Pinworms, also known as threadworms or Enterobius vermicularis, are tiny parasitic worms that infect the large intestine and colon. The most common symptom is anal itching, especially at night. Other symptoms include disturbed sleep and irritability. Pinworms are the most common intestinal worm infection in the United States and they often spread quickly through families, schools, daycare centers, and other group settings. Many people wonder if they should stay home from work, school, or daycare if they or their child has pinworms. Here is a look at whether you should stay home if you have pinworms.
Are pinworms contagious?
Yes, pinworms are contagious and spread easily. The microscopic pinworm eggs can survive up to 3 weeks on contaminated surfaces. When a person scratches the anal area where the female pinworms lay their eggs, the eggs can get under the fingernails. The eggs can then get transferred to surfaces, clothes, bedding, toys, food, water, etc. Other people ingest the pinworm eggs by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their mouth. Once the eggs are swallowed, they hatch into larvae in the small intestine, grow into adult worms, and migrate to the large intestine to mature and lay eggs, starting the cycle over again.
How long are you contagious with pinworms?
A pinworm infection lasts as long as the female worms continue to lay eggs around the anus. This can be 1 to 2 months or longer without treatment. Female pinworms lay thousands of microscopic eggs each day during this time, leading to high risk of transmission to others. The eggs can survive for up to 3 weeks during this infectious period before they become non-viable.
You remain contagious as long as the worms are present and active in the intestines. Even if you have no symptoms, you can still pass pinworm eggs to others. This is why pinworms spread so rapidly through group settings.
Should you keep your child home for pinworms?
Most experts recommend keeping kids home from school, daycare, or other group settings if they have a known or suspected pinworm infection. This can help prevent the spread to other children in the facility. Once your child has been treated and is no longer showing symptoms, they can generally return to school or daycare.
Some key reasons to keep kids home until treated include:
- Pinworms spread quickly in childcare and school settings through contamination.
- Kids often put their fingers in their mouth which can transmit pinworm eggs.
- Young children are less likely to practice good hygiene like handwashing.
- Pinworm itching and disturbed sleep may impact your child’s learning and behavior.
- Sending a child to school with pinworms knowingly can put other children and families at risk.
Check with your child’s school, daycare, or camp to be aware of their specific policy around pinworm infections. Once your child has been treated according to your doctor’s recommendations, they can generally return to group settings.
Should adults with pinworms stay home from work?
Adults with pinworms do not necessarily need to stay home from work in most cases. However, here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to stay home:
- How physically demanding is your job? If you have a desk job, going to work is less likely to spread the infection than a job where you handle food or work in close contact with others.
- Can you practice good hygiene at work? Use your own bathroom if possible, wash hands frequently, and avoid food preparation to reduce spread.
- Do you have very active symptoms? Staying home for a day or two until after treatment may help reduce transmission.
- Talk to your doctor about your specific work duties to decide if a short time off is recommended.
In jobs with high public exposure like restaurants, healthcare, schools, etc., employers may request that employees with pinworms stay home until treated and symptoms resolve. Otherwise, practice good hygiene and limit close physical contact with others where possible. Seek medical treatment right away.
How can you keep from spreading pinworms?
Here are some key ways you can avoid passing pinworms to others:
- Wash hands frequently, especially after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food.
- Take a warm daily shower and keep fingernails short and clean.
- Avoid scratching the anal area as this can transfer pinworm eggs under nails.
- Wear tight underwear and sleepwear to keep worms confined.
- Avoid direct anus-to-mouth contact during sex.
- Clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces regularly with disinfectant.
- Do not share towels or bedding with others.
- Wash sleepwear, underwear, towels and bedding in hot water each day.
- Make sure everyone in the household is treated at the same time to prevent reinfection.
Practicing good personal hygiene and household cleanliness is key to limiting the spread of pinworms until the infection clears.
How do you get rid of pinworms?
Prescription medication is used to treat pinworm infections. Options include:
- Mebendazole (Vermox, Emverm) – chewable tablet taken once, repeat in 2 weeks.
- Albendazole (Albenza) – chewable tablet taken once, repeat in 2 weeks.
- Pyrantel pamoate (Pin-X, Reese’s Pinworm Medicine) – liquid or chewable tablet taken once, repeat in 2 weeks.
These anti-parasitic drugs kill the adult worms and larvae. Because the medication does not kill the eggs, the second dose after 2 weeks is needed to kill any newly hatched worms. Strict hygiene measures should also be followed to avoid reinfection during treatment.
All household members should be treated at the same time even if they do not show symptoms. Wash all clothing, bedding, and towels in hot water and clean surfaces to remove lingering eggs.
Conclusion
Pinworms are extremely contagious intestinal parasites that often spread quickly through group settings like schools and daycare centers. Keeping your child home until treated can help limit the spread. While adults do not necessarily need to avoid work, practicing good hygiene and limiting close contact with others is important. Anti-parasitic medication coupled with thorough cleaning of the home environment is the key to getting rid of pinworms and avoiding repeat infection. Being vigilant about cleanliness and hygiene can help contain these stubborn parasites.