What Are Pinworms?
Pinworms are tiny and white worms that live in the colon and rectum of the infected individuals. They are also called Enterobius vermicularis, and the infection is usually known as enterobiasis or helminthiasis. The infections caused by pinworms are highly contagious and are a result of the ingestion of the tiny eggs laid by them. While children are more vulnerable to them, they can also cause infection in adults (2). A study to understand the detection rate of pinworms was conducted on 3991 patients in Berlin. It was found that pinworms occurred mostly in children aged 4-10 along with their relatives. Pinworms were detected in 971 samples out of 5578. The detection rate was higher in male (20%) than in female (15.4%) patients. Read on to understand the causes of this parasitic infection.
What Causes Pinworms?
Pinworm infections are solely caused due to the accidental inhalation or ingestion of the eggs by a human or animal. These eggs are usually transferred via contaminated foods, drinks, or other infected utensils. The eggs are extremely small and cannot be seen with naked eyes (3). Once they enter your body, they hatch and turn into adult worms within weeks. The adult worms continue to move in the body and lay more eggs around the anus region of the infected person, and these become infective within a few hours. This cycle will continue until the infection is cured, and the entire household of the infected individual is disinfected.
Signs And Symptoms Of Pinworms
Frequent itching and irritation in the anal area Disturbed sleep due to an irritated anal region Presence of pinworms in stools Nausea and occasional abdominal pain Irritability and restlessness due to lack of sleep because the worms lay their eggs at night.
Angela Standley, a blogger, shared her experience about contracting enterobiasis or pinworm infection on her personal blog. She observes, “My symptoms included bloating, foul gas (smelly farts), unformed stools (I describe them as ‘fluffy’ – I’m sorry this is very graphic!), and as it got worse I also experienced sleeplessness and fatigue. Occasionally I felt so unwell I had to leave work early and lay down, and even lost it emotionally (i).” Pinworms can be very irritating and troublesome in the long run. Hence, it is best to treat the condition as soon as you observe its onset. While many medical treatments are available for pinworm infections, people also try natural remedies as complementary options. Some of these natural and cost-effective herbal remedies are mentioned below. Please note that these remedies for intestinal parasites do not have scientific data to support their effect on pinworms. They are based on anecdotal evidence or their occurrence in traditional medicine. Hence, it is important to consult a doctor. Also, make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients before proceeding with a remedy.
How To Get Rid Of Pinworms Naturally
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains about 6% acetic acid, which can lower the pH of your body. This creates an uninhabitable environment for the pinworms, making their survival inside your body difficult. However, there is a lack of research on how apple cider vinegar is useful in treating pinworms. You Will Need
2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar 1 glass of water Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this 2 times daily.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties (4), (5). These properties can help eradicate pinworm infection and its symptoms. You Will Need
1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this daily.
3. Garlic
Garlic is an anti-parasitic herb that exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties (6), (7). It also exhibited oxyuricide properties in treating pinworm infection (8). However, more studies are needed to establish its efficacy. You Will Need
1-2 garlic cloves Petroleum jelly
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this once daily.
4. Hot Water
Since pinworms are highly contagious, it is of utmost importance to disinfect your entire household with hot water to get rid of them. Proper hygiene practices will also help prevent their recurrence. You Will Need
Hot water Soap and detergent
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this daily until you get rid of pinworms.
5. Essential Oils
a. Tea Tree Oil
The antibacterial and antifungal properties of tea tree oil can help in this regard (9). Tea tree oil also has antiparasitic properties (10). However, there are no direct studies to support its efficacy in killing Enterobius vermicularis (pinworms). You Will Need
1-2 drops of tea tree oil 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil (optional)
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this daily.
b. Clove Essential Oil
The eugenol in clove essential oil exhibits powerful germicidal, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties (11), (12). These may help treat pinworm infection. You Will Need
1-2 drops of clove essential oil 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this once every night.
