Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2693-4779/191
North Manchester General Hospital, Department of Urology, Delaunays Road, M8 5RB, Manchester. United Kingdom
*Corresponding Author: Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo, North Manchester General Hospital, Department of Urology, Delaunays Road, M8 5RB, Manchester. United Kingdom
Citation: Grey Venyo AK, (2024), Enterobius Vermicularis Infection of the urinary bladder, kidney and urinary tract organs: Review and Update, Clinical Research and Clinical Trials, 10(1); DOI:10.31579/2693-4779/191
Copyright: © 2024, Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Received: 10 February 2024 | Accepted: 29 March 2024 | Published: 17 May 2024
Keywords: enterobius vermicularis infection of bladder; pinworm infection; enterobiasis; visualisation; microscopy; cystoscopy; visualisation; medication, recurrence; prevention; high index of suspicion; mebendazole; pyrantel pamoate; albendazole
Enterobius Vermicularis infection which is also called Pinworm infection or threadworm infection, and as well is referred to as enterobiasis, is a human parasitic disease that is caused by pinworm, Enterobius vermicularis. The most common manifesting symptom is itching or pruritus within the peri-anal region. The period of time from swallowing of the Pinworm eggs to the appearance of new eggs around the anus is stated to be between 4 weeks and 8 weeks. It has been pointed out that some individuals who are infected by Pinworm have tended to be asymptomatic. Enterobius Vermicularis is stated to spread between people by pinworm eggs. The pinworm eggs initially tend to be found around the anal region and they could survive for up to three weeks within the environment. Pinworms may be swallowed following contamination of the hands, food, or other articles. It had been pointed out that individuals who are at risk for the development of Pinworm infections are those who go to school, dwell within in a health care institution or prison, or who take care of individuals who are infected by pinworm. It has been iterated that another animal does not spread the Pinworm disease. It has been iterated that diagnosis of pinworm infection is established is by visualisation of the worms which are about one centimetre long or the eggs under a microscope. It has been iterated that treatment of pinworm infection is typically with utilisation of two doses of the medicaments including: mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate or albendazole two weeks apart. It has been recommended that every individual who dwells with or takes care of a pinworm infected person should be treated contemporaneously. Washing personal items in hot water pursuant to receiving each dose of medication has been recommended. Good hand-washing, daily bathing in the morning, and daily changing of underwear has been stated to help with regard to the prevention of pinworm reinfection. It has been iterated that pinworm infections commonly occur in all parts of the world and that pinworm infections are the most common type of worm infection within Western Europe, Northern Europe and within the United States of America. It has been documented that School-aged children are most commonly infected by Pinworms. It has been iterated that within the United States of America about 20% of children would develop pinworm at some point. It has also been documented that pinworm infection rates among high-risk groups might be as high as 50%. It has been pointed out that pinworm infection is not considered a serious disease and that pinworms are understood to have afflicted humans throughout history. The important thing to realise is that Pinworm infections could afflict the urinary bladder and organs of the urinary tract and unless clinicians have a high index of suspicion for pinworm infections of the urinary tract that had tended to be reported sporadically on rare occasions, the diagnosis could be delayed or missed. Pinworm infections of the urinary bladder and urinary tract could be asymptomatic or the manifestations tend to be non-specific including lower urinary tract voiding symptoms, abdominal discomfort or pain, loin discomfort or pain, non-visible haematuria, visible haematuria or spontaneous voiding out of worm-like material which the clinician confirms based upon visualisation of the worm or microscopy examination demonstrating features of the worm or finding of the worm in the process of cystoscopy or ureteroscopy examinations. Even though rare, clinicians need to be aware of the fact that Enterobius Vermicularis infection of the urinary bladder and urinary tract organs has tended to be reported on rare occasions.
