Better Health & Living
Posts tagged Pinworms
Natural Cure for Pinworms
May 9th
Pinworm infections are generally harmless. Natural cure for pinworms includes following hygienic practices and maintaining a healthy diet.
Avoiding sugars and a diet full of sweets is important in the treatment of pinworms
Pinworms, or for that matter any kind of worms, thrive on a diet full of sugars and sugary foods. These days fruit and vegetable juices are readily available in supermarkets. These fruit juices are often advertised as healthy replacements for fruits and vegetables. However, the fruit juices have high sugar content and are a breeding ground for the pinworms. Also, fruit bars and fruit jellies, claiming to be full of dietary fiber are readily available, but they are high in sugar and refined carbohydrates and may delay the cure of pinworm infection. Another treat for children is lollies and chocolates, which again provide empty calories and are sugary. Parents need to encourage children to drink plain water instead of fruit cordials and fizzy drinks.
Eating a high fiber diet boosts immunity and helps to cure pinworm infection
The diet should be rich in fiber. Hence parents must include fruits and vegetables in the diet of children. In order to encourage the children to eat more fruits, they can cut the fruits in different shapes and sizes so as to make them more appealing to their children. A high fiber diet provides the necessary nutrition and boosts the immunity of the child, which in turn helps in fighting the pinworm infestation. It is also important to include pulses, legumes and grains in the diet as they are rich in proteins as well as fiber.
Probiotic Supplements help to fight the pinworm infection
Probiotic supplements
Garlic cloves must be consumed regularly as a natural cure for pinworms
Garlic is one of the most useful spices in the world and has been used since centuries because of its great medicinal value.. Garlic cloves have been found to be useful in case of pinworm treatment. Mash garlic cloves and add some honey to them. Have the mixture, 2-3 times in a day, for two to three weeks. Garlic cloves can also be consumed directly by crushing it and drinking it with water.
Preventing recurrent pinworm infections
In order to prevent recurrent pinworm infections and also to protect other family members from getting infected with the pinworms, the following measures must be followed:
- Trim the fingernails regularly as pinworms lodge in the nails.
- Wash hands properly before eating food.
- Keep the anal area clean as the pinworm eggs cause itching of the anal area.
- Wash the bed clothes and the underwear in hot water to kill the pinworm eggs.
- Wash the toilet seat properly with the use of a good disinfectant soap
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Symptoms of Pinworms
May 8th
Some of the common symptoms of pinworm infestation are listed below:
- 1. Itchy rectum, especially at night
One of the most common and the most prominent symptoms of pinworm infestation is the itchy rectal skin. The itching of the anus and the rectum is more severe at night time. Every worm requires a host in order to complete its life cycle. In case of a pinworm the human body acts as the host. Human infestation of the pinworm occurs after accidental ingestion of the pinworm eggs. This is more likely to affect the children as compared to adults. However, once a child is infected with these pinworms, then the infection can pass on to the adults as well. Children have a tendency to put their fingers in their mouth which may result in consumption of pinworm eggs. The female pinworm lays down eggs on the anus and the skin surrounding the anus and then exits the body. These eggs are laid especially at night. As a result of this, the eggs cause intense itching of the anus, rectum and the skin around the anus. The child resorts to scratching the anus in order to relieve the itching.
- 2. Sore anal skin due to intense scratching
There is intense itching of the anus. The itching of anus is aggravated at night and especially during sleep. So the child scratches the anus. During sleep the child has no control over the scratching and may scratch the anal skin violently in order to relieve the itching. This makes the anal skin sore and red.
- 3. Eggs may be seen clinging to the anal skin
In other cases of severe pinworm infestation, the eggs may be seen clinging to the anal skin, the rectum and the surrounding skin.
- 4. Pinworm eggs and adult pinworms may be seen in the stools
The mating of the male pinworm and the female pinworm occurs in the last part of the intestine or the ileum. After the mating, the male pinworm dies and is passed out of the body through the stools. The female pinworm then lays eggs and once the process of reproduction is complete, the female pinworm dies and exits the body through the anus. So the stools of the child may show adult pinworms and sometimes even the pinworm eggs. The adult pinworm is about140 to 150 micrometers in size. It looks yellowish in color and has a slender appearance.
- 5. Inflammation of the vagina
As the female pinworm lays eggs around the skin of the anus and the surrounding the skin, the person experiences intense itching. As they tend to scratch the anal skin, the infection may spread to the vagina of the female. This may cause inflammation of the vagina along with itching and redness.
- 6. Reduced appetite
Another symptom of pinworm infestation is reduced appetite or a complete loss of appetite
- 7. Behavioral changes
Behavioral changes such as irritability may occur as a result of continuous itching and feeling of being unwell.
