Thread Worms in Humans

The most common worm infestation in humans is threadworm, also called pinworm and seatworm. Its scientific name is Enteroblus vermicularis. Threadworms are parasitic and infect the intestine and colon. Threadworm infestation is found worldwide, in all races and social classes.

Occurrence

• Being contagious, threadworm infection occurs in households, childcare facilities and institutional care settings. The most common patients are children between the ages of 5 and 10.

Appearance

• Threadworms get their name from the fact that adult worms look like fine threads of white cotton. The female can grow up to 1.5 cm long.

Transmission

• The three ways to be infected with threadworm are direct contact with an infected person; contact with an object or a surface that is contaminated, such as bedding or a toilet seat; and ingesting the egg of the threadworm.

Symptoms

• Females laying eggs cause symptoms of threadworm, which can include intense itching around the anus, restless sleep, irritability and loss of appetite

Treatment

• Threadworm is treated with anti-parasitic medication containing mebendozole or albendazole as the active ingredient. After two weeks, a single dose is usually repeated to treat the eggs that hatched after the first treatment.