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Threadworms

Threadworms are small intestinal worm parasites.  The threadworm (sometimes called a pinworm), Enterobius vermicularis, is the commonest worm parasite of children in non-tropical areas such as northern Europe.

The mature female worm can be from 2mm to 13mm long, white, and with a blunt head and a fine, hair-like, pointed tail. The male is shorter and is rarely seen, as it remains in the intestine. Adult worms live for up to 6 weeks.

The female worm lays many tiny eggs around the anus, and around the vagina and urethra in girls. This usually happens at night, when the infested person is asleep. When laying the eggs, the female worm also secretes irritant mucus, which causes the person to scratch the itchy area. Eggs then stick under fingernails and on fingertips, and can be transferred to the mouth to cause re-infestation.

The eggs can survive for three weeks and sometimes hatch on the skin and re-enter the bowel. Swallowed eggs hatch in the intestine, and after a couple of weeks the worms reach adult size and begin to reproduce.

• Symptoms
• Causes
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