Pinworms in Grand Rapids, MI: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Pinworms are the most common type of worm infection in the United States, and families in Grand Rapids, Michigan are no exception. Pinworm infections are especially common in young children, daycare settings, and schools across Kent County.

Other names for pinworms include threadworms or simply “worms.” While the idea of worms can feel alarming, pinworm infections are usually mild, easily treated, and rarely dangerous when properly managed.

Children in Grand Rapids are more likely to get pinworms than adults, partly because they are more likely to put their fingers in their mouths and share toys and surfaces. Once one child is infected, it is very easy for pinworms to spread to other family members unless good hygiene habits are followed.

What Are Pinworms?

Pinworms are tiny, thin, white worms that live in the human intestine. The medical name for the pinworm is Enterobius vermicularis.

  • Adult pinworms are yellowish white, slender, and about 1 centimeter (½ inch) long.
  • Humans are the only host; pets such as dogs and cats do not get or spread pinworms.
  • Pinworms are common in temperate climates like Michigan, where people spend more time indoors together during the long, cold winters, which can increase the spread in homes, schools, and childcare centers.

How Do Pinworms Spread?

Pinworms must live inside a human host to survive. The infection starts when pinworm eggs are swallowed.

Common ways pinworms spread in Grand Rapids households and schools include:

  • Contaminated hands

    • Touching the anal area and then putting fingers in the mouth
    • Not washing hands well after using the bathroom or changing diapers

  • Contaminated objects and surfaces

    • Bedding, pajamas, underwear
    • Towels, clothing, and soft furniture
    • Toys, desks, doorknobs, light switches
    • Kitchen surfaces and even toothbrushes

  • Food and drink

    • Handling food with unwashed hands
    • Sharing snacks in classrooms or at daycare without proper handwashing

The Pinworm Life Cycle

  1. A person swallows pinworm eggs (usually from their own or another person’s contaminated hands or surfaces).
  2. The eggs travel to the intestines, where they hatch and grow into adult worms.
  3. About 4 weeks after infection, adult female pinworms move down the intestine.
  4. At night, the female worm crawls out of the anus and lays thousands of eggs on the skin around the anus.
  5. This causes intense itching, especially at night.
  6. Scratching the area can move eggs under the fingernails.
  7. The person then reinfects themselves (by putting fingers in the mouth) or spreads eggs to others and onto surfaces.

Pinworm eggs can survive on surfaces for up to 2 weeks in the right conditions, which is why thorough cleaning and handwashing are so important during treatment.

Who Is at Risk in Grand Rapids?

Anyone can get pinworms, regardless of how clean their home is. However, certain groups in Grand Rapids are more likely to be affected:

  • Preschool and school-age children
  • Children in daycare centers and elementary schools
  • Families with multiple children sharing bedrooms or beds
  • People living in close quarters (large households, shared housing)
  • Caregivers, teachers, and daycare staff

The cooler climate and long indoor season in West Michigan can make it easier for pinworms to spread in households and schools, especially during fall and winter when windows are closed and kids are in close contact indoors.

Symptoms of Pinworms

Many people with pinworms have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

  • Itchy bottom (anus), especially at night
  • Disturbed sleep or waking up frequently
  • Irritability or behavioral changes in children
  • Complaints of “bugs” or “something moving” in the bottom
  • Mild stomach discomfort or feeling slightly unwell
  • Reduced appetite
  • In girls and women, possible vaginal irritation or inflammation if worms migrate to the genital area
  • Occasionally, small white worms visible in the stool or on toilet paper
  • Tiny white threads or worms seen around the anus at night

If a child in Grand Rapids is having trouble sleeping, scratching their bottom, or seems unusually fussy at night, pinworms may be a possible cause.

How Are Pinworms Diagnosed?

In many cases, doctors in Grand Rapids will diagnose pinworms based on symptoms and history. Sometimes a simple test is used to confirm the diagnosis.

The “Tape Test”

A common method is the sticky tape test:

  1. Early in the morning, before the child bathes or uses the bathroom, a piece of clear adhesive tape is pressed against the skin around the anus.
  2. The tape is then placed sticky-side down on a glass slide or clean clear plastic.
  3. A healthcare provider or lab looks at the tape under a microscope to find pinworm eggs.

This test may need to be repeated on 3 different mornings to increase the chance of finding eggs.

If you suspect pinworms, contact your primary care provider or a local clinic such as:

  • Spectrum Health / Corewell Health primary care offices in Grand Rapids
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids family medicine clinics
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health family practice
  • Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health clinics for guidance and referrals

Treatment for Pinworms in Grand Rapids, MI

Pinworm infections are usually easy to treat with medication and good hygiene.

