Ossiuri, how the infection occurs

Persistent anal itching is the characteristic symptom of pinworm infection, which can also give less specific symptoms such as general feeling of discomfort and abdominal pain. Infection is more widespread than is commonly thought because these unpleasant little worms, unfortunately, are very present in the environment and transmission occurs with a certain ease.

How are pinworms transmitted?

Pinworms, we were saying, are found in the environment, where they are generally dispersed by those who are infected . The contagion occurs mainly by ingesting the eggs, which can be found practically everywhere: the infected surface is touched, the hands are brought to the mouth and, after the incubation time, we find ourselves with a beautiful pinworm infection.

From the mouth, in fact, the eggs move into the intestine where they hatch. During the night, the females of these parasites migrate outwards to lay their eggs, which are therefore deposited mainly in the anal area.

The problem can also affect adults, but it is clearly more common among children and adolescents ; the infection can occur within the home, but also in kindergartens and schools.

Children often put their hands in their mouths and unfortunately they do it even after having touched themselves elsewhere . Furthermore, it is not infrequent that they touch each other and then, perhaps, touch everything around them, from the sheets, to the towels, to the toys.

The embryo eggs can be transported by a multitude of objects, for example they can be under the nails, or they can be found in house dust, between the sheets, on the towels, in the intimate garments but also in the external clothing, in present objects in the bathroom. They can also be found in less obvious areas, for example on kitchen utensils and glasses.

So how is contagion prevented?

With good hand hygiene and teaching children, even when they are very young, to keep them always clean. You have to wash your hands after going to the bathroom and before touching the food. Nails should always be kept short and very clean. You should also avoid putting your hands in your mouth and biting your nails.

Hand hygiene is the most effective method to prevent pinworm infection and also to prevent re-infections; it is very frequent, in fact, that the person concerned, especially if it is a child, is continuously re-infected by himself, scratching himself in the anal area and then bringing his hands to his mouth. Re-infestations increase the parasitic charge and eradication becomes more difficult.

To prevent reinfection it is good practice to take other hygiene precautions: the most obvious is to wash the anal area and the genitals with soap and water in the morning but it is also necessary to change sheets and underwear every day and wash them at a minimum temperature of 60 ° C, besides passing the vacuum cleaner in the bedroom and in the most frequented areas of the house every day. These precautions should be taken for at least two weeks .