Remedy for Pinworms

Pinworms are certainly no fun for anyone who gets them. They are tiny little parasites that live in a person's colon. They lay their eggs around the anus, which causes severe itching. When the infected person scratches, the eggs can be spread, and anyone who comes into contact with them can be infected. Some other symptoms of pinworms are insomnia, restlessness, loss of appetite and weight loss. Before attempting to treat pinworms, it is best to get tested by a doctor. This is done by applying tape to the anus and looking for eggs under a microscope.

Hygiene

• Because of how easily pinworm eggs can be spread, hygiene is of the utmost importance. Keeping the anus clean will minimize the spread of the eggs and also will help reduce the itching. Always wash hands with soap after cleaning the area.

  When treating pinworms, frequently change and wash clothes, especially underwear, and bedding. Also, the infected person should bathe or shower daily and keep fingernails short. Regularly disinfect toilets and mop floors.

Drug treatment

• Because pinworms are spread so easily, everyone in the household should be treated with one of the available medicine.

  Albenza, also known as Albendazole, is one of the more common prescription-only drugs for the treatment of pinworms. The drug comes in tablet form and can be swallowed, chewed or mashed up and mixed with food or water. It should be taken with food to avoid an upset stomach. Women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should not use this drug. Vermox is another prescription-only drug for pinworms. However, it is no longer available in the United States.

  A common over-the-counter drug treatment is pyrantel pamoate (sold as Reese's Pinworm Treatments). It comes in liquid or caplets and the person infected only needs to take one dose. It is considered effective in straightforward cases of pinworm infestation, according to the Merck Manuals online.

Natural Remedies

• Older studies indicate that garlic can effectively kill pinworms, but the correct amount is not known due to a lack of clinical trials, according to the Complementary Medicine website at the University of California-San Diego. Kevin Pederson in an article on the Home Remedies Web site suggests eating two small cloves of garlic every day for two weeks and adding garlic to meals. A pinch of garlic mixed with a little Vaseline can be applied to the anus to kill the eggs and relieve itching.