Do you always feel "itchy on your butt"? Don't be careless, it may be caused by this kind of insect

"Itchy butt" is known to people in Sichuan and Chongqing as an insult, but this situation really exists in real life. If you have perianal itching, teeth grinding at night, accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms and mental symptoms, then be careful, it may be a pinworm infection.

1. What are pinworms?

Pinworms, also known as Enterobius vermicularis, are small, milky white, and thread-like worms that mainly parasitize the cecum, colon, and lower ileum of the human body, feeding on intestinal contents, tissues, and blood. They are a common intestinal parasite that causes enterobiasis, which occurs throughout the world and is also widely spread in my country [1]. Children are the main victims of the infection, especially in kindergartens, primary schools, and collective institutions where children live together, where pinworms are easily spread.

Pinworms have a direct and brief life cycle. When the host is asleep, the anal sphincter relaxes and the female worms migrate downward to the outside of the anus and lay eggs in the skin folds around the anus and perineum. The eggs develop quickly and are highly resistant to the external environment. They can survive for a long time and spread rapidly through various channels, which can easily cause repeated infection in individuals and can also cause cross-infection among people.

2. Transmission routes of pinworms

There are various ways of pinworm infection, the main one is the anus-hand-mouth route. The female worm lays eggs on the skin around the anus, causing itching. When the infected person scratches, the eggs contaminate the fingers. If the infected person does not wash his hands before meals or has the habit of sucking his fingers, it can lead to repeated self-infection. The eggs can also be scattered on clothes, bedding, toys, and food. Children living in groups can cause cross-infection by sharing food, toys, and daily necessities. Inhalation is also a route of infection, that is, the eggs float in the air with dust, are inhaled into the nasopharynx through the air, and then swallowed into the digestive tract and infected.

3. What are the symptoms of pinworm infection?

Infected people often experience itching in the perineum and perianal area, irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite, nocturnal grinding of teeth, and weight loss. Infants and young children often cry repeatedly at night and have restless sleep. White thread-like worms may be found around the perianal area of ​​the child after the child falls asleep. Long-term and repeated infection may also cause growth retardation in children, causing long-term effects on their physical and mental health [2].

In addition, pinworms can, in certain cases, drill into the appendix and cause appendicitis, or they can invade the urinary and reproductive system and cause various inflammations.

Image source: Pixabay

4. How to prevent and treat

Strengthening personal hygiene and environmental management is an important part of reducing the risk of the disease spreading among the population, especially children. Develop the habit of washing hands before and after meals, change underwear more frequently, educate children not to suck their fingers, cut their nails frequently, and not chew toys. Maintain good environmental hygiene, wash and iron bedding, clothes, toys, etc., and disinfect them in the sun [3]. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention in a timely manner, and patients at home and in institutions should receive treatment at the same time to avoid cross-infection.

References:

［1］Zhu Xinping, Su Chuan. Human Parasitology［M］. 9th edition. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2018.

[2] Jiang Shaobo, Zhu Ming, Huang Long. Retrospective analysis of 124 cases of enterobiasis in children [J]. Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2024, 24(10): 1493-1494.

[3] He Yisha, Yang Peicai, Yin Weigang, et al. Evaluation of the intervention effect of comprehensive prevention and control measures for enterobiasis in children in Nanjing [J]. Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, 2024, 42(4):487-495.

Source: Chongqing Science Writers Association

Author: Qiao Jie, Chief Laboratory Technician, and Zou Jingbo, Chief Laboratory Technician, Chongqing Yongchuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Audit expert: Li Hanbin

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