white worm things
Brooklynn asks:
I get little white worms in my poop and they're about the size of my pinky nail and there really thin. What could they be? They make my butt itch really bad, too.
Dear Brooklynn,
You most likely have pinworms. Pinworm is the most common worm infection in the United States.
Pinworms are parasites that live in the large intestine. They come out through the anus to lay eggs at night. Pinworms are about a third of an inch long and look like white threads. Often, some of them can be seen in the bowel movements.
When you scratch your butt in the middle of the night while you are sleeping, then touch your mouth, or food that will end up in your mouth, you eat the eggs that are under your fingernails and get re-infected.
See your doctor. There is a pill that you can take to get rid of these worms. It is called Vermox. There are also OTC meds to treat pinworms, and eating raw, shredded carrots helps to expel the worms.
Thanks for asking Motherload!
Motherload is a Certified Nurse Assistant as well as an IBS sufferer, which means she knows a lot about poop. Got a question for her? Ask it here.
About the Author
I am a mother of 4 (son 21, twin girls 20, girl 13). I am a certified phlebotomy technician, certified nursing assistant, certified apartment manager, and a former school bus driver. I have been reading poop report for over a year now and thoroughly enjoy it, as I was unaware that there are so many people out there who suffer from the same kinds of malfunctions and mishaps as myself.
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733 Comments on "white worm things"
How, other than scratching, might someone deal with the itch? I've tried rubbing with rough TP and then flushing it and washing my hands.
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"Double the flush, double the fun" --The Amazing Anus
[Insert witty banter here]
Dude. Do you HAVE pinworms?
I looked up Vermox, and found a link with something interesting.:
"...Also, the eggs can hatch on the skin of girls and the larvae crawl into the vagina instead of the rectum. This happens in up to 20% of girls with pinworms (Nelson's Textbook of Pediatrics, Saunders 1996)..."
My breakfast lurched when I read that, although the article does state that vaginal pinworms usually die out with no outside help. Thank goodness for small blessings.
The reason I bring it up has to do with the carrot question. Are the carrots supposed to drag the worms out of the colon? If so, it wouldn't help with vaginal pinworms (*shudder*).
The reason that I recommended eating raw shredded carrots is because carrots are a very good source of the main cleansing minerals; chlorine and sulphur.
Chlorine-containing foods stimulate the functions of the liver, aiding in the elimination of toxic waste from the body. Sulphur-containing foods promote a cleansing and antiseptic effect on the digestive system and bloodstream.
The carrots don't have to be shredded, but they do need to be raw because cooking alters the molecular structure and renders some of nutrients and their effects useless.
Other foods that are very effective in killing off parasites due to high sulphur content are garlic, onions and cabbage.
The way you are initially infected with pinworms is simply by picking up the eggs off of something that an infected person has touched.
Schools and daycares or other institutions that are primarily occupied by children are the most at-risk places.
Pinworm infection in adults is not as common as in children mainly because adults tend to wash their hands more often.
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Always looking out for number two!
Always looking out for number two!
Somebody send Dufya some coleslaw!
This is getting really gross - it`s definitely got the makings of a good horror film.
The voice of sanity
Tydirium, for the most part pinworms are just gross, and a pain (itch) in the ass. But there are sometimes complications that can arise from severe or repeated infestations. Most are secondary infections from scratching.
In females, entry of the worms into the vagina can cause vaginitis, urinary tract infections and can even get to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause problems there as well.
According to the Mayo Clinic, very severe cases when there are large numbers of adult pinworms living in the intestine, can cause enough abdominal pain and rob the body of enough nutrients to cause weight loss.
My advice is to wash your hands often (don't forget to wash under your fingernails), eat your vegetables, and if your butt itches a lot at night, put a piece of clear tape on the skin right around the anus before bed and carefully peel it off in the morning. If you have pinworms they will be stuck to the tape.
If you do have them, call your doctor and get the medicine. It is usually just one little pill.
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Always looking out for number two!
Always looking out for number two!
My siblings and I got pinworms when we were tots. Playing in the dirt then eating something without washing your hands is probably the most common way a kid ends up with an infection. My mom would make us chew and swallow whole cloves of raw garlic before every meal to get rid of them. It worked.
I don't know about my siblings, but I started washing my hands a heck of a lot more after that. My husband says I'm borderline compulsive about it.
Motherload, sort of off topic here but here goes. I tried that tape idea you mentioned but I was all out of clear scotch tape so I used that heavy grey duct tape. Good news, no worms, bad news reverse ass mohawk (with pain). Besides Ron Popiels fine hair care products is there something I can use to camoflage this bare patch?
