The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-06-29
Your Health
Pinworms Often
Cause Unpleasant I
symptoms

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very serious disorder. However,
this condition may be responsible
for many disagreeable symptoms.
According 10 Doctor Wilfred n.
Sisk Of ASheville, North Carolina,
pinworms may cause such symp-
toms as poor appetite, restless
ness during sleep, nervousness,
craving for sweets, itching about
the lower opening OF the bowel,
pains in the abdomen, and night
mares. Poor appetite. which inter-
feres with proper nutrition, is fire.
quently the most serious symp-
tom. Second in importance is the
restlessneSs which disturbs the
patients rest.
PinwOrms in Children
Usually. children who have pin
worms are somewhat undernour-
ished and underweight. Some
times they have dark circles under
the eyes. Frequently, there is
Anemia or lack Of coloring in the
blood. There may be a slight in
crease in the number Of cells in
the blood, known as eosiniphils.
Pinworm infestation is quite
frequent. Doctor Sisk believes
that about one-ffth 10 'one-third
Of the children in the lower eco
nomie groups may have this type
Of disturbance.
In recent times, not only has q
new method Of diagnosing pin
worm infeststion been discovered,
but also an effective method Of
treatment. The method Of dag
nosis entails the use of cello
plane swab which is rubbed
around the lower opening Of the
bowel, and then smeared on a
glass slide. Then a search is made
for the pinworm eggs.
Gentian Violet
In the new form Of treatment,
a drug known as gentian violet is
employed. However, even with
this new treatment, the condition
it not an easy one to cure.
The pinworms lay their eggs
outside the opening Of the bowel.
These eggs then get on the bed
clothes as well as on the child's
clothing. Thus, when one member
Of the family has the condition, il
is likely 10 spread 10 other men,
bers Of the family. II is a good
plan in case one member of the
family is found to have pinworms,
TO attempt to find them in the
other members Of the family.
Doctor Sisk thinks that several
such tests should be carried out
before it is decided that pinworm
infestation is not present.
In the treatment with gentiAn
violet, tablets of the drug are
used. The tablets must be swal-
lowed whole. Six tablets are given
at intervals during each day for
one week, then the treatment il
stopped for a week, and then re-
sumed for another week. OF
course, children receive smaller
amounts than do adults. The only
objection to this form of treat
ment is that in some cases il
causes sickness to the stomach
and vomiting. Sometimes the sick
ness TO the stomach may be so
severe that the treatment has to
be discontinued.
Another drug which is en-
ployed is one known as phenothi-
azine. However, nausea and vom-
iting as well as paleness and blood
in the urine frequently occur with
the use Of this preparation. Hence,
it may not be as useful as gentian
violet.
Whenever a child shows any Of
the symptoms which appear 10 be
due to pinworms, careful tests
should be made to determine
il such worms are present, and
when found, treatment should be
promptly carried out
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
o. A.:-Would you please tell
me what causes the urine to have
a strong ammonia odor and how
10 avoid it?
Answer:-The ammonia odor is
no cause for concern. This is nor
NAL. II the odor is excessively
strong it may indicate some infec-
ton Of the bladder or kidneys. An
examination Of the urine would be
helpful in determining if any alb
normal condition Is present.