How to tell if my pinworms are gone?

[Ajad]

I've recently had a pinworm infection and think I may be over it but am not sure. The nighttime itching has ceased, I took both mebdazole tablet ( a week apart as my doctor prescribed), and I've not seen any live worms for two weeks now. It's bee a full week since the last tablet. I've be taking precautions such as washing my sheets and clothing and nightclothes in hot water every day, showering in hot water each day, bleaching bathroom surfaces after using them, and using other treatments like probiotics, garlic, less sugar, fiber, bitter foods, and hot peppers. However I am concerned because I still have diarrhea and am still seeing dead worms in my stool, albeit no live ones. I also have hemorroids and have had chronic digest issues my whole life which could also cause diarrhea, however I hadn't had that problem lately until the worms showed up. Am I jus getting rid of them slowly or could I have been reinfected? Should I get a second dose of mebdazole?

[Ajad]

So I was able to get back to my doctor and after she talked to me for a bit and checked on me she prescribed a second dose of the medication and told me it might take me another couple weeks to completely get rid of the worms. She explained that I was doing everything right and it wasn't as bad as before, but they are just a pain to get rid of. And she confirmed that I also have hemorroids as well now.

[mkh9]

Yes you are correct. They have a live cycle of about a week and you have to take another dose at the end of the cycle when the eggs hatch or at about 7 days after the first dose. Then reclean everything again. Then you retest until it is all gone. Let me know how it goes. Sorry you are going through this. Also , if you have kids, a spouse that lives there or anyone else then they have to get treated at the same time too as they can get it and give it back to you and you to them.

take care,
mkh9

[mkh9]

Hi, It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I would follow up with your doctor and get a pin worm paddle test maybe on two different days (maybe a few days apart) and see if they find any eggs. You can't see these. If they don't find any in these tests you are probably clear. Have you had a regular parasite test done? Since you still have diarrhea you may want to get tested for other stool parasites. I would do that on a few different days too. Let me know how the results go. It is possible the medication is giving you diarrhea. But it would be good to double check that you didn't get any  other parasites.
Regards,
mkh9