Causes of Pinworms
May 7th
Pinworms are one of the most common types of human worm infection.
Children are more likely to be infected with pinworms
Pinworms are particularly found in temperate climate. The children are at a higher risk of getting infected by these 
pinworms. Pinworms can be present anywhere, in bed clothes, clothing, and other items. When a child handles these items which are infested by the pinworms, the pinworms lodge themselves on the skin of the fingers of these children. Children usually have a tendency to put their fingers in the mouth. They generally forget to wash their hands before eating. In other cases, they are too lazy to wash their hand before eating. They also tend to bite their fingernails when nervous. They are more likely to eat with their hands instead of using spoons and forks. As a result of this they are more at a risk of ingesting the pinworm eggs accidentally. In other cases, the child may directly ingest the pinworm eggs by consuming the food infested with the pinworm eggs. This results in the ingestion of the eggs.
The pinworm eggs then travel into the intestine through the mouth. In the intestine, the pinworms lodge themselves and begin the process of maturation. The eggs of the pinworm hatch in the duodenum or the first part of the human intestine. Once the pinworm matures, it becomes about 140 to 150 micrometers in size. The female pinworms have life span of 5 to 13 weeks, whereas the male pinworm has a lifespan of about 7 weeks. The male and the female pinworms then mate in the ileum or the last part of the human intestine. After the mating, the male pinworm dies and is passed out of the body through the stools.
Female pinworm lays eggs around the skin of anus
Around a period of four weeks to 6 weeks after the ingestion of the eggs and human infestation, the adult female moves down the intestine. It then leaves the body via the anus in order to lay a batch of eggs on the surrounding skin.
The eggs may cause intense itching of the anus and the surrounding skin especially at night. As the children scratch the skin around the anus, the eggs lodge themselves in the fingernails and on the skin of the fingers. So when the child puts the contaminated finger in his mouth, he infects himself again with the eggs. So the life cycle of the pinworms starts again, with eggs passing into the intestine, maturing, and laying eggs on the anus again.
Children can pass on the infection to adults
Adults are also likely to get infected by the pinworms, especially when the children get infected. This is because when they handle the bed clothes, clothing and other items that are used by the child, the pinworm eggs can lodge on their fingers and they may accidentally ingest the eggs causing infestation. The pinworm infection may also spread by direct contamination of food.
Pinworms Explained
May 7th
Pinworms are one of the most common types of human worm infection. Worms require a host in order to survive, reproduce and complete their life cycle. In the case of pinworms, the human acts as the host.
Other names for this parasite include threadworm and Enterobius vermicularis, or the common term ‘worms’. A pinworm infection is relatively harmless and can be easily treated.
Incidence
Human infestation by pinworms is more common in children as compared to adults. This is mainly attributed t the tendency of children to put their fingers into their mouth, due to which the pinworms can pass into their body. However, once a child is infected, other members of their household are also likely to get infected by the pinworms unless strict hygiene practices are observed.
Life cycle of a pinworm
The pinworms travel into the human body through the mouth. A child gets infected by the pinworms when he accidentally ingests the pinworm eggs. This can happen in cases where the child’s hands are contaminated and he puts his fingers in his mouth and gets infected. In other cases, a pinworm infestation can occur by the consumption of food contaminated with pinworms. In some cases, the pinworm infestation can also occur through clothes or contaminated bed clothing and other items contaminated with the pinworms. Once a person gets infected with these pinworms, then the eggs travel to the intestine from the mouth. In the intestine, the pinworms lodge themselves and begin the process of maturation. The eggs of the pinworm hatch in the duodenum or the first part of the human intestine. Once the pinworm matures, it becomes about 140 to 150 micrometers in size. It looks yellowish in color and has a slender appearance. The female pinworms have life span of 5 to 13 weeks, whereas the male pinworm has a lifespan of about 7 weeks. The male and the female pinworms then mate in the ileum or the last part of the human intestine. After the mating, the male pinworm dies and is passed out of the body through the stools.
Around a period of four weeks to 6 weeks after the ingestion of the eggs and human infestation, the adult female moves down the intestine. It then leaves the body via the anus in order to lay a batch of eggs on the surrounding skin. This often occurs at night. Once the major task of reproduction is complete, the female worm dies.
Children are more likely to reinfect themselves with the pinworm eggs
The eggs may cause intense itching of the anus and the surrounding skin especially at night. As the children scratch the skin around the anus, the eggs lodge themselves in the fingernails and on the skin of the fingers. So when the child puts the contaminated finger in his mouth, he infects himself again with the eggs. So the life cycle of the pinworms starts again, with eggs passing into the intestine, maturing, and laying eggs on the anus again.
