The Diagnosis and Treatment of Pinworm Infection

Abstract

ue to its widespread prevalence in children-and occasional occurrence in adults-symptomatic pinworm infection (enterobiasis) remains a relevant problem in Germany, despite the fact that infection rates have declined since the reunification. A 1978 investigation in daycare centers in Schwerin, Germany, found pinworms in 29% of children aged 1-3 years, 64% of 4to 7-year-olds, and 28% of teachers. A follow-up investigation conducted in 1997 found a drop in these rates to 2%, 3.4%, and 0.7%, respectively (1). However, there have also been isolated signs of locally clustered detection rates over the past 10 years, for instance in the greater Berlin area (2). Although pinworm infection follows a harmless course in the majority of cases and is even asymptomatic in approximately 40% of cases (3), it is not uncommon for enterobiasis to be associated with considerable psychological distress for children and adults. For this reason, affected patients are often too embarrassed to seek medical advice (4). A lack of knowledge about how infection is transmitted and can be prevented, unsuccessful attempts at treatment, as well as a relatively high recurrence/autoinfection rate can lead to resignation on the part of the patient. Despite a high disease incidence, there is surprisingly scant systematically proven knowledge on treatment-not to mention a German-language guideline; therefore, since general practitioners, as well as infectious disease and pediatric outpatient departments, are nevertheless regularly confronted with enterobiasis, this article aims to summarize the current state of knowledge in order to ensure optimal diagnosis and treatment. Methods The article is based on a selective literature search in PubMed for relevant publications during the period 1 January 1990 to 5 February 2019 using the search terms "enterobiasis," "oxyuriasis," "Enterobius vermicularis," "pinworm," and "threadworm." A number of older publications, textbooks, as well as the authors' clinical experience were also taken into consideration. Pathogen/etiology Enterobius (syn. Oxyuris) vermicularis is a humanpathogenic intestinal parasite belonging to the nematodes (Nematoda). Synonyms include "threadworm" and "seatworm." Symptomatic pinworm infection is Summary Background: Symptomatic infection with pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis), a human pathogen, is clinically relevant in Germany, with an estimated prevalence in childhood of 2-20%. Enterobiasis can cause major mental distress. There is little systematically verified knowledge on the treatment of this condition, and there is no corresponding German guideline. This review is, therefore, intended as a summary of the current state of knowledge. Methods: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed for literature appearing from 1 January 1990 to 5 February 2019 and containing the search terms "enterobiasis," "oxyuriasis," "Enterobius vermicularis," "pinworm," and "threadworm." Results: More than one billion people worldwide are thought to be infected wi...

Enterobius vermicularis in appendectomy specimens; Clinicopathological assessment: Cross sectional study

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“…The finding of females having higher prevalence of E. v. (58.1% of cases) comes in agreement with E. v. being more common in girls [ 5 ]. Eosinophils percent was within the normal range for both females and males (5% or less) [ 20 ].…”

“…The clinical mimicking of acute appendicitis may result in a person undergoing an unnecessary negative surgery (appendectomy), also predicting the presence of E. v. is important to ensure complete treatment with proper anti-helminthic drugs [ 5 ], and to prevent dissemination of the infection at the time of surgery [ 6 ].…”

Efficacy of Albendazole Mass Treatment Alone Compared to Combined Albendazole – Flubendazole Regimen for Treatment of Resistant Entrobius vermicularis Infection in Children

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Chronic nail biting, orthodontic treatment and Enterobacteriaceae in the oral cavity

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