It is estimated that 40% of children under the age of 10 years will have been infected with threadworms (E vermicularis) at some point in their lives1.
Although treatment for threadworms or pinworms is effective, re-infection is common and hygiene measures are essential to break the cycle of infection and re-infection. Fortunately, threadworm infection is easy to treat. However, it is not always easy for parents to talk about it and parents may be embarrassed discussing personal hygiene.
The most common symptom of threadworms is intense itching in the perianal area, particularly at night and sometimes itching around the vaginal area in girls. This may be accompanied by other symptoms including irritability, abdominal pains and disturbed sleep.
The Threadworm Lifecycle
Eggs on the fingers and under the finger nails transfer between children in schools and nurseries, and to other members of the family. Eggs are transferred into the mouth and swallowed. After the eggs are ingested, they hatch in the duodenum and reproduce in the large intestine.
Once the eggs have been swallowed, they hatch out in the gut, and the adult worms cling to the gut wall.
Female threadworms come out of the bottom at night and lay eggs. The sticky eggs cause itching, so when the bottom is scratched...
... the eggs are transferred to the fingers and then to the mouth which continues the cycle.
Read a full article about Threadworms here
1. Royal College of General Practitioners, fact sheet 32, 1996
