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Pinworms and Threadworms

Finding out your child has pinworms is unsettling — but it's one of the most common and most treatable childhood infections there is. At our Orleans pharmacy, a licensed pharmacist can confirm the picture, prescribe treatment for your child and the whole household, and walk you through the hygiene routine that actually breaks the cycle. Free with your Ontario health card.

Pinworms are tiny, thread-like worms that infect the intestine. The telltale symptom is an itchy bottom at night, when female worms lay eggs around the anus — disturbing sleep and causing irritability. Many people have no symptoms at all.

Why the whole household gets treated

Pinworm eggs transfer from the anal area to hands and fingernails, then to clothing, bedding, and surfaces — where they stay infective for up to 20 days. They spread so easily that if one household member has them, others usually do too, symptomatic or not. That's why standard care treats everyone at once, repeats the dose after about two weeks (medication doesn't kill eggs), and pairs it with a hot-wash-and-handwashing routine.

Up to one-third of children worldwide will have pinworms at some point — it's the most common intestinal parasite in primary care, in every socioeconomic group. It says nothing about your home's cleanliness.

Common signs and symptoms

Intense itching around the anus, worst at night
Restless sleep and irritability in children
Tiny white thread-like worms visible around the anus or in stool
Sometimes no symptoms at all

Treatments our Orleans pharmacist can prescribe

For your information only: in Ontario, our pharmacist can assess this condition and, when appropriate, prescribe from the medications listed below. This information is provided for educational purposes — it is not an offer to sell. These are treatments that require a pharmacist assessment, and the right option is chosen for you.

Anthelmintics (anti-worm medications): Mebendazole, Pyrantel pamoate

Self-care that helps

Pinworm treatments (pyrantel pamoate is available over the counter)
Keep fingernails short and clean; wash hands well after the toilet and before eating
Morning showers to rinse away eggs laid overnight
Hot-wash underwear, sleepwear, towels, and bedding; don't shake bedding before washing
Discourage nail-biting and thumb-sucking; repeat treatment after ~2 weeks

Browse related over-the-counter options in our Pinworms and Threadworms self-care collection, or ask us in store — our pharmacists will point you to what actually helps.

How the assessment works

1. Walk in or callNo appointment or referral needed. Drop by our pharmacy on St-Joseph Blvd in Orleans during opening hours, or call ahead.

2. Private consultationA licensed pharmacist reviews your symptoms, health history and medications in a short, private assessment.

3. Prescription in handIf appropriate, we prescribe and fill your treatment on the spot — you leave with what you need.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check for pinworms?

The classic method: press clear tape gently against the skin around the anus first thing in the morning (before bathing) and look for tiny white worms or eggs — or simply check visually by flashlight 2–3 hours after your child falls asleep. Describe what you find and we'll take it from there.

Does everyone really need treatment?

Yes — household-wide treatment at the same time is standard, because eggs spread readily and infected family members are often symptom-free. Skipping this step is the top reason pinworms 'come back.'

My child got pinworms again weeks later. Why?

Either the second dose at 2 weeks was missed (medication doesn't kill eggs, so a repeat catches newly hatched worms) or reinfection from eggs in the environment or an untreated contact. Repeat the full household protocol.

Is the pharmacist assessment covered by OHIP?

Yes. The minor ailment assessment is free with a valid Ontario health card. You only pay for the medication itself if one is prescribed, and that is often covered by your drug plan.

Do I need an appointment at your Orleans pharmacy?

No. Walk-ins are welcome during all pharmacy hours — Monday to Friday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. You can also call 613-824-3111 ahead of your visit.

When to see a doctor instead: See a health-care provider if symptoms persist after two properly spaced treatment courses, you see worms in a very young infant's stool, you're pregnant or breastfeeding (medication choice needs review), or there's significant abdominal pain, weight loss, or other unusual symptoms.

Break the cycle tonight.

Skip the walk-in clinic wait. Our Orleans pharmacists assess and prescribe for pinworms — free with your Ontario health card.

Call 613 · 824 · 3111 Hours & directions

Serving Orleans and east Ottawa — Fallingbrook, Avalon, Chapel Hill, Queenswood Heights, Blackburn Hamlet, Navan & Cumberland. 2746 St-Joseph Blvd, Unit 100, Orleans, ON K1C 1G5.