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Pinworms

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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.