These parasitic infections are associated with day care centers and overseas travel. Clinical evaluation Intestinal helminth infections are usually asymptomatic , but serious infections may cause symptoms ranging from abdominal discomfort to severe pain. Anorexia nausea, diarrhea, pruritus, rectal prolapse, bowel obstruction, and death may occur. Pinworms present as anal pruritus in irritable children. The disorder tends to occur in temperate climates.
Many patients are asymptomatic.
Heavier infections may cause insomnia, restlessness, vulvovaginitis, loss of appetite, and intractable anal itching. Pinworms are about 10 mm in length. The female worm has a pin-shaped tail. At night, worms migrate through the anus, then deposit their eggs and die on the perianal skin. Microscopic eggs infest Pinworms are best diagnosed by examining the perianal skin.