Medicine & USMLE

Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)

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Parasites
  1. Giardia lamblia
  2. Toxoplasma gondii
  3. Entamoeba histolytica
  4. Cryptosporidium
  5. Naegleria fowleri
  6. Trypanosoma brucei
  7. Plasmodium Overview
  8. Plasmodium Disease (Malaria)
  9. Babesia
  10. Trypanosoma cruzi
  11. Leishmania
  12. Trichomonas vaginalis
  13. Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)
  14. Ascaris lumbricoides (giant roundworm)
  15. Strongyloides stercoralis (threadworm)
  16. Ancylostoma and Necator
  17. Trichinella spiralis
  18. Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)
  19. Toxocara canis
  20. Onchocerca volvulus
  21. Loa loa
  22. Wuchereria bancrofti
  23. Taenia solium
  24. Diphyllobothrium latum
  25. Echinococcus granulosus
  26. Schistosoma
  27. Clonorchis sinensis
  28. Sarcoptes scabiei (Scabies)
  29. Pediculus humanis and Phthirus pubis (Lice)

Summary

Enterobius vermicularis, also known as pinworm, is an intestinal nematode or roundworm transmitted via a fecal-oral route. School-aged children are typically the population affected by this parasite. The clinical infection with this parasite is known as enterobiasis, which clasically presents with anal pruritis. Diagnosis is performed using a scotch tape test to catch pinworm eggs, and treatment involves the bendazoles drugs, such as albendazole or mebendazole.

Key Points

  • Enterobius vermicularis 
    • Characteristics
      • Also known as a pinworm
    • Transmission
      • Fecal-oral
        • School-aged children and daycare workers
    • Presentation: Enterobiasis
      • Anal pruritis
        • Usually more severe at night
    • Diagnosis
      • Scotch tape test
        • Placing a piece of tape to the anus may reveal eggs
      • Stool O&P not effective
    • Treatment
      • Bendazoles
      • Oxantel/Pyrantel pamoate as second-line agent