Bunga, glad to hear no worms found. Sorry about your butt hair. Go out and get some double-sided tape, stick the hairy piece of tape to one side and stick it back on your ass.
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Always looking out for number two!
Always looking out for number two!
I might have been misleading with my last post. I don't believe I have pinworms, though I don't mind eating cole slaw. I'm not very fond of carrots.
Bunga, try doing what old ladies do with their eyebrows. When hair goes away, just draw it on every day.
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"Double the flush, double the fun" --The Amazing Anus
[Insert witty banter here]
Two other foodstuffs are supposed to be good for preventing/expelling parasites:
eating pumpkin seeds and a tea brewed from epazote-a pungent green herb that you can only find in a well stocked Mexican grocery store.
They may have epazote dried, or if you're lucky, they may have it fresh. Its classic to put a few fresh epazote leaves in when cooking beans.
Good luck getting rid of the worms. I'd scream the roof off if I found out I had them--I'm a total coward when it comes to shit like this.
Funny thing is, I dont mind snakes at all. But I think worms are horrible.
omfg! LOL: *mental image of Bunga drawing ass hairs with an eyebrow pencil*
And it burns, burns, burns -
The ring of fire.
Well thanks a lot for posting this. I read this right before going to bed and I was scared to death.
Oh by the way, ML, what happens if I find just one small white thread in my boxers?
Some are born crappy, some achieve crappiness, and some have crapiness thrusted upon them. (Do NOT be the last one)
I have found that a good way to scratch an itch without irritating the skin too much, is to run hot water over the itchy part. I have not tried it on my bung, but it works for poison ivy and chiggers.
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Sir SamDamnit!
The Prince of Poop
SamDamnit!
The Emir of Crapistan
Sam's right. When I've had hives, in order to get to sleep, I run very hot water (as hot as I can possibly stand without burning) into the tub and soak affected areas for as long as I can stand it. It really does take the itch out, as least long enough to get to sleep.
Motherload, why, do you think, the worms come out at NIGHT? How do they KNOW what time it is?
i think the involuntary scratching occurs at night. They probably come up and hang out on your bung during the day too. Night time is probably the best for butt taping, as you are moving around less.
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Sir SamDamnit!
The Prince of Poop
SamDamnit!
The Emir of Crapistan
GGG, I have not been able to find any definate answer as to how the worms know when it is night. But you asked why I think this happens, so I will give you my opinion.
I am sure you have heard about the old "biological clock" thing. Usually people are just referring to a woman obsessing over having a baby before she gets too old. But the biological clock is very real, and has to do with much more than just reproduction.
In your brain there is a type of "pacemaker" called the suprachiasmatic nuclei. This part of the brain is responsible for setting the body's circadian rhythms.
There are over 100 circadian rythms. Each one controls a different aspect of our bodily functions such as body temperature, hormone levels, heart rate, blood pressure, etc...
There are outside triggers that regulate some of the circadian rythms. Daylight hitting the cells of the eyes causes serotonin levels to increase, which gives you more energy during the day, and when it gets dark, melatonin levels increase which makes you get sleepy and ready for bed.
When a person goes to bed and falls asleep, things like heart rate, temperature and peristalsis (the muscular contractions of the bowel) are much slower than during the day when they are awake.
It is my theory that the worms either are motivated by the lack of activity from their host, or perhaps even pick up on the presence of higher levels of melatonin or some other chemical clue.
Another possiblity is that if the worms came out during the day while you are standing, walking or sitting, they could be easily squished--and also, once they finished laying eggs they would have to re-enter the bowel by crawling straight up. The trip home is probably much easier when horizontal instead of vertical.
_______
Always looking out for number two!
Always looking out for number two!
I have pinworms -right now-. :( I just found out last night and after having an obsessive compulsive fit I took a bath then a shower and cleaned my nails out so hard, then proceeded to wash all my clothes and sheets and pillowcases. I 409ed my nightstand and everthing on it, hopefully that helped some. I just took a dose of Pin-X.
I'm wonderin', is there any way to kill the eggs?
It sounds to me like you are well on your way, Brittany. Just keep that up for a bit to kill anything that hatches before they can lay more eggs. That's all I know to do.
_______
Damnit, someone stole my signature!
[Insert witty banter here]
Bunga, you should just go and get it all waxed off. When was the last time your bottom was as smooth as a baby's? hm?
You might just like the feel of it.
