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What Increases Your Risk

Factors that increase the risk of being infected by pinworms include:

  • Age. Pinworm infections are most common in preschool and school-age children.1
  • Household contact. If one child in a home gets a pinworm infection, it is likely that other children in the home will have the infection. Parents are also more likely to get the infection.
  • Attending day care centers, schools, and summer camps. Pinworms are easily transmitted and spread among groups of children.
  • Living in an institution. Up to half of people living in an institution may be infected by pinworms.1

Factors that increase the risk of spreading pinworm infections include:

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  • Living in an institution. Pinworms are easily transmitted and spread where people are living in close conditions (such as institutions).
  • Poor hygiene practices, especially poor hand-washing. An infected person can spread pinworms to others if he or she does not wash his or her hands well.
  • Sharing bedding. Also, fanning the bedding of an infected person can release pinworm eggs into the air.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: September 02, 2010
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
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