Comments on: No worms please...we're American

Question: No worms please...we're American

kar120c — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:16:16 -0800

Are threadworm/pinworm infections more common in the UK than in the US?

I only ask because nobody I've spoken to here has heard of them, let alone admit to having had them.

My step-son loves to walk around barefoot. He also likes to put his feet in his mouth. He is 12 years old, so this is not really appropriate behaviour. Anyway, I was explaining to him that putting his foot in his mouth after walking barefoot was probably a good way to pick up threadworms. The other adults in the room (all American) looked at me like I was mad. Intestinal worms? In Southern California?

I've read somewhere that they affect 4 in 10 children under 10. I remember having them as a child (I was an avid nail chewer) and having to drink some disgusting "raspberry" goo.

So, does anyone know if these little parasites are more prevalent in the UK? Also, am I correct in thinking that walking around barefoot then sucking your feet is a pretty good way to contract them?

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:38:59 -0800

I had 'em as a kid, but I spent a lot of time in the woods in western PA.

By: coffeespoons

coffeespoons — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:55:01 -0800

I also had them as a kid, in northern Florida. I ran around barefoot in water retention ditches. I imagine it's entirely possible to contract them if he doesn't wash his feet before sucking on his toes. If you can't get him to stop doing one or both actions, at least make him rinse the dirt off. Eew.

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:03:34 -0800

My son had 'em. Ontario, Canada, major urban centre. Now every time he complains about washing his hands I say "pinworms!" and he washes 'em.

Presumably the US CDC or NIH or someone should have data on this kind of infection.

By: JMOZ

JMOZ — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:04:52 -0800

This thread might be worth looking at.

By: Addlepated

Addlepated — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:19:07 -0800

Pinworms are really common in pre-school and kindergarten around my area (Austin), at least.

By: JMOZ

JMOZ — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:37:22 -0800

Oops, I meant this comment. I could have sworn there was another thread about pinworms to reduce allergies. I guess I'll look a bit.

By: JMOZ

JMOZ — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:43:47 -0800

Ah, found it, but it was hookworms. Sorry!!

By: terpia

terpia — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:50:06 -0800

Pin/hookworms may not be all bad... See this K5 article for information on the contraction, maintenance and asthma-symptom-easing effects of hookworms.

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:56:44 -0800

Hey! I found some data here:

"In the United States alone, prevalence is estimated to be between 20-40 million, and a CDC surveillance study conducted in 1992 in 35 states found that 11.4% of 9597 tests for pinworm infection were positive. While it is mainly seen in children, pinworm cases have been documented in adults, especially in households where infected children transmit the infection to the rest of the family. Prevalence in children in certain communities has been found to be as high as 61% in India, 50% in England, 39% in Thailand, 37% in Sweden, and 29% in Denmark."

So, yes, pinworm is more common in the UK, but it's not unheard of in the USA.

By: stormygrey

stormygrey — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:00:32 -0800

Every kid in my neighborhood got them one year. I grew up in north Georgia, we never had shoe on. Gross.

By: kar120c

kar120c — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:14:55 -0800

Thank you all. I was beginning to think it was something only us dirty Brits contracted. You know, kind of goes with the bad teeth and once a week bathing habits. ;-)

GuyZero: thanks for that info. 20-40 million in the US alone? That ought to get him to stop sucking his feet. If not, he's getting to the age where telling him that girls don't dig that kind of thing might work.

JMOZ: Thanks for reminding me about that hookworm post. Yuck.

By: necessitas

necessitas — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:31:16 -0800

As a kid, I walked around barefoot a lot (grew up in Miami). I had pinworms once and it totally freaked me out. I have vivid memories of screaming and running into my mom's room, waking her up with a wormy bit of toilet paper. Ew.

By: buggzzee23

buggzzee23 — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:45:08 -0800

Inland Southern California here. I had 'em, my siblings had 'em, my kids had 'em and now it's about time my grandkids have 'em. Frankly, I'd be worried about kids that don't have pinworms at one time or another. IMO, any kid that never has a case of pinworms isn't spending enough time outdoors doing typical kidstuff.