By Dr Quince MwabuA NINE-YEAR-OLD accompanied by her mother presented to the children department with itching and prickling pain in the anal area usually at nighttime and in the early morning. After physical examination, the anal area showed a pinworm.PINWORM is an intestinal worm infection. Pinworm infections are also known as enterobiasis or oxyuriasis, they are thin and narrow worms.They’re white in colour and less than a half-inch long. Pinworm infection occurs most often in school-age children, and the tiny (microscopic) eggs are easily spread from child to child.CausesPinworm infection is spread from person to person. Pinworm infection is caused when tiny (microscopic) pinworm eggs are accidentally swallowed, usually by contaminated food, water or drink including inadequate hand washing by the parents and children.Once swallowed, the eggs hatch in the intestines and mature into adult worms within a few weeks.SymptomsPinworms do not often cause symptoms; however, you may suspect that you or your child has […]
PINWORM IS AN INTESTINAL WORM INFECTION
