eMedicine Specialties > Emergency Medicine > Infectious Diseases

Pinworms: Follow-up

Author: Joseph J Bocka, MD, Director of Shelby Emergency Department, Attending Emergency Physician at Mansfield Hospital, Med Central Health System (Mansfield and Shelby, Ohio); Emergency Medical Service Medical Director for several services
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 12, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Follow-up is recommended if the pinworm symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks or if signs of bacterial superinfection occur.

Complications

Prognosis

  • Asymptomatic carriers are common.
  • The cure rate with treatment is 90-95%.
  • Re-infection is common, especially if not all contacts are treated simultaneously.

Patient Education

  • Discharge instructions should include the following:
    • Strict handwashing should be completed after using the toilet or changing a diaper of an affected baby and before and after eating for 2 weeks.
    • All bedding and toys should be cleaned every 3-7 days for 3 weeks.
    • Underwear and pajamas should be washed daily for 2 weeks.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Parasites and Worms Center and Esophagus, Stomach, and Intestine Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles, Pinworms and Anal Itching.
 


More on Pinworms

Overview: Pinworms
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Pinworms
Treatment & Medication: Pinworms
Follow-up: Pinworms
Multimedia: Pinworms
References
Further Reading
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References

  1. Ramezani MA, Dehghani MR. Relationship between Enterobius vermicularis and the incidence of acute appendicitis. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. Jan 2007;38(1):20-3. [Medline].

  2. Erian M, McLaren G. Unexpected causes of gynecological pelvic pain. JSLS. Oct-Dec 2004;8(4):380-3. [Medline].

  3. Aydin O. Incidental parasitic infestations in surgically removed appendices: a retrospective analysis. Diagn Pathol. 2007;2:16. [Medline].

  4. Ajao OG, Jastaniah S, Malatani TS, et al. Enterobius vermicularis (pin worm) causing symptoms of appendicitis. Trop Doct. Jul 1997;27(3):182-3. [Medline].

  5. Arca MJ, Gates RL, Groner JI, et al. Clinical manifestations of appendiceal pinworms in children: an institutional experience and a review of the literature. Pediatr Surg Int. May 2004;20(5):372-5. [Medline].

  6. Hong ST, Choi MH, Chai JY, Kim YT, Kim MK, Kim KR. A case of ovarian enterobiasis. Korean J Parasitol. Sep 2002;40(3):149-51. [Medline].

  7. Hugot JP, Reinhard KJ, Gardner SL, Morand S. Human enterobiasis in evolution: origin, specificity and transmission. Parasite. Sep 1999;6(3):201-8. [Medline].

  8. Jardine M, Kokai GK, Dalzell AM. Enterobius vermicularis and colitis in Children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. Nov 2006;43(5):610-2. [Medline].

  9. Jeske J, Kamerys J, Ochecka-Szymanska A. Efficacy of mebendazole in treatment of selected parasitoses--a retrospective study. Wiad Parazytol. 2000;46(1):127-39. [Medline].

  10. Gilbert DN, Moellering RC, Eliopoulos GM, et al. The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy 2007. Sperryville, Va: Antimicrobial Therapy Inc; 2007:127,133.

  11. Wang LC, Hwang KP, Chen ER. Enterobius vermicularis infection in schoolchildren: a large-scale survey 6 years after a population-based control. Epidemiol Infect. May 19 2009;1-9. [Medline].

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Keywords

pinworm, pin worm, Enterobius vermicularis, E vermicularis, enterobiasis, intestinal parasite, anal itching, pinworm infestation

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Joseph J Bocka, MD, Director of Shelby Emergency Department, Attending Emergency Physician at Mansfield Hospital, Med Central Health System (Mansfield and Shelby, Ohio); Emergency Medical Service Medical Director for several services
Joseph J Bocka, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, National Association of EMS Physicians, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

David A Peak, MD, Assistant Residency Director of Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency, Attending Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital; Consulting Staff, Department of Hyperbaric Medicine, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
David A Peak, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Jeter (Jay) Pritchard Taylor III, MD, Compliance Officer, Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine Residency, Department of Emergency Medicine, Palmetto Health Richland, University of South Carolina; Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Palmetto Health Baptist
Jeter (Jay) Pritchard Taylor III, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

John D Halamka, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Pamela L Dyne, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine/Emergency Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
Pamela L Dyne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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