Pinworms: Nursing Assessment
Pinworms: Nursing Assessment
Pinworms: Nursing Assessment
Affected Affected
A pinworm infection In adults, pinworm You get pinworms The eggs pass into Pinworm infestation Most people who
is an intestinal infection is most by accidentally the digestive system is very rarely fatal; are infected don’t
illness that’s very common in parents swallowing or and hatch in the death and morbidity have symptoms. If
common in aged 30-39 years, breathing in their small intestine. From are from secondary you do, they might
elementary school- typically because of eggs. You could eat the small intestine, infection. A 28-68% include:
aged children. transmission from or drink something pinworm larvae go increased risk for
Pinworms are small, their children aged that’s contaminated to the large appendicitis is *Anal itching,
thin, pin-shaped 5-9 years. Overall, with them and not intestine, where associated with especially at night
worms that males are affected know it. The eggs they live as parasites pinworm infestation. *Restless sleep
sometimes live in twice as often as can also live on (with their heads Eradicating pinworm *Itching in the
the human colon females, except in surfaces like attached to the in groups of vaginal area -- if
and rectum. They’re people aged 5-14 clothing, bedding, or inside wall of the institutionalized adult worms move
also called years, when other objects. If you bowel). persons is difficult. to your vagina
threadworms. infection is touch one of these Continuous follow- *Feeling irritable
They’re about one- predominantly in items and then put up examination is *Abdominal pain
quarter to one-half females. your fingers in your necessary. that comes and goes
inch long -- about mouth, you’ll
the size of a staple. swallow the eggs.
The females do their
work while you About a month later,
sleep: They leave the eggs hatch in
the intestine your intestines and
through your anus grow into adult
and deposit their worms. Female
eggs on the pinworms move to
surrounding skin. your anal area to lay
their eggs. This
causes anal itching.
If you scratch the
area, the eggs cling
to your fingers and
get under your nails.
If you touch other
surfaces or objects,
you could spread the
worms.
PINWORMS
Pathophysiology Laboratory and Nursing Management Medical References
Diagnostic Test Management
and Goals
Reduce discomfort
from perianal itching.
Diminish pain to a
tolerable level.
Regain adequate
nutrition.
Reduce or eliminate
increase in
temperature.
Nursing Interventions
Administer
medications as
ordered. Drug
therapy with pyrantel,
mebendazole, or
albendazole to
destroy the causative
parasites. Effective
eradication requires
treatment of the
patient’s family or
members of the
household.
Inform patient of the
side effects of
pyrantel. Stool may
be bright red and may
cause vomiting. The
tablet form of this
drug is coated with
aspirin and shouldn’t
be given to aspirin-
sensitive patients.
Improve skin
integrity. Application
of an antipruritic
ointment or
albendazole may help
control scratching;
keeping the patient’s
fingernails trimmed to
prevent excoriations
is helpful.
Diminish pain. An
antihelminthic
medication should be
prescribed to patients
with enterobiasis.
Improve hygienic
status. Avoid
scratching the area
and nail-biting
because this is a
cause of
autoinfection;
thorough
handwashing should
be done before and
after meals. Tell
family not to shake
bed linens to avoid
aerosolization of eggs
that may be found on
linens.
Diminish increase in
temperature. Adminis
ter antipyretics as
prescribed; tepid
sponge baths may
also be given.
Evaluation
Goals are met as evidenced
by:
Reduced discomfort
from perianal itching.
Diminished pain to a
tolerable level.
Regained adequate
nutrition.
Diminished increase
in temperature