✓ Pinworms in Pregnancy: Symptoms and Treatments

Fonte: shutterstock

Pinworms in pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman undergoes a whole series of changes: some are physiological, even annoying, while others must be treated appropriately. It is the case of pinworms, a parasitosis that I know to be especially the prerogative of children but which can also affect pregnant women. Pinworm infection is a common intestinal parasite infection, let's see how they manifest and how to treat them pinworms in pregnancy.

What are pinworms?

Pinworms are gods parasitic worms which thrive by remaining in the large intestine. There are both male and female variants: the itching that affects the vaginal region is caused by the exit of the females from the anus that go to lay eggs near the vagina.

How are they transmitted?

A pinworm infection does not occur due to pregnancy, but it can be a lot contagious if there are cases in the family. Pinworms are easily spread from one person to another, especially if strict hygiene practices are not maintained.

Pinworms are present in genital areas and in the anal region. The tiny eggs deposited around the anus can spread the infection: A person with pinworm due to itching will be tempted to scratch in the area and then transfer the eggs under the nails and then whatever is touched afterwards. For this reason, the transmission of oxyuriasis is extremely easy, through objects of common use, but also linen, towels, clothes, underwear, etc.

Read also: Itching: a common symptom in pregnancy

Symptoms of pinworms

There are some obvious signs of pinworm infection, which include:

itching around the anus, especially at night;
abdominal pain;
detection of pinworms in stool;
feeling nauseous accompanied by a loss of appetite;
weight loss.

Does a pinworm infection put pregnancy at risk?

The presence of pinworms does not affect the baby and pregnancy: the infection is limited to the intestinal region and causes discomfort and itching only in the mother.

How to diagnose pinworms

To diagnose oxyuriasis, your doctor may do the tape test: This test uses a cellophane tape that is placed against the skin around the anus, the tape will then be analyzed in the laboratory to determine the presence of parasites.

Remedies for pinworms in pregnancy

How to cure worms in pregnancy? As with all other diseases that can occur during pregnancy, the recommendation is always the same: do not rely on do-it-yourself and take over-the-counter drugs without first consulting your doctor. Many medicines have some side effects and contraindications which make them not recommended in gestation, because they could cause harm to the fetus.

Usually drugs prescribed for oxyuriasis to the expectant mother will also be taken by other family members. A drug based on is usually prescribed as a first-line treatment albendazole, mebendazole or pirantel pamoate, in a first dose and then a second booster dose after a couple of weeks.

These medicines should only be taken if approved by your doctor.

Worms in pregnancy: natural remedies

I home remedies can take a long time to be effective, so it would be best to consult your doctor with confidence and follow drug therapy. Be careful why absinthe, which some say is effective for treating oxyuriasis naturally can be very dangerous for the pregnant woman.

Instead, we can try to use cloves or garlic added to food.

To relieve itching and discomfort in the anal area we can use one zinc oxide cream.

Give birth with pinworms

It is important to treat and resolve the pinworm infection before vaginal delivery because oxyuriasis can be passed on to the baby during delivery.

How to prevent pinworms in pregnancy

Here are some practical tips to keep intestinal worms away:

Clean your toothbrush thoroughly after each use and store it in an enclosed space. Clean the house regularly and avoid eating in the bedroom.
Choose comfortable underwear and change it at least twice a day.
Use hot water to wash clothes by adding disinfectant.
Avoid scratching your anal area constantly.
Disinfect the toilet daily.
Do not use public restrooms.
Trim your nails regularly to prevent pinworms from getting lodged under your nails.
Wash your hands frequently.

Vermox and Combantrin in pregnancy

Il mebendazole (Vermox) it is generally the drug of choice because pregnancy studies show no increase in adverse effects on the mother or fetus. The Pyrantel (Combrantin) because both drugs are poorly absorbed and most of the drug is eliminated in the faeces.

References

PubMed
WHO

TAG:

wellness in pregnancy
parasites
ossiuriasi

Pinworms in Pregnancy: Symptoms and Treatments