Oblique Digital Image Gallery Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis)
Pinworms, as their common name implies, are tiny pin-shaped
nematodes known as Enterobius vermicularis to the medical and
zoology communities. Also called seatworms or threadworms, the
small, whitish roundworms are responsible for contagious
intestinal parasite infestations that commonly inflict preschool
children and other crowded settings such as nurseries, schools,
and hospitals. View a second image of the Pinworm. Although
adult pinworms inhabit the large intestine, the eggs are laid
outside of the anus during the night, creating a severe itching
sensation. Other symptoms include disturbed sleep, decreased
appetite and weight loss. Spread from person to person usually
occurs with contaminated clothing, bedding, toys, and dirty
hands, but the eggs can also drift through the air where they
are inhaled or swallowed. Once they enter the new host, the eggs
hatch in the small intestine and travel down to the large
intestine for maturation. Preventi