These days, in the middle of September, there are probably more and more children with itchy bums. Because it’s been about a month since school and kindergarten started, which coincides with the time when the body of the pinworm that itches the anus catches up and lays eggs. Therefore, if you got an infection at kindergarten or school at the beginning of the month, the symptoms are now showing up and it is starting to itch. The incidence increases especially in the cold season, so it is sure to be even more abundant in the middle of winter.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom is itching of the anus.
The intensity of the itch can range from a mild tingling to excruciatingly strong, and in some cases, painful. Itching increases before going to bed and after late at night. Because at this time, the female worm becomes active and moves around the anus to lay eggs. Moving worms, eggs and the fluid released with them irritate the anus and itch. Due to scratching, the skin around the anus can be torn, itchy, and then infected and inflamed.
The child is accompanied by signs of poor sleep and fatigue. In addition, food indigestion, restlessness, irritability, and bedwetting are common. If you carry pinworms for a long time, you may lose weight and lose nutrients and minerals.
Pinworms come out through the mouth of the anus, move actively, and lay their eggs nearby, so they can enter the labia and vagina of female children and cause inflammation. Because of this, the labia will be itchy, scratchy, and have symptoms of discharge. Also, it is rare to experience burning pain when urinating due to inflammation in the urethra.
Note that 30% of this infection has no symptoms at all.
Why are ringworms?
The causative agent of pinworm disease is a parasitic worm called Enterobius vermicularis. Although this parasite is often called children’s pinworm, firstly, it infects all ages, and secondly, it is not only white because of its small size (8-13mm), so it is called “pinworm”. Children aged 5-10 years are most affected. Pinworm eggs are infected by ingestion through dirty hands and food.
Larvae hatch from eggs in the intestinal cavity, grow into full-fledged worms, and reproduce through the anus. It takes an average of 30-50 days from infection to the time the worms lay eggs. When this period is reached, the female worm moves down the large intestine and lays eggs in the vicinity as it exits the anus. These eggs can be re-ingested through dirty hands or food.
How to diagnose?
If a child has an itchy anus, scratches the bottom, or other symptoms mentioned above, you should see a doctor. Pinworm infection is common in kindergarten and elementary school children, so the kindergarten can see the school doctor. Itching in the ass increases in the evening before going to bed, a characteristic feature of this disease. Eggs can be detected under a microscope by examining the anus with adhesive tape. Pinworms can also be detected at home. for it
Check the anus area 2-3 hours after the child sleeps. When you sleep and relax, worms emerge and lay more eggs, so live worms can be detected at this time. Pinworms are about the size of a paper clip (about 1cm), curved, and pale yellow in color.
Check the surface of the feces after defecating. When the worms are heavily infected, they are often seen in the feces.
Wear dark underwear and check in the morning to see white worms.
How to treat?
Treatment includes mebendazole, albendazole, and pyrantel pamoate, all of which are highly effective (90-100%) and have few side effects. It is recommended to carry out the treatment 2 times, with an interval of 14 days. This means that the second dose should be taken 14 days after the first dose.
These drugs are sold under the names Vermox (Vermox = Mebendazole), Helmintox (Helmintox = Pyrantel pamoate), and Albenza (Zentel = Albeldazole). The dose should be adjusted according to the child’s weight according to the instructions.
