This can happen if the eggs become airborne – for example, after shaking a contaminated towel or bed sheet. Threadworm eggs can survive on surfaces for up to two weeks.Īs well as being swallowed by a person who touches a contaminated object or surface, threadworm eggs can also be swallowed after being breathed in. Threadworm eggs can be transferred from your anus (or vagina) to anything you touch, including: After about 2 weeks the threadworms will have grown into adults, at which point they'll reproduce and the cycle of infection will start again. If someone else touches a contaminated object, or eats contaminated food and then touches their mouth, they'll become infected.Īfter the eggs have been swallowed they pass into a person's intestine, where they hatch. If you don't wash your hands, the eggs can be transferred to your mouth or on to food or objects, such as toys and kitchen utensils. Scratching the anus or vagina, or wiping them after going to the toilet, can cause the eggs to stick to your fingertips or under your fingernails. If your child is infected, encouraging them not to scratch the affected area around their anus or vagina will help prevent reinfection and reduce the risk of the infection spreading to others.Ī threadworm infection is passed from person to person by swallowing threadworm eggs.Ī female threadworm can lay thousands of tiny eggs around the anus or vagina. The female threadworm also releases mucus, which can cause an itchy bottom. Kitchen and bathroom surfaces should be kept clean. It's not always possible to prevent a threadworm infection, but you can significantly reduce your risk by always maintaining good hygiene and encouraging children to do the same.Ĭhildren should wash their hands regularly, particularly after going to the toilet and before mealtimes. Read more about treating threadworm infections. This is also often the case for young children. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, hygiene measures are usually recommended without medication. This includes regularly vacuuming your house and thoroughly washing your bathroom and kitchen. If necessary, another dose can be taken after 2 weeks.ĭuring treatment and for a few weeks afterwards, it's also important to follow strict hygiene measures to avoid spreading the threadworm eggs.
This includes those who don't have any symptoms of an infection.įor most people, treatment will involve taking a single dose of a medication called mebendazole to kill the worms. If you or your child has threadworms, everyone in your household will need to be treated as there's a high risk of the infection spreading. After 2 weeks, the worms reach adult size and begin to reproduce, starting the cycle again. Eggs that have been swallowed will hatch inside the intestine. If the eggs hatch around the anus, the newborn worms can re-enter the bowel. Threadworm eggs can survive for up to 2 weeks before hatching. If other people touch an infected surface, they can then transfer the eggs to their mouth. If the eggs get stuck on the person's fingertips when they scratch, they can be transferred to their mouth or on to surfaces and clothes. Along with the eggs, the worm also secretes a mucus that causes itching. Threadworms lay their eggs around an infected person's anus (bottom), usually at night. In very rare cases, threadworms can spread outside the intestine to the urinary tract or liver, or the vagina or womb in girls or women. In such cases, you should seek further advice from your GP. difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep (insomnia).
PIN WORMS IN HUMANS SKIN
skin infection around the anus if bacteria enter any scratches caused by itching – wearing cotton gloves while sleeping may help prevent this.Severe or persistent threadworm infections can cause: In these circumstances, the recommended treatment is usually different. You only need to see your GP if you think you have threadworms and you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you think your child has threadworms and they're under 2 years old.
If you think you or your child may have threadworms, you can usually treat the infection yourself with medication available at pharmacies without a prescription.