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Symptoms of pinworm infection may include:

• Itching of the anal or vaginal area
• Insomnia, irritability and restlessness
• Intermittent abdominal pain and nausea

Some people with pinworms have no symptoms.

When to see a doctor
Consult your doctor if you have mild abdominal pain along with insomnia or irritability, or you're experiencing consistent or severe anal or vaginal itching.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

You acquire a pinworm infection by accidentally swallowing pinworm eggs. The microscopic eggs can be carried to your mouth by contaminated food, drink or fingers. Once swallowed, the eggs hatch in the intestines and mature into adult worms within a few weeks.

Female worms crawl outside the anus to lay their eggs, which often results in anal itching. When a person scratches the itchy area, the eggs cling to fingers and are then transferred to other surfaces, such as toys or bedclothes. The eggs can also be transferred from contaminated fingers to food, liquids or other people.

Pinworm eggs can survive for two to three weeks on surfaces. You can become infected with pinworms if you consume contaminated food or drink, or if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your mouth.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Risk factors for pinworm infection include:

• Age. Pinworm infections are most likely to occur in children between the ages of 5 and 10. The microscopic eggs are easily spread to family members, caregivers, or other children at school or child care centers.
• Crowded living spaces. People who live in institutions are at higher risk of developing pinworm infections.
• Temperate climate. While pinworms occur worldwide, they are more common in nontropical countries.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Typical pinworm infections don't cause serious problems. In rare circumstances, heavy infestations may cause:

• Urinary tract infection. More common in females, urinary tract infections sometimes are caused by heavy pinworm infestation.
• Infection of the peritoneal cavity. In women or girls, the parasite may travel from the anal area up the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes and the area around the pelvic organs. This can cause vaginitis, endometritis or other problems.
• Weight loss. When a large number of adult pinworms are living in your intestines, they can cause abdominal pain and take enough nutrients that you will lose weight.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

What you can do
You may want to prepare a list of answers to the following questions:

• When did the itching start?
• Does it occur mostly at night?
• Is there anything that makes the symptoms better or worse?
• Are other family members having similar symptoms?
• Do you know if you or your child has had contact with someone who has pinworms?
• Have you found any dead worms in bedclothes, underwear or in the toilet?

You may also want use clear cellophane tape to take samples from the anal area as soon as the infected person wakes up — before any trips to the bathroom. Your doctor can look at the tape under a microscope to see if there are any pinworm eggs.

What to expect from your doctor
During the exam, your doctor may also perform the cellophane tape test to check for pinworm eggs under a microscope.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Mild pinworm infection, or an infection with no symptoms, may never need treatment. If treatment is needed, your doctor may prescribe medication to all members of your household to prevent infection and reinfection. The most common anti-parasite medications for pinworms are:

• Mebendazole (Vermox)
• Albendazole (Albenza)
• Pyrantel (Pin-X, others)

You may have mild gastrointestinal side effects during the course of treatment, and you may need to take multiple doses to get rid of the pinworms completely.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Methods to help prevent the spread of pinworm eggs include:

• Wash in the morning. Because pinworms lay their eggs at night, washing the anal area in the morning can help reduce the number of pinworm eggs on your body. Showering may help avoid possible re-contamination in bath water.
• Launder in hot water. Wash bed sheets, night clothes, underwear and towels in hot water to help kill pinworm eggs.
• Don't scratch. Avoid scratching the anal area. Trim your child's fingernails so there's less space for eggs to collect. Discourage nail biting.
• Wash your hands. To reduce your risk of getting or spreading an infection, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after a bowel movement and before eating.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.