Pinworms are transmitted by touching an object, such as bedding, toys, food or bedding, that is contaminated with it s eggs. The eggs were probably left there by the hands of a child that has pinworms. Once the eggs have been transmitted to your fingertips you ingest them and they hatch in your intestines. The female worm crawls out through the anus at night to deposit her eggs. The anus is the spot of the severe itching.
Pinworms are highly contagious and can spread through a classroom quite quickly.
The symptoms include restless sleep with a lot of scratching. To check for pinworms in a child, use a flashlight and apply a piece of tape to the rectum. Pull the tape away and examine it for worms under a light. You may need a microscope to see the worms or the eggs. Worms can also be detected with a stool sample.