YOUR
TO SAVINGS AND EVENTS
MIRIAM'S WEEKLY DOSES By: Miriam Maltz, Pharm. D., New Utrecht Pharmacy and Yossi Mason, Certified Exercise Physiologist
HOW TO TREAT A PINWORM INFECTION If you are a parent of school age children hearing the word “pinworms” most likely will make you want to cringe but don’t fret because in this week’s “dose” we will review pinworms, how to treat them and how to prevent reinfection. It is estimated that on any given day 40 million Americans are infected with pinworms. Pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis) are small worm-like parasites that commonly infect the intestines. While pinworms can affect anyone, they are more likely to affect children between the ages of five and ten. School-age children are at the highest risk of getting pinworm infections because they spend a lot of time with other children who may have pinworms whose eggs can end up on anything they’ve touched. Pinworm eggs can survive for about 2 weeks outside of the body so if you accidentally touch them and then put your fingers in your mouth you can swallow the eggs without even knowing it. Keep in mind that people who get pinworms are NOT dirty because no matter how often someone cleans themselves they are still at risk for getting the infection. The way a pinworm infection occurs is as follows..the eggs enter the body after someone touches something that is contaminated and then touches their mouth. Eggs generally hatch in the small intestine and eventually move on to the large intestine where they attach to the wall of the intestine. After a few weeks, the female pinworms will move to the end of the large intestine and leave the body at night to lay their eggs around the anus. The duration of time that passes from when someone ingests the eggs until the worms lay new eggs is approximately 1 to 2 months (incubation period). Common symptoms of pinworms include intense itching around the anus area which is caused by the female pinworm laying her eggs. The diagnosis is made by seeing the worms..they can usually be seen near the anus, on underwear, on sheets 2-3 hours after falling asleep. In order to prevent the spread of pinworms make sure to wash your hands carefully with soap and water especially after handling bedding, diapers, underwear, and other items that may have been infected. One should also make sure to clean 140
1/11/17
under the fingernails and to avoid biting them. It is also advisable to treat everyone in your home at the same time to help prevent the spread to others especially if 2 or more household members have pinworms. When not at home keep window shades open as the pinworm are sensitive to sunlight. It is recommended that children not bathe together or share bath water during an infection or for 2 weeks after treatment. All undergarments, pajamas, towels, bedding, etc. should be handled very carefully to contain the eggs and then put into a hot dryer to kill the eggs and should be done after EACH treatment until the infection has cleared. Treatments available for pinworm infection include mebendazole, albendazole, and pyrantel. Prescription-only medications: A single dose of mebendazole (Vermox, Emverm) will usually kill the worms, however, the dose of mebendazole often needs to be repeated in 14 days. Emverm is a new brand of mebendazole and as per the product labeling the medication is only taken again in 3 weeks if the infection has not been cured. Another prescription medication used to eliminate pinworms is albendazole (Albenza) which works similarly to mebendazole and needs to be taken with food to work effectively. These products should not be used in children <2 years old or pregnant or nursing women unless instructed to do so by your doctor. Over-the-counter: Pyrantel pamoate (i.e. Pin-X): This medication is available as a liquid or chewable tablet. It is given as a single dose which is based on your child’s weight. Typically, a second dose is given a period of 2 weeks. While this medication is effective at killing the adult worms in the intestine it is not as effective at killing the eggs. This product should not be used in children <2 years old or pregnant or nursing women unless instructed to do so by your doctor. ***DISCLAIMER*** This article should not be used as a substitute for medical advice with a healthcare provider.
SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE WEEKLY LINK
WWW.WEEKLYLINK.COM
347.787.1838