6. Grapefruit Seed Extract (Supplements)
Grapefruit seeds contain polyphenols that exhibit strong antimicrobial activity. (13), (14). This may help prevent pinworms. Caution: Consult your physician before going ahead with these supplements. You Will Need
200 mg of grapefruit seed extract supplement What You Have To Do Consume grapefruit seed extract supplements daily.
How Often You Should Do This Do this twice a day for a week.
7. Lemon Juice
The acidic nature of lemons lowers the pH of your body. This may make the survival of pinworms difficult. However, more scientific studies are needed to prove this effect. You Will Need
1/2 lemon 1 glass of water Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Drink this juice at least once daily.
8. Pineapple Juice
Pineapples are a rich source of an enzyme called bromelain, which exhibits antimicrobial activities (15). This may help you to get rid of pinworms. However, there are no studies linking pineapples to treating pinworms. You Will Need
1/4 pineapple 1 glass of water
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Drink this juice once daily.
9. Carrots
The high fiber content of carrots can help improve bowel movements and add bulk to stool (16). This can push the pinworms out of your body via your stool. However, there are insufficient scientific studies to prove the efficacy of carrots in treating pinworms. You Will Need
1 medium-sized carrot
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Eat about a cup of shredded carrots 1 to 2 times daily.
10. Rubbing Alcohol
The isopropanol in rubbing alcohol has disinfecting and antimicrobial properties (17). It can help kill the pinworms and also prevent the recurrence of the infection. You Will Need
Rubbing alcohol Cotton balls or wipes
What You Have To Do
Take some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and wipe the infected anal region with it.
How Often You Should Do This Do this multiple times a day.
11. Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins contain compounds called cucurbitacins that are known for their anthelmintic activity (18), (19). This activity can paralyze the worms, making it easier to expel them from your body (20). You Will Need
1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds 1/2-1 cup of water
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this once every morning.
12. Vaseline
The healing properties of Vaseline may help relieve itching and irritation. But this is only for temporary relief and cannot be used to prevent the pinworms on a long-term basis. You Will Need
Vaseline
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this once daily.
13. Bitter Gourd
The cucurbitacin in bitter gourd possesses antiparasitic properties that may help expel worms from the body (21). You Will Need 2 medium-sized bitter gourds
1 cup of water Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Drink this juice intermittently throughout the day.
14. Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in probiotics that can restore the natural balance of bacteria in your digestive system. These bacteria are capable of destroying and eliminating harmful bacteria and germs from your body (22), (23). You Will Need
1 cup of plain yogurt
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this daily.
15. Wormwood Tea
The antiparasitic nature of wormwood extract helps kill parasites (24), (25). This may help prevent pinworms and combat the infection. It is also an active ingredient in parasite cleanse supplements that involve using herbal components to eliminate parasites from the body. (26) You Will Need
3-4 drops of wormwood extract 1 cup of hot water Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this 3 times a day for a week. Angela Standley, who was diagnosed with pinworm infection, opted for herbal treatments initially. On her blog, she explains, “I took preparations of anti-parasitic natural ingredients including Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), Black Walnut leaf (Juglans nigra), coupled with herbs and nutrients for the gastrointestinal tract…”. However, she had to go for a combination of treatments, which included antibiotics for complete recovery, but these alternative treatments helped reduce her symptoms dramatically.
16. Castor Oil
Castor oil is quite popular for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that are known to destroy and eliminate harmful worms and parasites from your body. Pinworms usually hold on to the walls of your intestines and are hence not excreted from your body. Castor oil can dislodge them from your intestines due to its laxative effects (27), (28). This, in turn, may push the pinworms out of your body via excretion. You Will Need
1 teaspoon of castor oil
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this once daily.
17. Onions
Onions are rich in sulfur. These sulfur globules may help eliminate parasites from your system in a day or two (29). However, there is insufficient scientific evidence to prove this effect. You Will Need
1-2 medium-sized onions Water
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this 3 times a day for 2 days.
