Testing for pinworm eggs

Testing for pinworm eggs

One of the most common causes, besides poisoning and bacterial infections, of gastrointestinal complaints is parasitic infections. Some of them are asymptomatic and are incidentally detected during routine examinations (e.g., colonoscopy), but the vast majority of them cause unpleasant discomforts, and identifying parasites as their cause sometimes poses difficulties. Each has a different life cycle (reproduces and matures differently), and different stages of development can also exist in the bodies of animals from which humans become infected.

Unrecognized infections can often lead to complications such as dehydration and water-electrolyte imbalance, especially in at-risk individuals such as young children, the elderly and those with immune deficiencies.

One of the most commonly detected parasites is Enterobius vermicularis (human pinworm), which is particularly prevalent in temperate countries.

Most often causes infections in children, but it also happens in adult patients. Its life cycle is called monoxenic - that is, all development occurs in the body of one species, in this case a human. The invasive form (the stage through which the parasite spreads and attacks the next host) are the eggs, which enter the body through the oral route.

The life cycle of the pinworm begins with the laying of eggs by adult females in the anal folds. The females move actively which causes itching. Then, most often, self-infection occurs-as a result of scratching on dirty hands, eggs are left behind, which end up in the oral cavity. In the small intestine, larvae are released from the eggs, which travel to the large intestine, where they mature into adults, and the females migrate again to the anal area and the cycle closes. In addition to auto-infection, there is also the possibility of infection through contaminated food or inhaling and swallowing dust containing invasive eggs.

Testing for pinworms should be done in the morning after waking up (before washing up), using the sticky method. Adhesive (transparent, not matte) purchased from the pharmacy should be peeled from the slide and, spreading the folds near the anal orifice, apply it to the skin pressing a few times with your finger, then peel it off and stick it to the slide as accurately as possible, taking care not to form air bubbles

The test should be performed in the morning after waking up (before washing)

When to test for pinworm eggs

This test is performed in the course of diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections, when parasites are suspected to be caused by parasites, especially human pinworm in the presence of characteristic symptoms of pinworm. It is useful for differentiating the causes of abdominal pain and weight loss in children.

To increase the reliability of the test result, microscopic evaluation of feces can be supplemented with observation of the anal area with the naked eye or collection of material from this area using the cellophane sticking method - adhesive tape is stuck to the skin and then transferred to a slide. It may happen that pinworm eggs will not be in the feces, but will be localized in the folds of the anus.

Who should get tested for pinworm eggs?

Persons with symptoms of pinworm:

• pain in the anal area, most severe at night
• insomnia
• suspiciousness, motor agitation
• difficulty concentrating
• convulsions
• grinding of teeth
• periodic abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
• reduced appetite, weight loss

In complications, when pinworms get into the appendix, they can cause appendicitis, which manifests as fever and sharp abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa. Scratching caused by nuisance can also lead to secondary bacterial superinfections of the anal skin area. In women and girls, pinworm in rare cases leads to inflammation of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes and causes sexual arousal.