Many children have no symptoms at all.
When symptoms occur, they may include:
- Intense itching around the anus, especially at night
- Restless sleep
- Frequent waking
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating due to poor sleep
- Mild abdominal discomfort (occasionally)
In girls, pinworms can sometimes spread to the genital area, causing irritation.
Why Does the Itching Happen at Night?
Female pinworms leave the intestine after the child falls asleep.
They crawl to the skin around the anus and lay their eggs.
This process causes irritation and itching, which is why symptoms are usually worse during the night.
How Are Pinworms Diagnosed?
A healthcare provider may recommend the tape test.
Tape Test
- Perform the test first thing in the morning before bathing or using the toilet.
- Press a piece of clear adhesive tape against the skin around the anus.
- Place the tape on a glass slide or in a clean bag.
- A laboratory can examine the tape under a microscope for pinworm eggs.
Sometimes adult worms can also be seen around the anus at night or in the stool.
Treatment
Pinworms are usually treated with prescription or over-the-counter antiparasitic medications, depending on your country.
Common medications include:
- Mebendazole
- Albendazole
- Pyrantel pamoate
A second dose is usually given about two weeks later to kill any worms that hatch from eggs after the first treatment.
Because pinworms spread so easily, healthcare providers often recommend treating everyone in the household at the same time, even if only one person has symptoms.
Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions or the medication label.
