# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/101 "2010-08-30T00:27:12Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I’m afraid to ask what you’re doing with your remotes. Holding them, aiming them at the TV, DVD player, and VCRs and pushing the buttons. Why is that so scary? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/102 "2010-08-30T00:58:48Z")
You know what I find disgusting? That anyone with access to TP and running water would scratch around their anus with their bare fingers. WTF is wrong with people? I don’t find fart humor funny either. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/103 "2010-08-30T05:47:10Z")
Lots of people don’t have toilet paper and running water. In the developing world, people will often take a preventative dose of the anti-worm medication once or twice a year. Beyond the discomfort, there are no long term health effects, and it will eventually run it’s course. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/104 "2010-08-30T12:18:31Z")
Also, the initial infestation isn’t from scratching your ass. It’s because you grabbed a door handle, touched a counter top, or even (yes!) a remote control that an infested person got some eggs on. If your infested shorts and sheets then spread them to the rest of your apartment, then you could probably keep getting reinfested without ever scratching your ass. That’s why I’m going over my entire apartment with a disinfectant. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/105 "2010-08-31T20:12:09Z")
My dad is an occupational therapist and often works with developmentally disabled people. I remember as a child being told once in a while to take some medicine ‘just in case.’ Once when it happened I was old enough to ask questions but I remember him being quite vague. So I tried to look it up on my own (pre-internet.) I found out they were for pinworms and freaked out, even without finding out more about pinworms. The name was enough to make me stop asking. That’s how I learned if my parents gave me some pills, just to take them and not ask questions :). So far they have not abused this priviledge (that I know of.) I am currently more worried about lice as 4 kids at our kids’ daycare have them. So far my kids are checking clean, but I am already feeling itchy about that. Groups of kids are gross. It’s too bad they like each other so much. The question of the day is, will Purell kill pinworms? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/106 "2010-09-03T01:55:34Z")
Treatments, from a search on “Povan”, one of the cures: > **[Healthgrades Health Library](https://www.healthgrades.com/healthguides/top-health-stories)** > > Browse comprehensive health information, interactive quizzes, appointment guides, Q&As, videos and more for hundreds of diseases, conditions and procedures. The infected host does not have to be asleep for emergence, it just happens at night. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/107 "2010-09-03T02:27:37Z")
And the worms are 1/4 of an inch long? Holy (wormy) shit! ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/108 "2010-09-03T02:39:23Z")
I seriously doubt that MOST have them, but they are a common parasite of young children. ’ symptoms include anal/vaginal itching. Cure is studious washing of hands (they spread by coming out to lay eggs around the anus at night and the eggs being transmitted back into the GI-tract via fingers which have touched/scratched and then handled food or otherwise carried their cargo to the mouth. If you simply break the transmission cycle by NOT touching the ass and/or WASHING well and/or NOT putting fingers to mouth for a week or so, they will die off. Otherwise, eat some pumpkin seeds. Yummy roasted and they are a potent anti-parisitic. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/109 "2010-09-03T02:42:38Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > You know what I find disgusting? That anyone with access to TP and running water would scratch around their anus with their bare fingers. WTF is wrong with people? > > I don’t find fart humor funny either. They’re called children. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/110 "2010-09-03T04:01:02Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > The infected host does not have to be asleep for emergence, it just happens at night. OK, riddle me this. How do the pin worms know it is night? Do they all have little tiny Rolexes? I don’t know about yours, but my butt crack is pretty much always dark. Got pin worms once. Trust me either mine did not have watches or they come out at times other than night. ---
**Author:** ![Cattitude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Cattitude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cattitude)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/111 "2010-09-03T05:17:03Z")
I had these damn worms as a teen and they made me friggin’ miserable. My ass itched like nothing else since. And yes, at night it was much worse. I couldn’t sleep without first taking a scorching hot bath to fry those suckers back up into the colon. Then I’d hurry and try to fall asleep before my ass cooled back off. Awful I tell you, just awful. I think I’d faint if I ever had to go through this again. The pills work great but then you get to see all the dead worms come out, eeewww. There’s like thousands of those suckers. That memory is burned into my brain,shudder. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/112 "2010-09-03T05:40:52Z")