Medications

Doctors commonly prescribe an oral medicine that kills the worms. Examples (names may vary) include:

  • Mebendazole
  • Albendazole
  • Pyrantel pamoate (sometimes available over-the-counter)

Treatment usually involves:

  • One dose taken by mouth
  • A second dose 2 weeks later to kill any worms that hatch from eggs after the first treatment

Because pinworms spread so easily, all household members are often treated at the same time, even if they have no symptoms.

Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any treatment, especially for:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Children under 2 years old
  • People with chronic health conditions or on multiple medications

In Grand Rapids, you can discuss treatment with:

  • Your family doctor or pediatrician
  • Urgent care centers (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health)
  • Local pharmacists at Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, or independent pharmacies

Hygiene Measures to Prevent Reinfection

Medication alone is not enough. Without good hygiene, pinworms can keep spreading in your home or classroom.

During treatment, follow these steps carefully:

1. Handwashing

  • All family members should wash hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water:
    • After using the toilet
    • After changing diapers
    • Before preparing food
    • Before eating
    • After scratching the anal area
  • Teach children in Grand Rapids schools and daycares to:
    • Scrub all parts of their hands for at least 20 seconds
    • Rinse well and dry with a clean towel or paper towel

2. Discourage Scratching and Nail Biting

  • Discourage scratching the bottom as much as possible.
  • Discourage nail biting and thumb sucking.
  • Consider having young children wear cotton underwear and pajama bottoms at night to reduce direct scratching.

3. Keep Fingernails Short

  • Trim fingernails short and clean to reduce the chance of eggs collecting under the nails.
  • Clean under nails with a nail brush when washing hands.

4. Daily Bathing and Clothing Care

  • Give children a bath or shower every morning to wash away eggs laid overnight.
  • Prefer showers over baths to reduce the chance of eggs staying in the water.
  • Change underwear and pajamas daily.
  • Wash hands thoroughly after helping children bathe or use the bathroom.

5. Laundry and Cleaning

  • Wash the following in hot water and dry on a hot cycle:
    • Sheets and pillowcases
    • Blankets and comforters
    • Pajamas and underwear
    • Towels and washcloths
  • Try to change and wash bedding several times during the treatment period.
  • Clean:
    • Toilet seats and flush handles with disinfectant
    • Bathroom surfaces, potties, and high-touch areas (doorknobs, light switches)
  • Avoid shaking bedding or clothing when removing them, as this can spread eggs into the air.

Store all cleaning products and disinfectants out of reach of children.

Can Pets Get Pinworms?

No. Dogs, cats, and other household pets in Grand Rapids do not get or spread human pinworms. There is no need to treat pets for pinworms.

When to Call a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Contact a healthcare provider if:

  • Your child has severe itching, disturbed sleep, or signs of infection around the anus.
  • You see worms in the stool or around the anal area.
  • Symptoms do not improve within a few weeks of treatment.
  • There is vaginal irritation or discharge in a girl or woman.
  • You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or your child is under 2 years old and you suspect pinworms.

Local options include:

  • Spectrum Health / Corewell Health pediatric and family medicine clinics
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids primary care and urgent care
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health family practice
  • Mercy Health clinics in the Grand Rapids area
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for information, referrals, and community resources

In emergencies or if your child seems very unwell, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department, such as at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Preventing Pinworms in Grand Rapids Homes and Schools

To reduce the risk of pinworms in West Michigan households, daycares, and classrooms:

  • Teach and reinforce good hand hygiene year-round, especially during the long indoor season in fall and winter.
  • Encourage children not to share hats, bedding, or personal items.
  • Keep nails short and discourage nail biting and thumb sucking.
  • Maintain regular cleaning of bathrooms and high-touch surfaces.
  • Wash bedding and pajamas regularly, especially if someone in the home has been infected.
  • Inform your child’s school or daycare (confidentially) if a pinworm infection is confirmed, so they can increase cleaning and reinforce handwashing.

Key Points About Pinworms in Grand Rapids, MI

  • Pinworms are the most common human worm infection in the United States and are frequently seen in children in Grand Rapids.
  • Other names for pinworms include threadworms or simply “worms.”
  • Pinworm infections spread easily through hand-to-mouth contact and contaminated surfaces but are usually mild and easily treated.
  • Medication plus strict hygiene is the most effective way to clear the infection and prevent it from coming back.
  • All household members are often treated, even if they do not have symptoms.
  • Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment, especially for young children, pregnant women, or people with other health conditions.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and suspect pinworms, reach out to your local primary care provider, an urgent care clinic, or the Kent County Health Department for guidance, diagnosis, and treatment options.