How to Kill Pinworms in Wood

Killing pinworms in wood is easy. It is making sure they stay gone that requires some care. It is more important to treat any family members who are infected and wash clothes, underwear and bed linens in hot water each day for two weeks after you first discover the infection. Fortunately, the only animal that is a suitable host for pinworms is humans. You cannot catch pinworms from any other animal. Pinworm eggs can survive up to two weeks on clothes or other items an infected person has used. The most common symptom of pinworm infection is rectal itching.

Things You'll Need

• Hot water
• Soap
• Pinworm medication (Pyrantel pamoate)

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Instructions

• 1

  Give everyone in the house a single dose of pinworm medication. Pyrantel pamoate is available over the counter. Two other pinworm drugs, mebendazole and albendazole, are available by prescription from your doctor. Do this before doing anything with the wood you suspect of carrying pinworm eggs.

• 2

  Wash the wood with hot water and soap after you have treated your family for the infection. That will kill any pinworm eggs that are on the wood. Repeat this daily for two weeks after you have given your family the pinworm medication.

• 3

  Wash all clothes, bed linens, and objects the children commonly handle with hot water and soap every day for two weeks. Make sure all household members wash their hands frequently and that children are prevented from biting their fingernails.

• 4

  Give your family one more dose of the medication two weeks after the first dose to prevent reinfection.