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Clinical Features:
Enterobiasis is frequently asymptomatic.
The most typical symptom is perianal pruritus, especially at night, which may lead to excoriations and bacterial superinfection.
Occasionally, invasion of the female genital tract with vulvovaginitis and pelvic or peritoneal granulomas can occur.
Other symptoms include anorexia, irritability, and abdominal pain.
Laboratory Diagnosis:
Microscopic identification of
eggs collected in the perianal area is the method of choice for diagnosing
enterobiasis.
This must be done in the morning, before defecation and washing, by pressing
transparent adhesive tape ("Scotch test", cellulose-tape slide test) on the
perianal skin and then examining the tape placed on a slide. Alternatively, anal
swabs or "Swube tubes" (a paddle coated with adhesive material) can also be
used. Eggs can also be found, but less frequently, in the stool, and occasionally
are encountered in the urine or vaginal smears. Adult worms are also diagnostic,
when found in the perianal area, or during ano-rectal or vaginal examinations.
Diagnostic findings
Treatment:
The drug of choice is pyrantel pamoate.
Measures to prevent reinfection, such as personal hygiene and laundering of bedding, should be discussed and implemented in cases where infection affects other household members.
See recommendations in The Medical Letter for complete information.
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