How to Get Rid of Pinworms

Pinworms are tiny parasitic worms that cause severe itching around the anus. The body can often fight off pinworms in mild cases, especially with home treatments. However, due to their highly contagious nature, experts recommend seeking medical treatment for faster elimination of the worms. The following article will guide you on how to get rid of pinworms.

Follow a consistent hygiene routine. Pinworms can live for about 6 weeks. To get rid of them without medication and prevent reinfection, you and your family members need to maintain personal hygiene and clean the environment for at least 6 weeks.

• Pinworms are highly contagious, so everyone in the household must practice good hygiene.
• Even if you pass the worms to someone else, you are still at risk of reinfection.

Wash your hands frequently. Regular handwashing with soap and warm water helps prevent the spread of pinworms.

• Especially, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
• Additionally, teach young children the importance of handwashing, and make sure they follow through, as young children often unintentionally spread pinworms.

Trim your nails. Pinworm eggs can get trapped under your nails when scratching. Therefore, cutting and filing your nails will help reduce this risk.

• Trimming nails also helps prevent bad habits like nail biting, which increases the likelihood of pinworm infection.

Wash clothes, bed sheets, and towels thoroughly. Pinworm eggs can attach to clothes and bed linens, especially while sleeping. Therefore, washing these items with hot water and detergent is essential.

• Wash underwear, pajamas, pants, towels, and washcloths daily during the infection.
• Only wash bed sheets daily unless you're taking anti-parasitic medication. If taking medication, wash bed sheets on the first day of medication and every 3 days after that.
• Dry all items in a dryer. High heat kills pinworms more effectively than other drying methods.
• Avoid sharing towels or washcloths to prevent spreading pinworms.

Shower daily. Take a hot shower at least once a day during the infection. Use body wash or soap instead of just water.

• Pay special attention to the skin around the anus to remove pinworm eggs.
• Shower in the morning to wash away any pinworm eggs left from the night.
• A shower is better than a bath, as it reduces the risk of spreading pinworm eggs to other parts of the body. Eggs in the bathtub may make their way to the mouth or other body parts.

Clean surfaces that may harbor pinworm eggs. This is a critical step because pinworm eggs can stick to objects you touch, like clothes, toys, dishes, and furniture. Pinworm eggs can survive for 2-3 weeks outside the body.

• Clean the toilet seat daily.
• Regularly disinfect and sanitize kitchen counters and other surfaces.
• Wash and disinfect children's toys.
• Store toothbrushes in a cabinet and rinse them with warm water before use.

Stop scratching. Even though pinworms cause itching, you should avoid scratching around the anus to prevent transferring eggs to your hands or fingers, which could infect others.

• Scratching the anus can transfer pinworm eggs to your nails.
• Wear gloves or socks at night to prevent scratching while you sleep.
• Trim your nails short. This way, even if you accidentally scratch, you can reduce the risk of pinworm eggs being trapped under your nails.

Buy over-the-counter pinworm medication. You should look for a medication containing pyrantel pamoate. This drug paralyzes the pinworms' nervous system and helps expel them through your stool.

• Follow the dosage and frequency instructions on the medication label.
• Do not use this medication if you have liver problems, are pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Pyrantel pamoate may interact with certain medications and supplements. It’s best to consult with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure it's safe for you to use.

Consult your doctor about prescription pinworm medication. Those infected with pinworms may be prescribed medication specifically to eliminate adult pinworms.

• Two common prescription medications for pinworm treatment are Albendazole and Mebendazole. Both medications prevent the pinworms from absorbing glucose, which depletes their energy and causes them to die.
• These medications may cause mild digestive issues, such as stomach pain and nausea.
• More serious side effects include sore throat, fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, shortness of breath, and fatigue. If any of these side effects occur, stop the medication and see your doctor.
• Doctors may not recommend prescription medication for pregnant women or children under 2 years old.

Ask your doctor about anti-itch creams. You can consult your doctor about safe anti-itch creams to apply around the anus. Your doctor may recommend either over-the-counter or prescription medications.

• Even if the pinworm treatment kills the adult worms, you may still experience itching after the first round of medication. The itchiness may be caused by leftover pinworm eggs in your body, even after all the adult worms have died. Scratching can spread the eggs and worsen the problem.

Prepare for re-treatment. Your doctor may recommend taking a second dose of medication about two weeks after the first round.

• The symptoms of pinworm infection may improve or disappear after one week of treatment. However, the medication only kills the adult worms. The second round of medication, or 'retreatment,' will target the pinworms that hatch from eggs that weren't killed in the first round.

Maintain good hygiene. While pinworm medication is effective, you and your family members should also practice good hygiene to reduce the risk of reinfection and spreading the pinworms. Follow the guidelines in Method 1 to prevent reinfection and reduce the risk of transmission to others.

• Pinworms are highly contagious, so it's important to treat all family members to reduce the risk of transmission and reinfection.
• Over-the-counter pinworm medications may interact with other medications and supplements. Therefore, it's best to consult with a doctor or pharmacist to ensure the medication is safe to use.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult with a doctor to determine the most effective treatment for pinworms, as both over-the-counter and prescription medications may not be safe for them.