RT Book, Section
A1 Shah, Ashish
A1 Sobolewski, Brad
A1 Mittiga, Matthew R.
A2 Knoop, Kevin J.
A2 Stack, Lawrence B.
A2 Storrow, Alan B.
A2 Thurman, R. Jason
SR Print(0)
ID 1181044689
T1 Pinworm Infection (Enterobiasis)
T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260134940
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181044689
RD 2024/04/25
AB Enterobius  vermicularis  is  a  threadlike  white  worm  that  infects  the  colon  and  causes  intense  nocturnal  perianal  pruritus  when  the  gravid  adult  female  migrates  to  deposit  eggs  at  night.  Female  worms  measure  8  to  13  mm  in  length  and  can  be  observed  moving  about  the  perianal  area  at  night.  On  rare  occasions,  this  nematode  can  lead  to  vulvovaginitis.  The  diagnosis  can  be  made  by  direct  visualization  of  the  nematode  by  the  parents  or  by  using  a  piece  of  transparent  adhesive  tape  and  touching  it  to  the  perianal  area  upon  awakening  in  the  morning.  This  tape  is  then  applied  to  a  glass  slide  for  microscopic  examination  under  low  power  to  look  for  “bean-shaped”  eggs.  The  differential  diagnosis  includes  perianal  irritation,  perianal  group  A  Streptococcus  infection,  cellulitis,  fissures,  hemorrhoids,  and  contact  dermatitis.