The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-11-09

DIR. Clendening Will answer
questions of general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
here for the benefit of those many
interested persons.
Il should be said at the outset
that there is no excuse for having
pinworms. We know what they
are, where they come from, and we
have late and improved methods
Of treating them.
The pinworm, or thread worm,
Is the smallest worm which acts as
a human intestinal parasite. 1t
can be seen by the naked eye, how
ever, and is readily identified be-
cause h name thread worm de-
scribes tit looks like the snip
pings of white thread. 1t occurs
almost exclusively in children. 1t
inhabits the lower small intestine,
especially the appendix and rec
tum. 1t develops in enormous
numbers.
Very Annoying Ailment
1t seldom causes any serious dis
ease, although cases have been re-
ported Of sufficient numbers. ac-
cumulating in the appendix TO
cause symptoms resembling APP
pendicitis. But while no serious
disease is ascribable to the infesta-
ton they can be very annoying be-
cause at night the worms wander
out from the bowel and cause great
irritation and itching Of the skin.
Widespread Inflammation Of the
folds Of skin around the buttocks
is the result, and the scratching
may infect il. The parasites usu-
ally come out at night and may be
seen on the bed clothes. Then they
wander back into the bowel. For
this reason part Of the treatment
is TO change the bed clothes every
night and boil the sheets separate
" from other washing. They do
not breed in the human intestine,
but their breeding places attract
flies and other insects and these
light on exposed fruit and leave
the ova on the outer skin and rind.
The prevention is, hence, very
simple-to wash all fruit and
vegetables with very hot to scald-
ing water before putting it in the
icebox or serving.
The treatment is effective, but
requires patience. The latest drug
used for pinworm infestation is
phenolthiazine. 1t is given in dos
age of about three grains day for
seven days. For children it can be
mixed in oatmeal. Adults usually
find no difficulty in swallowing
capsules Of it.
Gentian Violet Treatment
The older classical treatment
was with gentian violet (methyl-
rosaline). 1t is given in the dose OF
ten milligrams to children three
times a day for eight days. Adults
can take larger doses at the same
intervals and for the same length
of time. No alcoholic beverages
should be used while the treatment
is going on. 1t may cause some
nausea in children.
Gential. violet should be given
in capsules, especially capsules
with an enteric coating, which do
not dissolve until they are in the
intestines. For children too young
to swallow capsules, gentian violet
is a poor method of treatment be-
cause when given in solution it is
bound to stain the mouth, lips and
tongue. 1t can be given, however,
by enema and is quite effective in
that form.
The entire eight day treatment
must be repeated three times in
succession and then every three
weeks for some time. The worms
are very resistant and stubborn.
They are small enough to bury
themselves in fold Of the bowel
wrapped up in a ball Of mucous
where the medicine cannot get at
them. Eternal vigilance is the
price Of freedom from pinworms,
and at the first sign Of their return
the whole treatment must be gone
over again.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
V. M.:-What are the symptoms
Of diabetes?
Answer Diabetes is the best ex-
ample Of a disease which is likely
TO progress for some time without
symptoms. Such symptoms as do
occur are likely to go unnoticed
because they are not too trouble
some-thirst, loss Of weight, and
increased urination. Sometimes it
comes on with pain-neuritis-or
sudden coma.