Finding out you have any
kind of parasite is unsettling, even a relatively harmless parasite
like pinworms. Once you discover you are infected, some questions
might instantly run through your mind, such as, “How do you
get pinworms? How do you get rid of them? How can I prevent them
in the future?”
Unfortunately, how you get pinworms is not a pretty story. Pinworms
are spread in one way: from the anus to the mouth. However, the
spread of pinworm occurs through several steps. First, a female
pinworm lays thousands of microscopic eggs around the anus of an
infected person. Within a few hours, pinworm eggs become mature
enough to be transferred to anything the infected person touches
such as bedding, clothing, toys, and other objects or surfaces.
As you might presume, pinworm eggs are more likely to be spread
if the infected person does not follow good hygiene habits like
frequent hand washing and fingernail maintenance.
Once pinworm eggs are transferred to another surface, they can survive
for 2 to 3 weeks. If people touch a surface where pinworm eggs are
present and then put their hands in or around their mouth, the pinworm
eggs enter a new host and the cycle begins again.
If you want to prevent the risk of getting pinworms, make sure to
wash your hands often, keep your fingernails trimmed and clean,
and avoid biting your nails. However, contrary to popular belief,
you cannot get pinworms from pets or other animals.
