwear daily. Do not mix soiled underwear with other clothes in the laundry basket. Separate the infected person's underwear to minimize the risk of spreading the worms or their eggs.

• Wash all clothing, bedding, and towels with the hottest water possible. If you do not want to wash them daily, you can place them in a sealed plastic bag before washing. Rinse clothing at least twice.
• Make sure no one uses the same towels during this period to reduce the risk of spreading pinworm eggs.
• Consider wearing disposable gloves when handling items that may be contaminated with worms.
• Do not shake contaminated clothes or bedding before properly washing them, as this can spread pinworm eggs and lead to reinfection.

Learn About How Pinworms Spread. You can get pinworms by consuming contaminated food or by touching any item infected with pinworm eggs and then putting your hands in your mouth. Once inside the intestine, the eggs mature and hatch into worms. The female worms may crawl out of the intestines through the anus and lay eggs on the surrounding skin.

• Adult pinworms are white and less than 2.5 cm long, about the size of a paperclip. At night, they move to the anus to lay eggs. They can lay up to 10,000 eggs. The eggs can hatch and infect others in just a few hours.
• Pinworm eggs can survive for up to 2 weeks on clothing, bed linens, food, and other surfaces. They can also live up to 2 weeks on pet fur, but only humans can become infected.

Recognize Risk Factors. Children under 18 years old are at the highest risk of pinworm infection. It is estimated that 10-40% of children will get pinworms at some point. Younger children are at the greatest risk, along with family members and caregivers.

• Children may unintentionally spread pinworms within the household. If your child is infected, the entire household should be treated to prevent unintentional transmission.
• Children can also spread pinworms at schools and daycare centers.

Recognize the Symptoms of Pinworm Infection. Unfortunately, most cases of pinworm infection do not show symptoms, meaning those infected may not know they have it. When symptoms do occur, the main sign is itching around the anus, which typically happens at night when the female worms lay eggs and the eggs hatch. The itching can be intense, causing great discomfort, especially for children. Other symptoms may include urinary tract infections and difficulty sleeping.

• Infections can occur if the patient scratches too aggressively, causing the skin to tear.
• You can diagnose a pinworm infection using a tape test, but it is still advisable to take your child to a doctor for confirmation.