infections
Pinworm Infection
Introduction
Pinworm infection is caused by the intestinal roundwormEnterobius vermicularisand usually affects children, but adult members of their households and caregivers, institutionalized people, and those who have anal-oral contact with an infected partner during sex are also at risk. People acquire the infection when they swallow eggs of the roundworm. The infection may cause itching around the anus. The infection can be diagnosed by finding the eggs or sometimes the adult pinworm around the anus. An antiparasitic drug such asmebendazole,albendazole, orpyrantelpamoate given once at diagnosis and once 2 weeks later, usually cures the infection. (See also Overview of Parasitic Infections .) Pinworm infection is the most common roundworm infection in the United States, occurring in an estimated 20 to 42 million people. As many as a billion people worldwide from all socioeconomic classes are infected. Most cases of pinworm occur in school-aged children, adults who care for children, or family members of an infected child. Pinworm infection is the most common roundworm infection in the United States. 