Enterobius (Pinworm)
Enterobius (Pinworm) is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.
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MICROBIOLOGY
- Pinworms are intestinal nematodes (aka roundworms).
- Disease is also known as Enterobiasis or threadworm disease, caused by Enterobius vermicularis.
- Epidemiology: worldwide. Most common nematode infection in the U.S., with 40 million cases per year.
- Infection is mostly seen in children.
- Increased prevalence with congestion, institutionalization and infestation within family members.
- Larger family size is associated with increased risk.
- The lifespan of worm is 11-35 days, so chronic disease is due to reinfection rather than persistent infection.
- Eggs are deposited nocturnally in perianal/perineal regions.
- Self-infection can occur by transferring eggs to the mouth after scratching the perianal area.
- Eggs are transferred under contaminated fingernails, in dust and through contaminated clothes or linens.
- Life cycle: (Figure 1)
- Eggs are deposited on perianal folds by gravid females and transferred to the mouth by contamination of hands, clothes or bed linens.
- Ingested eggs hatch into larvae in the small intestine.
- Larvae mature into adults in the colon and gravid females migrate nocturnally outside the anus to lay eggs.
- Each female worm can produce more than 10,000 eggs. Eggs remain viable for an average of 1-2 weeks. Infectivity decreases within 1 to 2 days in dry, warm environments.
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
MICROBIOLOGY
- Pinworms are intestinal nematodes (aka roundworms).
- Disease is also known as Enterobiasis or threadworm disease, caused by Enterobius vermicularis.
- Epidemiology: worldwide. Most common nematode infection in the U.S., with 40 million cases per year.
- Infection is mostly seen in children.
- Increased prevalence with congestion, institutionalization and infestation within family members.
- Larger family size is associated with increased risk.
- The lifespan of worm is 11-35 days, so chronic disease is due to reinfection rather than persistent infection.
- Eggs are deposited nocturnally in perianal/perineal regions.
- Self-infection can occur by transferring eggs to the mouth after scratching the perianal area.
- Eggs are transferred under contaminated fingernails, in dust and through contaminated clothes or linens.
- Life cycle: (Figure 1)
- Eggs are deposited on perianal folds by gravid females and transferred to the mouth by contamination of hands, clothes or bed linens.
- Ingested eggs hatch into larvae in the small intestine.
- Larvae mature into adults in the colon and gravid females migrate nocturnally outside the anus to lay eggs.
- Each female worm can produce more than 10,000 eggs. Eggs remain viable for an average of 1-2 weeks. Infectivity decreases within 1 to 2 days in dry, warm environments.
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Last updated: January 12, 2020
Citation
Crowell, Trevor A. "Enterobius (Pinworm)." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2020. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540202/all/Enterobius__Pinworm_.
Crowell TA. Enterobius (Pinworm). Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2020. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540202/all/Enterobius__Pinworm_. Accessed April 1, 2023.
Crowell, T. A. (2020). Enterobius (Pinworm). In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540202/all/Enterobius__Pinworm_
Crowell TA. Enterobius (Pinworm) [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2020. [cited 2023 April 01]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540202/all/Enterobius__Pinworm_.
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