How To Get Rid Of Pinworms In Babies? Simple Remedies And Prevention
The immune systems of infants are also in their early stages of development due to which the littles ones are easily prone to infections and diseases. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is very common as well.
On Mar 15, 2023 – 9 minutes read
Is your baby constantly scratching their rectal area and showing signs of discomfort? It’s possible they’re experiencing a pinworm infection. Pinworms are prevalent among babies and toddlers, who are prone to putting objects in their mouths, increasing their risk of hygiene-related issues. Read on to learn about the signs of pinworm infection in babies and how to get rid of pinworms in babies using effective methods.
How To Get Rid Of Pinworms In Babies?
Pinworms typically inhabit the gastrointestinal tract and often gather near the anus, leading to itching in that region. Fortunately, pinworm infections are common and can be effectively treated with over-the-counter medications and home remedies. Let’s explore the causes of pinworm infections, how they occur, and effective pinworm treatment options.
What Are Pinworms?
Pinworms, also called threadworms, are small and thin worms residing in the rectal region of babies and adults. In females, pinworms can also be found in the vaginal region. They are thin as a pin and are parasites that lay eggs on the surrounding skin around the anus. They can be about 5-10 mm long and are white in color. The scientific name of this worm is Enterobius vermicularis. They spread through the fecal-mouth route so it is important to maintain proper hygiene.
Types of Pinworms
Among the three identified species of pinworms, only the one mentioned above infects humans. These pinworms can be either male or female, with females being notably longer than males. They deposit translucent eggs on the skin surrounding the anal area, each containing pinworm larvae.
Commons Causes of Pinworm Infection
The primary cause of pinworm infection is contact with pinworm eggs. These eggs can be acquired by touching or ingesting objects contaminated by pinworms. Given its high contagiousness, children often encounter this infection at school or on the playground.
Furthermore, the eggs can linger under the nails. If a baby or toddler places their hand in their mouth, the eggs can enter the body and mature into adult pinworms. Nail-biting is another common habit that facilitates the spread of pinworm infection.
Symptoms of Pinworm Infection
The most common pinworm symptom is itching around the anal region but there are a few other symptoms as well that point to this infection. The symptoms include:
Severe itching around the anus:
The eggs laid by female pinworms on the skin around the anus induce intense itching. When the child scratches, these eggs adhere to the skin and under the nails, potentially spreading to other children or adults upon contact with the affected baby or toddler.
Irritable and fussy:
Infants can become quite irritable even with minor discomforts, and pinworm infection can exacerbate their fussiness. Dealing with a fussy baby is challenging, and the intense itching associated with pinworms can lead to increased crying and disrupt their normal growth.
Restless sleep:
Continuous itching can keep even adults away from sleep so it can affect babies also. Pinworm itching can increase at night so days are relatively itch-free.
Vaginal itching:
Adult pinworms can also move to the vaginal area from the anus and can cause itching around that area as well. Female babies can experience this symptom in some cases but not all female babies having pinworm infection go through vaginal itching.
Pain in the abdominal area:
A minor pain that comes and disappears after a few minutes is another symptom of pinworm infection.
How To Know If The Baby Has Pinworms?
If your baby experiences itching at night or displays any other symptoms listed above, you can check for pinworms once the baby sleeps for the night. Skip giving the night bath to the baby and wait for 2-3 hours as the pinworms move around the skin after the baby falls asleep. Lift up the legs and spread the butt cheeks to see the anus clearly. Use a flashlight to see if you see any worms moving.
Another way to identify a pinworm infection is the scotch tape test. Stick a piece of transparent scotch tape to the sides of the anus and press firmly to get any worms that might be moving beneath the tape. The eggs can also be seen under the microscope. Check the tape under a microscope to see if your baby has a pinworm infection.
Are Pinworms dangerous?
The good news is that pinworm infections are not dangerous in 99% of the cases. The most they can do is cause severe itching. In rare cases, untreated pinworm infection can cause urinary tract infections in females. Abdominal pain is another common complaint in babies if the infection is not treated timely.
How To Get Rid Of Pinworms In Babies?
Unlike other infections, getting rid of pinworms in babies is easy and does not require any heavy medication. We will be discussing the home remedies for pinworms in babies in the next section.
The first precaution is to maintain proper hygiene in your household. If you have a toddler and a baby, chances are that your toddler might bring the infection from school or the playground and can infect the baby too. Very small babies who are still on breast milk or formula and do not eat solids are less likely to contract this infection as they do not ingest that well but babies older than 6 months can get a pinworm infection. Teach your toddler to wash hands after every trip to the loo and before mealtimes. Give a bath to your baby with a gentle bath soap to maintain proper hygiene.
Over-the-counter medications like Reese’s pinworm medication and albendazole work effectively in treating pinworms in babies. They come in weekly doses and the baby needs to take one medicine per week for at least two weeks to get rid of pinworms completely. Vermox is another OTC medicine that is usually prescribed to get rid of pinworms.