Yeah, worms of any sort inside you are just ICKY, I totally agree. (good thing pumpin season is nigh, 'cause this thread makes me want to eat and feed my kids LOTS of pumpkin seeds just in case!) My daughter had pinworms once, when she was 2 or so, and I freaked out after diagnosing her (seen it a lot in my past life as a preschool teacher, like lice, a very common thing…yes, I checked her anus at night…EWWWW!) and rushed out to buy the OTC remedy. Got home and read the label. Said, “man, this shit is POISON” (Duh/Dur) and took it back. Calmed down and simply began enforcing strict handwashing and putting her in jammies which prevented her from accessing her nether regions at night (one piece cotton long-johns) and served up some pumpkin seeds in the granola for a while. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/113 "2010-09-03T05:44:21Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > > [@Ignatz](#): > > > > The infected host does not have to be asleep for emergence, it just happens at night. > > OK, riddle me this. How do the pin worms know it is night? Do they all have little tiny Rolexes? I don’t know about yours, but my butt crack is pretty much always dark. > Got pin worms once. Trust me either mine did not have watches or they come out at times other than night. This is one for Cecil, but just my guess (as a mere mortal), they come out when the host is STILL for a while…could be broad daylight for all they know or care, but usually, we are still for long stretches at night. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/114 "2010-09-03T14:51:43Z")
Man that was a tough night’s sleep. This thread was the last thing I read prior to going to bed. There were a couple of times when my butt itched, but then my sensitivity threshold was as close to zero as can be, and my whole body felt prickly all night. Don’t think I have them. Might still take the medicine to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/115 "2010-09-03T15:40:19Z")
“Pinworm, pinworm, measuring the marigolds…” ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/116 "2010-09-04T00:56:19Z")
Wait, so, while I’m sleeping I might have worms crawling out of my ass hole? Whoa… ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/117 "2010-09-04T03:47:10Z")
If you don’t have scotch tape, will a lighter suffice? http:// [video.google.com](http://video.google.com) /videoplay?docid=6304447980554417691# NSFW. No nudity. ---
**Author:** ![mugglemom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@mugglemom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mugglemom)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/118 "2011-08-15T03:50:57Z")
Thanks to this forum I am able to find humor in my NIGHTMARE. Here’s my theory in how I got this crap. My son (5 years old) has been scratching a lot this summer. I chalked it up to him not wiping perfectly UNTIL (dun dun dun) I get a “yeast infection.” I NEVER get them but I figured it’s hot out, I clean houses on the side and sweat a lot so whatever I will get a 7 day Monistat. Side note: DO NOT try the 1 or 3 day Monistat or your junk will turn inside out and catch on fire…NOT pretty. Anyway, 2 days into my treatment the ITCH cannot be tamed. I am talking GET ME A HAIRBRUSH! Multiply the worst fem itch you ever had times one BILLION. I got the Doc to call in Diflucan and two days later I am STILL clawing at myself like a cat on a scratch post. I call the Doc again and he says it safe to take Diflucan #2 and gives me an antibiotic b/c by now my vag is so raw and fiery I can’t walk. Day 5 I call the on-call doc b/c I am DYING!!! He said “sounds like herpes. Get a mirror and check it out…sorry, I don’t know what to tell you.” NICE, huh. Well, I did a mirror check and gave my husband the stink-eye. “You’re girlfriend gave me crotch rot!"…I was kidding of course. I KNOW my husband has been faithful for the entire 20 years we have been together. With NO help from the on-call doc I turn to the internet and I keep coming back to pinworms. Sure enough, I am itchin’ like a flea infested dog ALL down south so I get up and wipe before I pee. Low and behold I have a visual. I have managed to capture 6 or 7 and I am headed to the OB first thing in the morning. I love that I will be the topic at the water cooler tomorrow. While I am mortified, I am soooo glad I know what’s going on! I did go ahead a take a dose of the OTC stuff but from what I have read there is something different they give you for the vag worms. So, if you have a “yeast infection” that won’t go away…maybe you got some freakin’ adventuresome butt worms having a party in your junk. I am currently sitting with a frozen water bottle between my lips…NOTHING else will tame the itch. Sleep well friends…I won’t be! ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/119 "2011-08-15T11:10:01Z")
I knew I had a good reason to wash my hands as soon as I get up. I checked, they don’t spread from dogs and cats. Another reason to despise those that don’t wash their hands in public restrooms? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546/120 "2011-08-15T12:59:14Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > OK, riddle me this. How do the pin worms know it is night? Do they all have little tiny Rolexes? I don’t know about yours, but my butt crack is pretty much always dark. > [@InterestedObserver](#): > > This is one for Cecil, but just my guess (as a mere mortal), they come out when the host is STILL for a while…could be broad daylight for all they know or care, but usually, we are still for long stretches at night. Well, this was posted earlier in the [del]century[/del] thread: > [@Scarlet](#): > > IIRC from Parasitology class, it has to do with the change in body temperature during sleep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-pinworms-is-this-true-tmi-not-for-the-squeamish/223546.md?page=7)