Jeonbuk Institute of Health and Environment Conducts Pinworm Infection Tests for Infants and Young Children

Protecting Health and Preventing Parasitic Infections

The Jeonbuk Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 9th that it will conduct pinworm infection tests to protect the health of infants and young children in the province and to prevent parasitic infections.

This year, reflecting the demand survey from cities and counties, the institute plans to conduct full-scale tests starting this month on 326 infants and young children residing in Muju-gun and Gochang-gun.

Jeonbuk Provincial Government Office view. Provided by Jeonbuk Province

The Institute of Health and Environment began pinworm infection tests in Muju-gun in 2023, and in 2024, expanded the tests to Namwon, Jinan, Muju, and Sunchang. Each year, regions are selected based on demand to ensure ongoing preventive management.

This round of testing aims to identify the status of pinworm infections in the region and to establish necessary preventive measures. Through the tests, infection status will be confirmed, and in the event of a positive result, treatment and hygiene education will be provided in cooperation with the relevant public health center.

Pinworms are parasites that primarily show high infection rates in infants and children. They inhabit the colon (especially the appendix) and have the characteristic of crawling out of the anus to lay eggs on the surrounding skin. Infection occurs when eggs on the hands that have scratched the anal area are ingested, or through contaminated clothing or bedding, making transmission easy.

Pinworm infections are especially prevalent among infants and young children in group settings such as daycare centers and kindergartens, and adults living together can also become infected, so caution is necessary. Symptoms of pinworm infection include not only anal itching but also skin redness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, and secondary bacterial infections. Due to its high transmissibility and risk of reinfection, maintaining clean hygiene is of utmost importance for prevention.

It is recommended to keep fingernails short, maintain personal cleanliness through bathing, and regularly wash or sun-dry pajamas and bedding. The Institute of Health and Environment plans to provide treatment and hygiene education in cooperation with the relevant public health center if infections are confirmed through this round of testing.

Jeon Kyungsik, Director of the Jeonbuk Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "Pinworm infection is a disease that can easily spread among groups of infants and young children, so the attention and cooperation of parents and guardians is essential," and added, "We will strengthen promotion and education to enable early detection and systematic management of infected individuals according to the test results."