Enterobiasis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Enterobiasis, also called pinworm infection is a contagious disease caused by the infection of a parasite called Enterobius vermicularis. Infection is very common in children. Enterobiasis causes acute itching in the anus and this is how it spreads.

The adult female pinworm crawls out of the anus at night and lays eggs in the perianal space around the anal opening and dies after laying eggs. Eggs are deposited on a gel like substance which combined with the movement of the female worm causes the itching. When the child scratches their anus, eggs become embedded underneath the fingernails, which may again be consumed or inhaled inadvertently by the same child or others who come in close proximity. Eggs laid can survive for above three weeks. Once ingested, the eggs hatch in the intestine and mature to complete the life cycle.

The eggs may be transmitted through other vectors such as clothing, hair, bedsheets, etc. The disease is highly contagious and its principal symptom is severe anal itching. In some cases other symptoms may appear including stomach ache, itching in places other than the anus, and the vagina in very young girls. The disease may be prevented and treated by maintaining good personal hygiene, but medications are also used.

Enterobiasis is a very common condition and can be treated by maintaining good personal hygiene, including washing hands thoroughly with soap after playing outside and especially before eating, not putting random objects picked up from the ground in the mouth, etc. Antihelminthic medications may be prescribed and usually the entire family needs to be treated. Generally, the kind of medication that are prescribed are pyrantel pamoate, albendazole and mebendazole. A Pyrantel pamoate can be bought from the store even without a prescription. A minimum of two doses is required in order to fully eliminate the presence of pinworms from the body. The severe itching may be relieved by topical application of petroleum jelly. The perianal area of very small children may be washed with mild antiseptic liquid.

The condition is diagnosed by the intense anal itching and appearance of tiny while worms in the faeces. Appearance of these symptoms requires treatment.

Some other helmionthic diseases lie hookworm, roundworm, etc. may show symptoms similar to enterobiasis and need not be treated for it.

Very few side effects are associated with enterobiasis treatment.

Post treatment guidelines include maintaining proper body hygiene. Children need to be taught to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after playing outside and especially before meals, not pick up small objects from the ground and put them in their mouths, keep their fingernails clean, wash hands properly after using the washroom, etc.

If the treatment is done properly, complete recovery takes place in about four to six weeks. However, reinfection is common since eggs deposited before treatment can survive up to three weeks, while those deposited after treatment begins can survive up to one week.

Cost of treatment for enterobiasis in India lies between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000, and can go higher only in very rare cases.

Results are not permanent and the condition may appear with another infection. Reinfection is very common since eggs laid before therapy can survive for up to three weeks and even those laid after treatment can survive for about a week.

A number of alternative treatment options are available for enterobiasis, including herbal medications, home remedies, homeopathic medications, etc.