Pinworms are what led to me being a germophobic, anti-dirt person. Though I have heard that some of the cleanest people in the world can get pinworms, I still am totally anal about staying clean and washing up.
As a child, I caught pinworms and the infection grew so bad that I started to lose weight. My ribs actually stuck out of my chest and I was bony as hell. It took three years of medication to finally eliminate the worms.
Now I am paranoid and make a point of avoiding dirty little kids. As well as checking my poo in the toilet before I flush it.
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"That was a very disappointing party. I showed up and everyone left!"- Camille
I found Jesus! He was behind the sofa the whole time!
I found out that I have pinworms last night after a disturbing realization that involved finding worms in underwear. After that, I was so paranoid that I went in the shower and actually gave myself an enema with the shower head in order to try and flush everything out. It turns out that when I did it, I actually did see a lot of worms leave the body, but I know that I need to go get treated for it anyways. My question is, will enemas actually work in treating pinworms by flushing them out?
Ok, A few years ago, I was exposed to someone with pinworms and never caught them (supposedly) I did get a very itchy rectum for a week, but no white balls. Could my diet be the reason that I never really caught the pinworms?
Diet: The water in my house is very high in chlorine. I eat and drink lots of carrots, grains, garlic, onions, cabbage, carrots, chicken and duck (the carrots, garlic, and onions are my favorites). All of these food products are very high in sulfur. I also do a bi-monthly detox with Sonne #7, and I take lots of mineral supplements (including sulfur, chlorine, and silver). I started taking mineral supplements in November 1996.
My supplement regimin: I take 84 minerals, 22 vitamins, omega 3's and 6's, and the 12 amino's.
I can say, it was pretty embarasing scratching my hole in front of customers. So Motherload, what do you think? Was it just luck, or did my diet play a role in rejecting the pinworms?
Or, was meeting this dude with pinworms, then getting an itchy rectum just a mere coincidence?
______
It's not nice to fool mother nature.
"Two percent of the population think; three percent of the population think they think, and 95 percent of the population would rather die than think."
Hate to ask you a disgusting question, but did you wash your sheets, and clean the hell out of your bedroom? Use hot water on your underwear?
They might be hanging around elsewhere besides your bung.
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.....hugging bunnies since 1969
www.daphneszoo.com
.....hugging bunnies since 1969
www.daphneszoo.com
Are pinworms any good for fishing bait? Just curious, not that I have them or anything (says while scratching skin off ass)...
AC I would like to know that also. Hey wanna go fishing?
Scratch Scratch
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No one is the same after I release my Methane!
No one is the same after I release my Methane!
Maybe next week El Fartismo. I'm currently in training for the Olympic ass itch team.
Scritch scratch.
Anyone got a flea collar?
Alrighty then AC sounds good I get the collection of worms ready.
Hope you win brown at the games.
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No one is the same after I release my Methane!
No one is the same after I release my Methane!
I went into the bathroom to go number 2, all seemed normal, no pain, I was'nt sick. So, for no reason, I looked at my "stuff" in the toilet and saw a white, small worm moving in it. I really paniced, so I hopped on the computer and typed "white worms in poop". Im so scared, but as I said, I feel no itching!. Althought, I did just eat sevral starburst candies and drank a Moutain Dew soda. WHAT DO I DO!
I remember once getting a case of pinworms as a child (this was well over 40 years ago), and having to take some nasty medicine that turned my turds bright red. Is that what Vermox does?
I think the product was originally called "WormEx", but it grossed people out so much, they changed it to the German pronuncication.
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"NEVER. ENOUGH. BACON!"--GoBoy
Um Yeahh I Havee Pinworms They Suck Ass!!! && There So Flippen Itchy and will pinworms go away on their Own with outt treat ment does Lemons Help Kill The Pinworms??? I Just Really Want to Know Cuz They Really Suckk And I Want to get rid of them so flippen bad!!
Anybody ever heard of "Vermifuge"?
When I was in year 6 at school, my teacher said to never walk barefoot outside because pinworms could get inside your body through your feet. Is this true? I have looked for it in books, websites, etc., but I have yet to find anything that says this. I also walk outside barefoot quite often when the fickle weather allows and I have never had pinworms...
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...and they all lived crappily ever after!
...and they all lived crappily ever after!
There is some truth about becoming infected with worms from walking outside with bare feet, but the type of parasite that is contracted in this manner is the hookworm, not the pinworm.
Pinworm infestation is spread by inhaling airborne eggs, or by ingesting them through the mouth after contact with fingers that have picked them up off of surfaces or under the nails from scratching.
