​Pinw​orms

Pinworms are parasites that infest the intestines when children ingest microscopic pinworm eggs. Pinworms are very common and usually affect school going children.

Pinworm eggs can be transmitted in school, day-care, parks and playgrounds. They can also be inhaled, though this is quite rare. The cycles through which these worms are transmitted are as below:

• Your child swallows the egg. The eggs get deposited in your child’s intestines and hatch in about a month.

• Once hatched, the female worms crawl to your child’s anus and lay eggs there.

• This is likely to cause itching in the anus, and once your child scratches it, the eggs deposit under your child’s fingernails.

• These eggs will deposit on anything your child touches.

• Once the contaminated products are used by other children, the cycle starts again.

Because p​inworms are contagious, if one person of the family has worms, others are likely to get it too.

When to seek expert advise

You should consult a doctor working with the Department of Paediatrics at The Aga Khan University Hospital if your child has severe anal itching.                                                                  ​