Childhood Body Secret: Pinworms, Redux
This image of a pinworm exam was
found at Jamie’s Everyday Tokyo Life Blog
“Pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis) are the most common intestinal parasite in the U.S.Pinworms occur most often in school-age children, but are highly contagious, and can easily spread to the entire family. According to the Center for Disease Control, pinworm infestation is twice as common as head lice, and some sources estimate as much as 20% of the U.S. population is affected annually with pinworms. It is estimated that pinworms infect more than 600,000,000 people throughout the world, and in many areas of the world (e.g., North America and Europe) it is the most common nematode parasite of humans.” (http://www.pinworms.net/)
In viewing my statistics, I see that most of the hits on my blog are from searches on pinworms that result in a link to my blog entry of July 19th, “Childhood Body Secret: Pinworms.” These little buggers that crawl out of your anus at night are hugely prevalent. When coupled by the issue of sexual abuse, those that are affected by both conditions (sexual abuse and pinworms) can become complicated. As a child who was being raped on nearly a daily basis, during the time I was affected by pinworms, I could not fathom exposing myself as being infected by this parasite. My lower body (i.e., my vagina and my anus) were being exploited by an adult, and another adult could have taken me for pinworm treatment.
When I self-treated by digging these worms out of my anus, this was very private to me. In fact, whenever I was in the bathroom, I felt this was a very private arena. However, I had fantasies about secret cameras being placed my bathroom that might expose me. I imagined the boys I had crushes on seeing the footage. This was in the 80s. Still, I had already read 1984 by George Orwell, and I imagined a lot of my actions being videotaped.
I instinctively felt that perhaps I could harvest the pinworms to a point where they could no longer procreate. Apparently this worked. Still, even to this day, when I feel a certain tickley sensation around my anus, I am reminded by the infestation of worms I had as a little girl.
To anyone who now has the luxury of the internet:
“How To Eliminate Pinworms
The best way to treat pinworms is to use an over-the-counter pinworm medication, such as Pin-X ®. Formerly available by prescription only, FDA approved Pin-X ® is now available OTC. Pin-X ® is a pleasant, caramel flavored liquid pinworm medicine that usually requires only a single dose to eliminate pinworms. Because pinworms are so highly contagious, all family members should be treated. Dosing is according to patient
weight… while several children can be treated with a single bottle of Pin-X ®, if there are two or more adults, two bottles may be required. Because reinfestation from existing pinworm eggs in the home is possible, many families will do a follow-up pinworm treatment at two weeks. Pin-X ® is also available as a great tasting chewable.”
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