18. Papaya Seeds
Papaya seeds have a toxic effect on intestinal worms and may help eliminate them. A rat study found that papaya seeds have antihelmintic effects and could kill parasitic worms (30). Another study on humans found that a mixture of papaya and honey could eliminate intestinal parasites without any side effects (31). However, more studies are needed to prove these claims. You Will Need
1 fresh papaya ½ cup of water 1 teaspoon of organic honey
What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this once every morning. These home remedies can help accelerate your recovery from pinworm infection. If your symptoms persist despite using them, consult a healthcare provider. They can prescribe effective medications and offer guidance on hygiene practices to help control the infection. Additionally, you need to follow some tips to avoid the recurrence of the infection. They are as follows.
Tips To Prevent Pinworms
Include high-fiber foods in your diet. Consumption of raw vegetables, such as carrots and cabbages, whole fruits, and grains are simple dietary changes that can increase the efficiency of the treatments against pinworms. Consuming probiotic foods, like yogurt and buttermilk, can help in the elimination of pinworms from your system. Everyone in an infected household must adopt hygienic practices like hand washing before every meal, showering daily, washing clothes with hot water, and cleaning the washrooms daily to prevent the spreading of the infection. The infected person’s household must be disinfected completely in every way possible. From vacuuming the carpeted areas to scrubbing the floors and changing all the sheets and towels, the entire household must be cleaned following a recovery from pinworms to avoid reinfestation. Dr.Soma Mandal, MD, a general physician at Summit Health and a midlife women’s health specialist, says, “Avoid sharing towels/ linens/ clothes. Avoid scratching the anal area.”
Long-Term Side Effects Of Pinworms
Urinary tract infection: Pinworms can enter the urethra and infect your bladder (32). Weight loss: As we are aware, pinworms are parasites that feed on the host’s nutrition. This may lead to weight loss in the affected individuals. Pelvic inflammatory diseases: Pinworms may cause pelvic inflammatory diseases in females by infecting the linings of the fallopian tubes or ovaries (33). Pinworm infestation can lead to inflammation of the peritoneal cavity, thus affecting digestive health. The infestation can also mimic the symptoms of acute appendicitis (34). In people with impaired immune system support, like HIV/AIDS patients, the infestation may occur more frequently, leading to anemia, malnutrition, and impaired intestinal health (34). Recurring infestations: One of the major drawbacks of a pinworm infection is its ability to resurface if proper hygiene is not maintained by infected individuals and their family members.
What instantly kills pinworms? Dr. Mandal says, “Treatment with anti-parasitic medications like albendazole, mebendazole, and pyrantel pamoate can get rid of pinworms in about 90 to 100% of cases.” What temperature kills pinworm eggs? Dr. Mandal says, “A temperature of at least 60°C (140°F) kills pinworms and their eggs.” How to tell if you have worms in your stool? The presence of small, white, thread-like structures confirms the presence of worms in your stool. What does it feel like to have worms under your skin? If you feel an itchy and crawling sensation under your skin, there is a possibility that you are infested with worms. However, in some cases, the reason for these sensations could be a minor insect bite, diabetes, or even skin or nerve damage. Always discuss any concerns with your doctor. How long does it take for pinworms to clear up? While home remedies can speed up your healing process, you will still need to consult your doctor and get the right medication. It may take about 3 to 7 days for pinworms to clear out of your system. Can you get pinworms from toilet seats? Yes, pinworm eggs can cling to surfaces like toys, bedding, and toilet seats for 2 to 3 weeks. Ensure you wash your linens and clean the surfaces regularly to prevent a recurrence. What time do pinworms come out? Pinworms tend to come out at night or early in the morning and can be seen around the anus or the anal system.
Illustration: How To Get Rid Of Pinworms: Causes 17 Home Remedies + Prevention
