How to Identify Pin Worms

Pinworms are a type of roundworm that originates in soil and can be transmitted to human intestines. They start in the small intestine and make their way through the large intestine and to the anus as they mature. Pinworms are easily transmitted from one person to another. They are most common in children.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at the worm's body. Pinworms are short, thin and not segmented. The female has a pointy end and the male a curved end.

• 2

  Look at the color of the worm. Pinworms are as white as cotton.

• 3

  Measure the length and width of the worm. Female pinworms are between 8mm and 13mm long, while male pinworms are between 2mm and 5mm long. They are no longer than a staple. Pinworms are .2mm to .5mm wide--as thin as thread.

• 4

  Feel the texture of the worm. Pinworms are soft and delicate. Pinworm eggs have a sticky texture that helps them be transmitted from one person to another.

• 5

  Notice physical evidence of the pinworm's presence. They can be in the bed, in underwear, or on the toilet after a bowel movement. Pinworms cause itching around the anus, where they live. They also cause the skin around the anus to become red.