What Do Pinworms Look Like
They are usually spread like this: 1  A child swallows pinworm eggs, and they travel to the child's intestines. 2  In about a month, the eggs hatch into worms. 3  At night the female worms crawl out the rectum and lay eggs around the child's anus. 4  When the worms lay eggs, it can cause itching. Pinworms are a type of parasite that lives in the digestive system of humans. They are common throughout the world. Adult pinworms are about 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) long and look like little white threads. Pinworm eggs are so tiny, you'd need a microscope to see them. The worms mature in the intestine and then move through the digestive system to lay eggs in the anal area. Adult worms, which are white and look like small pieces of thread, live for up to six weeks. Pinworms do not always cause symptoms. From there, female pinworms migrate out of the child's intestines to lay their eggs on his anus. As the worms move, they cause intense itching that can disrupt sleep. When the child scratches his itchy bottom, the eggs get under his fingernails, and another cycle begins when he puts his hands in his mouth. 1 The symptoms of pinworm infection are discomfort and itching in the anal/rectal area. 2  Children especially will scratch the rectal/anal area, get eggs on their fingers or underneath their fingernails and transport the infective eggs to bedding, toys, other humans, or back to themselves. They are usually spread like this: 1  A child swallows pinworm eggs, and they travel to the child's intestines. 2  When the worms lay eggs, it can cause itching. 3  The eggs then stick to things the child touches, such as clothing, dishes, toys, and furniture. 4  When you touch something the child has touched, the eggs get on your hands. 1 Young children and their household members are at risk for pinworm infections. 2  Pinworms are visible. 3  They range in size from 2-13 mm, are white, and resemble a worm but the pinworm eggs are small, transparent and can be seen only with a microscope. Small, white, and round, a pinworm is a parasite that looks like a short piece of white cotton thread when seen. Found worldwide, the pinworm tends to infect mainly children and, while not dangerous, can be a nuisance that causes a wide range of discomforting symptoms. Pinworm infection is an infection of the large intestine and anal area by a small, white parasite that resembles a worm.. The medical name for the parasite is Enterobius vermicularis, but it is commonly termed a pinworm in both the lay and medical literature. Many dog owners mistake tapeworms for pinworms because the worms look similar. Both parasitic worms attach in the intestines where the adult worms lay eggs. At times, you may see small tapeworm segments outside the anus, much like pinworms crawl from the anus. This explains why many people confuse the two.
Adult pinworms are about 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) long and look like little white threads. Pinworm eggs are so tiny, you'd need a microscope to see them.