What Is Pinworm Infection?

By james

Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky

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There are many different types of parasites in the world. We tend to associate them with other animals but there are parasites that can infect humans as well. Thankfully for us, however, they are often quite harmless and also fairly easy to treat.

One such example of a parasite is pinworm. These are small parasites that live in our colon or rectum and they will not usually do us much harm. They are quite infectious, however, and they can cause some unwelcome symptoms for some people. They are easy to treat, however, and they will usually pass having done no permanent damage.

1. Pinworm

Pinworms are one of the most common parasites to infect humans. The measure from ¼ to ½ inches in length and are thin, white creatures. They are relatively harmless but they can cause some unwelcome symptoms in some cases. The worms will tend to infest the intestines, although the female worms will sometimes move down toward the anus.

Treating the infestation is also a relatively easy procedure. Pinworms can infect people of all ages, but they tend to infect children more than they infect adults. This is mainly because children are more likely to be in physical contact with each other, and more likely to put their hands in their mouths.