# Catching Pinworms-- Is This True?! (TMI...Not for the Squeamish) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546 "2004-01-09T01:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/21 "2004-01-09T23:40:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by myrnajean \* > \*\*Perhaps its them with the body armor, I mean, if they can survive the stomach acids, that can supposibily burn through plywood, they must have some kind of armor, eh? > > \*\* They don’t live in the stomach, but the colon. I’ve read about the tape test, and understood it to work as follows: you apply the tape _before_ going to sleep, then settle down for the night. The little beasties come out right on cue and get stuck to the tape, and you just harvest your “catch” in the morning. So you can do this all by yourself, with no help needed from a passing stranger. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/22 "2004-01-10T00:12:34Z")
If you want to sound fancy, the scientific name for pinworm is Enterobius vermicularis. I don’t think an infection would just die out on it’s own too easily. Each female worm can produce up to 10,000 eggs and it only takes a few hours for the eggs to mature to the juvenile worm stage. So when the adults die after producing eggs there’ll be plenty of little ones to take their place. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/23 "2004-01-10T00:14:56Z")
I’m not sure what the latin for misplaced apostrophe is. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/24 "2004-01-10T00:16:40Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Shrinking Violet \* > \*\* you apply the tape before going to sleep, then settle down for the night._\* And risk an explosion? No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![myrnajean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@myrnajean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myrnajean)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/25 "2004-01-10T00:29:12Z")
No, but you have to re-eat the eggs (gag-gag) don’t you? Pardon me while I go vomit… ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/26 "2004-01-10T01:07:36Z")
I can see Sean Connery doing a commercial for pinworm shields. “Stop those pesky pinworms while you sleep. Use _Anal Bum Covers_ and you’ll never be itchy again. Ask for them by name.” ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/27 "2004-01-10T02:21:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by myrnajean \* > \*\*No, but you have to re-eat the eggs (gag-gag) don’t you? > Pardon me while I go vomit… \*\* Well… yeah, but they’re microscopic. You’ll never notice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/28 "2004-01-10T10:26:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plnnr \* > **I wonder why they only come out at night?** \ “They mostly come at night. Mostly.” \ My butt itches now. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/29 "2004-01-10T13:47:06Z")
I did a [Staff Report](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpinworm.html) on this subject that ran about three years ago. And if I’m gonna be bothered to actually do a Staff Report, by god, everyone is gonna READ that sucker. It will answer most of your pinworm questions. I was merciful, though, and did NOT link to any pinworm pictures. ---
**Author:** ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/30 "2004-01-25T02:31:06Z")
geep. Bleach enema, immediately. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/31 "2004-01-25T02:44:46Z")
Lieu should be along shortly to impart knowledge in his own special way. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/32 "2004-01-25T02:56:05Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I suspect they come out at night because the host is relatively passive and insensate. > > I have a question: If the life-cycle involves the ingestion of eggs, will an infestation run its course naturally if great care is taken to avoid ingestion and re-infection? The problem is, usually the ingestion occurs while sleeping. Not much you can do about that, really. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/33 "2004-01-25T05:37:25Z")
> [@Berkut](#): > > P.S. They make great bait. Weah, wut wu wotta weep 'em waurm…" _spits a dozen pinworms into hand… coughs_ Yeah, but you gotta keep 'em warm. _puts 'em back in mouth… casts…_ ZIIIiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrraaaaa… Weah Waby! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/34 "2004-01-25T11:42:53Z")
I should add that pinworms are hardly the creepiest parasite a human can suffer. You want weird and disturbing, check out [Guinea worm](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/guineaworm/factsht_guineaworm.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/35 "2004-01-25T22:03:38Z")
Wait, if everyone has them living in their colon, what’s the point of doing the test? And I get the cycle, but how does it start? Where do the pinworms come from to begin with? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/36 "2004-01-26T00:16:03Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > The problem is, usually the ingestion occurs while sleeping. Not much you can do about that, really. How is that possible? ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/37 "2004-01-26T00:54:21Z")
I don’t even really want to know, but yet I am compelled to ask … After the medication, do they come out ALL AT ONCE? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/38 "2004-01-26T06:20:08Z")
Ah, the joys of the wormy parasites. Back when I was a lab tech, we had a formaldehyde jar filled with a tapeworm from some patient - it was a gallon jar, and it was full of worm. One worm. (Just for the record, I think Butt Loungers would make a great band name.) ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/39 "2004-01-26T08:30:21Z")
Apparently, [roundworms are good for fighting allergies](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3287733.stm). I dunno if pinworms apply. If they find out that guinea worms are good for arthritis, I’m simply going to live with swollen joints in later years, though. Unless they can be trained to do tricks, like slither out of your leg blisters to fetch your slippers and such. Then I’d consider it. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/40 "2004-01-26T08:55:17Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > How is that possible? Well, to be blunt, while you’re asleep, you scratch your ass, then scratch your mouth. Your sleeping self is a damn slob! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546.md?page=3)