Hookworm eggs are found in soil that animals that are infected have used to deposit their feces. The site of entry starts out looking like a mosquito bite on the foot and can progress into a rash. The larvae then travel to the lungs where they can create asthma-like symptoms, then crawl up into the trachea where they are swallowed and finally get to their destination...your intestines. They attach themselves to the intestinal wall and suck blood from their host. An adult hookworm can live up to 10 years.
_______
Always looking out for number two!
Always looking out for number two!
There we go then. Thankfully that's never happened to me either. The only other place I've ever heard of getting pinworms through your feet is in the book To Kill a Mockingbird (it was briefly mentioned in the part about the first day of school), but this could be a misprint, and we also have to keep in mind that it's a work of fiction.
It's weird to read that pinworms actually exist- until yesterday I was fully convinced that they were an urban legend. It's always interesting to find out that an "urban legend" is in fact true! Thanks for making things a little more interesting for me, PoopReport! (Gosh I have no life...)
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...and they all lived crappily ever after!
...and they all lived crappily ever after!
I was looking for a way to curb my appetite, and I was fortunate to find this discussion. My stomach is churning so bad I don't think I could keep anything down.
And, no, I'm not pregnant. Those photos you saw were me right after eating an olive.
Yes, but they're also the length of a school bus and can make you severely constipated if they get too long and fold over too many times.
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...and they all lived crappily ever after!
...and they all lived crappily ever after!
Well i don't think i have pinworms but i did see a couple of white strands in my well you get the picture would that be pinworms...i am a little itchy but the doctor told me i had vaginaitis
Ok, you people are hilarious..seriously funny ! .. my daughter has pinworms so I was researching them and found this...anyone have myspace? I bet some of you have hilarious blogs!!! I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours!!
~Shannon :) myspace.com/charlotterealtor
I just took a "blog". A one-wiper with excellent sphincter distension, a slick yet textured outer layer around what I can only assume was a firm but yielding core of nougaty digestive matter. Posted to the city wastewater facility, alas. My cable modem wouldn't accept it.
i was wondering, will they go away on their own?
im too embarassed to go to the doctor or tell anyone and ive actually been trying to manually remove the worms!b e.g with toilet paper
i first noticed 3 days ago, and there has been considerably less worms and much less itching. will it just go away? ive been washing my hands alot and all the other stuff ive found out..
Dude-- Doctors have seen everything!! Go to the doctor, get you some anti-worm medicine and get rid of them for good- there's nothing to be ashamed of... it's not like you got a jam jar stuck up there or something.
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Don't be playin' with the Queen of Sharts
Don't be playin' with the Queen of Sharts
Well, Queen, I know you're right about the doctor part, but try getting past the receptionist without telling her what you're there for. Believe me, I'd rather have the worms backed up to my sinuses before I'd tell that girl what the problem is. Seriously, I always call my doctor's office and make an appointment by telling them I'm coming in for a sore elbow or something, and then I tell the doctor the truth. This makes me worse than a shameful shitter, believe me. I'm absolutely mortified by having to tell the woman at the front desk what's wrong, unless it's something so neutral, like an arrow in my skull or something, that I don't have to be shy.
If anything ever goes wrong with my wiener, I'm going to be in big trouble. That would be ten times worse than going in for a poop ailment!
I know that makes me sound pathetic, and I wish I could buy into the "they're all professionals argument", but I've been reluctant to tell the screening people what my problem is for years and it's not going to change any time soon.
Am I the only one who feels this way? I have no idea. It's even worse when there are other people in the waiting area and the woman at the desk says, "What did you want to see Dr. Smith about today?" and I can feel every set of ears tuning in behind my back. You think I like it that way, being so ashamed of having something wrong that I want no one else to know about it? I don't.
So, Jimbob, if you ever check back here, understand that you're not the only one who wants to know if something will heal itself so you won't have to go tell a doctor about it. All I can tell you is that if you find a doctor who seems competent and professional and understanding, tell the doctor that there might be times when you are too shy to come in because you're embarrassed. Maybe he or she will suggest a less threatening way of getting in touch with him or her on the phone so you can describe your symptoms and find out if you need to see a doctor. I feel for you, Jimbob, because believe me, I've been there.
yeah maybe i will go to the doctor but you know its been 4 or maybe 5 days now and all the symptoms are getting less intense every day. in fact the only symptoms are the itching and the worms themselves. all the others ive heard about i havent had.
surely theyll just go in a couple of days.....
