Prevention of oxyurius should be done not only by the family, but also by the infected person itself, since reinfection may occur, in addition to the transmission of this parasite is very easy, and the person should adopt measures that decrease the chances of self-infection and transmissibility .
Thus, it is important to have a habit of washing your hands thoroughly, cutting your nails, not putting your hands or fingers in your mouth and regularly washing bedding and towels with hot water, for example, as this prevents transmission and reinfection by this parasite.
How to prevent
The prevention of infection by Enterobius vermicularis, the parasite responsible for the disease, should be done with simple measures, such as:
- Do not shake the bedding of the infected person in the morning, but curl and wash in boiling water every day. The worm has a nocturnal habit, that is, the female of the worm places the eggs in the anal region at night, and the fact that the child scratches, for example, can cause the eggs to be spread on the bedding.
- Cut the nails and avoid gnawing them, as it prevents the eggs from being transported and there is self-infection;
- Clean the house with vacuum cleaner, as it prevents the eggs from being spread;
- Pay attention to the quality of water, avoiding to consume water that apparently is not suitable for consumption;
- Wash the food thoroughly before preparing. Foods that are consumed in shell should be soaked in a basin containing 1 liter of water and 1 tablespoon of chlorine for at least 20 minutes.
- Do the proper hygiene of the hands before and after going to the bathroom, as well as before preparing the food.
In addition to these prevention measures, it is important to perform the treatment as directed by your doctor. In addition, it is recommended to take a shower in the morning, to eliminate the eggs and to pass the ointment in the perianal region before bed. Know the remedies for oxyurius.
During pregnancy, it is important for a woman to take preventive measures, as she is not advised to use any medication to eliminate the worm. In these cases, natural remedies such as pumpkin seed tea, for example, are advised but should be consumed on the advice of the obstetrician.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis of this disease is made by the method of Graham, also known as the method of the adhesive tape, which consists in placing in a test tube the tape with the adhesive part outwards and then several times the tape of the perianal region.
The tape should then be placed on a glass slide for analysis under the microscope. It is possible to visualize in the microscope structures, in form of D, that corresponds to the eggs of the parasite.
Usually this test is requested when there is suspicion of infection by the worm, that is, when it is observed that the child scratches the anal area a lot and presents pruritus, for example. See what are the symptoms of oxyurius.
