7 Pinworm
7 Pinworm
7 Pinworm
Enterobius vermicularis
The pinworms are one of the most common
intestinal nematodes. The adult worms inhabit the cecum and colon. Right after mating, the male dies. Therefore, the male worms are rarely seen. The female worms migrate out the anus depositing eggs on the perianal skin. Humans get this infection by mouth and by autoinfection.
I.
Morphology
color. The female worm measures about 8 to 13 mm in size and is fusiform in shape. The male adult is only 25mm. The tail of a male is curved. They die right after mating, thus males are rarely seen. The anterior end tapers and is flanked on each side by cuticular extensions called cephalic alae. The esophagus is slender, terminating in a prominent posterior bulb , which is called esophageal bulb. The cephalic alae and esophageal bulb are important in identification of the species. 2. Egg: planoconvex/persimmon seed-like, colorless and transparent, thick and asymmetric shell, content is a larva.
Egg
Egg: 50 to 60m by 25 m, persimmon seed-like, colorless and transparent, thick and asymmetric shell, content is a larva.
Anal smear showing large numbers of Enterobius eggs under the lower power. In the background are also two Ascaris eggs.
III. Symptomatology
About one-third of pinworm-infected persons are asymptomatic, The adult worms may cause slight irritation of the intestinal mucosa. Major symptom is anal pruritus, which associates with the nocturnal migration of the gravid females from the anus and deposition of eggs in the perianal folds of the skin. Restlessness, nervousness, and irritability, probably resulting from poor sleep associated with anal pruritus,. In young girls, migration of the worms may produce vaginitis and salpingitis or granuloma of the peritoneal cavity.
IV. Diagnosis
Diagnosis depends on recovery of the
characteristic eggs. The eggs and the female adults can be removed from the folds of the