maybe i should eat a load of shredded raw carrot
Ok-my daughter (10) discovered she had pinworms one night...I freaked and took her to the emergency room because I didn't know what they were. They said she had an advanced case because they could actually see hers on the outside of her anus hole and they actually asked if they could take a picture! (see where I chose the name "famous anus"...that's what I joked about with her to keep her calm) anyways they did prescribe one pill and one for everyone in our family. Said if one person is infected chances are everyone is because it is so contagious. They also said shower daily and use wipes at night on the rearend. That was about it...so I found these postings very interesting because she and I both keep thinking they're back....I think it's more in our head but yuck, once you're exposed to this you do get a bit paranoid...and I always have been a big handwasher...purell...in car, on desk, in purse etc. Also they said wash the sheets. I'm gonna start eating carrots by the pound now! One thing that MIGHT make you feel better is they said pediatrician doctors tend to get these alot because of their regular exposure to children....I keep telling myself that because I am not a dirty person and I do keep a clean house....gtg get my carrots.
hi. if you could please help me thatd be great. im a teenager & i know i have those worm things. im really paranoid & oviously i searched for a site like this. I dont want to ask my mom for help so what can i do to get rid of them? please help
Anonymous Coward, first of all, DON'T PANIC. All you need to do is go to a store like Walmart or your local drug store and buy a product called Pin-x or Pin-Rid or Reese's Pinworm Medicine (not Reeses Pieces) and take it according to the directions on the package. Usually you take one dose, then 2 weeks later follow up with the second dose.
The most important thing to remember though, is that YOU HAVE TO WASH EVERYTHING. I realize you are a teenager and this is probably against your current religion, but you have to clean your room.
Make sure that once you take the first pill you change the sheets and blankets on your bed, and be sure to wash them and your clothing (especially underwear and pajamas) in HOT water.
Dust your furniture, sweep your floor and even use the vacuum cleaner on your mattress and stuffed animals if possible.
And absolutely, most definitely WASH YOUR HANDS AND CLEAN UNDER YOUR FINGERNAILS.
Then 2 weeks later take the other dose just to make sure you got them all and you should be fine.
_______
Always looking out for number two!
Always looking out for number two!
If he starts all that cleaning-up, his mother will absolutely know he is NOT fine! :)
_______
Pug-Fug. It happens.
Hello,
I really do need your help, i.e. before I have a nervous breakdown!!!!
For appproximately 1 week now I have had an entity which I believe is a pinworm moving about in my rectum day and night.
I am reluctant to go back to the doctor's and I'm afraid to ask those that I know for advise because I am positive they will think that I am crazy. About two days ago I purchased some pin-x to no avail as the cretin never left my rectum to consume the medicine.
This thing seems to have
inhabited my rectum with very little intention of leaving.......please, please, please advise of a way to get this PARASITE out of my rectum.
PS
Just read that a clove of garlic inserted in the rectum will help....my question is how is the garlic getting out of the rectum????
DESPERATE.
Desperate,
Just wondering about this whole "lame comments" thing.
Someone named Brittany posted on 9/4/06, saying "I took a bath then a shower and cleaned my nails out so hard, then proceeded to wash all my clothes and sheets and pillowcases. I 409ed my nightstand and everthing on it, hopefully that helped some. I just took a dose of Pin-X."
Double Flush got a Lame Comment -1 point for this response, same date:
"It sounds to me like you are well on your way, Brittany. Just keep that up for a bit to kill anything that hatches before they can lay more eggs. That's all I know to do."
On 1/14/07, Motherload gives advice that sounds very similar to the combination of Brittany's and Double Flush's posts regarding the cleaning aspect.
Double Flush has a history of getting lamed, so maybe it's just routine to assume the 9/4 comment was lame. But if it was actually lame, I really have no clue what standards are used to determine that.
Looked to me like Double Flush was offering encouragement, nothing more.
_______
Livin' La Vida Caca!
Livin' La Vida Caca!
A.C., one above: According to about five web sites I visited, pinworms are contagious. If you're shaking hands with people, maybe that's one way of transmitting them, but I don't think it's that great a risk if your hands are clean and your nails are short.
Where I work, they love to make a huge bowl of popcorn every day. Everyone (except me) sticks their hands in there and digs in. I have no idea whether everyone I work with washes their hands after crapping. I don't take the chance of anything being on food that's shared from a bowl or a tray, or even a box of donuts someone brings to work.
I think if you keep your fingernails short, wash your hands thoroughly after shitting, and avoid doing any bare hand scratching of your ass if the worms are irritating you, you probably minimize risk to others.
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