Psychiatric Disorders
Pinworms are usually transmitted through contaminated food or water. However, they can also be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, such as clothes or bedding infected with pinworm eggs. Once these eggs have been ingested, they hatch in the intestine and mature into adult worms. Then, the female pinworms leave the intestine and lay eggs on the skin around the anus. This whole cycle can repeat itself, leading to a chronic infection.
While pinworms are usually considered harmless, some evidence suggests that they may be linked to psychiatric disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One theory is that pinworm infection can lead to changes in the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, which can cause behavioral changes.
One study reveals that children with ASD were more likely to have antibodies against pinworm eggs than children without ASD. Another study published found that nearly one-third of children with ADHD had evidence of past or current pinworm infection. However, it’s important to note that these studies did not prove that pinworms cause ADHD or ASD. More research is needed to explore the potential connection between these parasites and mental health issues.
