TALKING POINTS

Can Children Get Pinworms from a Pet Dog or Cat?

Casey Barton Behravesh, MS, DVM, DrPH, DACVPM Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, Georgia

Human pinworms (ie, Enterobius – Worms can sometimes be seen on towels, and bedding can also help vermicularis) are nonzoonotic intestinal the skin near the anus or on under- reduce infection, reinfection, and parasitic worms of human hosts. garments, pajamas, or bed sheets. environmental contamination. These Humans are considered to be the only items should be laundered in hot hosts of E vermicularis; therefore, Client Communication water, especially after each treatment human pinworms cannot originate from h Pet owners should be advised that, of the infected individual and after pets or other animals and vice versa. because pinworms are host-specific, each use of washcloths until the Like human pinworms, pinworms found dogs, cats, and other pets do not play a infection is cleared. n in animals such as horses (ie, Oxyuris role in the spread of human pinworms. equi) or rabbits (ie, Passalurus h Owners with questions or concerns References ambiguus) are host-specific.1-3 about human pinworms should be 1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Pinworm infection (Enterobius vermicularis). In: referred to their healthcare provider. American Academy of Pediatrics, ed. Red Book: 2015 Report of the Committee on 1-3 h  In General Owners should be advised that strict Infectious Diseases. 30th ed. Elk Grove h Human pinworm infection is spread observance of good hand hygiene— Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2015:621-622. via the fecal–oral route. including proper handwashing, main- 2. Heymann DL. Enterobiasis. In: Heymann DL, h Symptoms of human pinworm infec- taining clean and short fingernails, ed. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. 20th ed. Washington, DC: American Public tion include itching around the anus, avoiding nail-biting, and avoiding Health Association Press; 2015:187-189. which can cause difficulty sleeping scratching the perianal area—is the 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parasites—Enterobiasis (also known as and restlessness; however, some most effective means of preventing Pinworm Infection). CDC website. https:// human pinworm infection and/or www.cdc.gov/parasites/pinworm/index.html. infected humans may not experience Accessed December 7, 2017. any symptoms. reinfection. h Diagnosis is made by identifying the h Careful handling and frequent chang- worm or its eggs. ing of underclothing, night clothes,

20 cliniciansbrief.com February 2018