Natural Home Remedies for Pinworms At Home?
While you can use medicines to treat pinworms in babies, there are also a few natural remedies that may help in getting rid of pinworms. Here are some tried and tested remedies known to aid in controlling a pinworm infection and how to get rid of pinworms overnight naturally:
Maintain Strict Hygiene
Maintain cleanliness in the area at all times. After each bowel movement, wipe gently and cleanse with water to ensure it remains dry. If your child has a pinworm infection, avoid excessive wiping to prevent irritation. Instead, rinse the area with plain water and allow it to air dry. Since pinworms reside within the gut lining, it’s crucial to eliminate them from the anus using a few home remedies, which are effective in pinworm treatment for kids.
Apply a raw garlic salve on the affected area.
Garlic boasts numerous health benefits, and using raw garlic is said to help in getting rid of pinworms in babies easily. Its properties help destroy existing pinworm eggs adhering to the skin, reducing their likelihood of spreading. Additionally, garlic inhibits the production of more eggs in female pinworms, thereby significantly decreasing the infection.
If your toddler is suffering from pinworms, you can make them consume raw garlic in small amounts. For babies, you can prepare a garlic salve by mixing crushed garlic cloves or ground garlic with any oil and applying it to the affected area.
Apply coconut oil around the anus
Coconut oil has healing properties and is used in many skincare products for babies as well as adults. It has antibacterial properties and helps to soothe the inflammation and itching caused by a pinworm infection.
It is also very gentle on the baby’s soft skin. Consuming a bit of coconut oil has a significant impact on the infection but if the baby is young, you can just apply the oil around the anus a few times a week to see good results.
Consume a cup of shredded carrots or give carrot puree.
Carrots, being rich in fiber, help to clean the bowels and push the pinworms out of the anus. You can grind the raw carrots and give them in the form of a puree or shred them finely for the baby’s consumption. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C which prevents many skin and body infections. Vitamin C also helps in increasing the immunity of the body.
How to Treat Pinworms in Babies?
Babies typically don’t contract pinworm infections before they start crawling or consuming solid food, as their likelihood of ingesting pinworm eggs is lower during this stage. However, there’s a rare chance that they may inhale the eggs. Once babies begin to crawl and explore objects with their mouths, they become more susceptible to this infection as the eggs can easily enter their bodies. If your baby does develop a pinworm infection, over-the-counter medicines or simple home remedies can help treat it effectively. Since pinworms have a life cycle of about six weeks, it’s essential to keep the baby clean and dry to minimize discomfort and prevent re-infection. Here are some treatment options on how to get rid of pinworms in babies.
One important thing to keep in mind when treating pinworm in babies is to not take any symptoms lightly. A small infection can also cause a lot of discomfort to babies and it is essential to treat the condition with either medicines or home remedies in a timely manner. Do not wait for the infection to go away on its own as it will only spread further.
How Can You Prevent Pinworm Infection?
Now that we have discussed all about pinworms in babies and how to get rid of pinworms in babies and home remedies, it is important to discuss more about how you can prevent the pinworms from entering your home because once they do, you will also have to treat all the other family members since the infection is quite contagious.
Here are some tips to help prevent the spread of pinworm infections and maintain cleanliness:
- During bath time, thoroughly cleanse your baby’s genital areas and anal region with antibacterial soap.
- Ensure that all family members take a daily shower or bath, using separate towels and mats.
- Wash towels and napkins used by family members daily to prevent the spread of pinworm eggs.
- Teach your kids to wash their hands with disinfecting soap upon returning home from school or the playground.
- Keep your child’s fingernails short and clean by trimming them regularly and removing any dirt or eggs accumulated underneath.
- Wash bed linens and clothes regularly to prevent pinworm eggs from settling. Avoid shaking the linens; instead, place them directly into the washer after removing them from the bed.
- Discourage nail-biting or thumb-sucking habits, as they can provide entry points for pinworm eggs into the body.
- Avoid allowing children to eat meals while on the bed, as this increases the risk of ingesting pinworm eggs present on bed linens.
- If checking for pinworms on the baby, wear gloves and discard them after assessing the symptoms.
Final Verdict
This article delves into the topic of pinworms and their impact on babies. These tiny thread-like worms can cause significant itching, so it’s crucial to address them promptly. Our precious babies shouldn’t have to endure such discomfort, which is why this article aims to assist mothers in easily treating pinworm infections at home or with mild medications. However, it’s important to always consult your pediatrician before administering any medication to babies. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also avoid taking pinworm medicines without consulting their doctor. Have you experienced a pinworm infection episode with your baby? How did you handle it?
You may observe a decrease in itching and fewer pinworms in the stool after taking the medication.
Pinworms typically die shortly after coming out of the body.
Pinworms usually die within 24 to 48 hours after taking medication.
Yes, dead pinworms may be visible in the stool.
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