It has been iterated that one-third of individuals who are afflicted by pinworm infection have tended to be totally no-symptomatic [1] [2] The main symptoms are itching (pruritus) in and around the anus as well as the perineum. [3] [4] [4] The itching occurs mainly during the night, [3] [5] and is caused by the female pinworms migrating to lay eggs around the anus. [4] [6] Both the migrating females and the clumps of eggs are irritating, as well as the sticky substance that is produced by the worms when the eggs are laid. [5] [7] The intensity of the itching varies, and it can be described as tickling, crawling sensations, or even acute pain [8] The itching leads to continuously scratching the area around the anus, which can further result in tearing of the skin and complications such as secondary bacterial infections, including bacterial skin inflammation, and hair follicle inflammation [3] [4] [8] General symptoms are trouble in sleeping, and restlessness [3]. A considerable proportion of children do experience loss of appetite, weight loss, irritability, emotional instability, and bed wetting. [3] Pinworms cannot damage the skin, [4] and they do not normally migrate through tissue [4]. Nevertheless, might move onto the vulva and into the vagina, [3] [4] from there moving to the external orifice of the uterus, and onwards to the uterine cavity, fallopian tubes, the ovaries, and the peritoneal cavity. [4] This can cause inflammation of the vulva and vagina (vulvitis and vaginitis) [3] [4]. This causes vaginal discharge and itchiness of the vulva. [3] The pinworms can also enter the urethra, and presumably, they carry intestinal bacteria with them. [4] According to Gutierrez (2000), a statistically significant correlation between pinworm infection and urinary tract infections had been shown; [4] nevertheless, Burkhart & Burkhart (2005) had maintained that the incidence of pinworms as a cause of urinary tract infections remains unknown. [2] One report had indicated that 36% of young girls with a urinary tract infection also had pinworms, [2] painful micturition had been associated with pinworm infection. [2] The relationship between pinworm infestation and appendicitis had been researched, but there was a lack of clear consensus upon the matter: While Gutiérrez had maintained that there exists a consensus that pinworms do not produce the inflammatory reaction, [4] Cook (1994) stated that it is controversial whether pinworms are causatively related to acute [6], and Burkhart & Burkhart (2004) had iterated that pinworm infection causes symptoms of appendicitis to surface. [2] In view of the rarity of Enterobius Vermicularis infection of the urinary bladder and the urinary tract organs, the ensuing article related to Enterobius Vermicularis of the urinary bladder and organs of the urinary tract has been written and divided into two parts: (A) Overview that has discussed miscellaneous general overview aspects of Enterobius Vermicularis and (B) Miscellaneous Narrations and Discussions Related to Enterobius Vermicularis infections of the urinary bladder, kidney and urinary tract organs.
To review and update the literature on Enterobius Vermicularis of Urinary bladder, Kidney, and Urinary tract organs.
Internet data bases were searched including: Google; Google Scholar; Yahoo; and PUBMED. The search words that were used included: Enterobius Vermicularis of bladder; Enterobius Vermicularis of urinary tract organ; Enterobius Vermicularis of kidney; pinworm infection of bladder; and pinworm infection of urinary tract organs. Thirty-six (36) refences were identified which were used to write the article which has been divided into two parts:
[A] Overview [8]
Definition and General iterations [8]
Aetiology of Enterobius Vermicularis [8]
The aetiology of Enterobius Vermicularis had been summated as follows: [8]
Epidemiology of Enterobius Vermicularis Infection
The epidemiology of Enterobius Vermicularis infection has been summated as follows: [8]
Pathophysiology of Enterobius Vermicularis Infection
The pathophysiology of Enterobius Vermicularis infection has been summated as follows: [8]
Clinical History and Examination Findings
The clinical history and examination findings in cases of Enterobius vermicularis infections had been summated as follows: [8]
Evaluation / Assessment of patients Afflicted by Enterobius Vermicularis Infection
The evaluation of Enterobius Vermicularis Afflicted Patients had been summated as follows: [8]
Treatment / Management of Enterobius Vermicularis Infection
The treatment / Management of Enterobius Vermicularis Infection had been summated as follows: [8]
Or
Or
Differential Diagnoses
The differential diagnoses of Enterobius Vermicularis Infection had been summated to include the following: [8]
Prognosis of Enterobius Vermicularis infection
The prognosis of Enterobius Vermicularis Infection had been summated as follows: [8]
Complications associated with Enterobius Vermicularis Infection
The general complications associated with Enterobius Vermicularis infection had been summated as follows: [8]
Enterobius Vermicularis infections of the urinary bladder, the kidney and urinary tract.
Enterobius vermicularis infections of the urinary bladder and urinary tract are extremely rare and the symptoms have tended to be non-specific and unless a high index of suspicion is not exercised, the diagnosis may be delayed or missed or the diagnosis may emanate as a surprise to the clinician. In view of the rarity of Enterobius Vermicularis infection of the urinary bladder and urinary tract, urinary tract affliction of Enterobius Vermicularis has been separately documented in the next section of the article. [8]
[B] Miscellaneous Narrations and Discussions from some Case Reports, Case Series, and Studies Related to Enterobius Vermicularis Infections of the Urinary Bladder, Kidney and organs of the Urinary Tract.
Choudhury et al. [13] stated the ensuing:
Choudhury et al. [13] reported a 58-year-old lady, who had presented to their outdoor clinic with a history of recurrent dysuria and increased frequency of micturition over the preceding 9 months. She did not have any history of associated fever or haematuria. Nevertheless, the patient complained of having occasional pruritus within her peri-anal and peri-urethral region. The patient was known to be diabetic and she was on oral hypoglycemic medicaments. She denied having any history of urethral instrumentation in the past. She had previously been treated with prophylactic antibiotics, but her symptoms had not resolved. The results of her repeated urine culture came out to be sterile; nevertheless, she had increased pus cells within her urine. One week before her outdoor visit, the patient had noticed small, white worms within her urine. She carried one such urine sample to the outdoor clinic (see figure 1). Upon low power microscopy examination, the worm was identified as Enterobius vermicularis. She had ultrasound scan screening of her kidney, ureter, and urinary bladder region, which demonstrated some echogenic floating materials within her urinary bladder. She underwent cystoscopy examination, which failed to demonstrate any worm-like structure within her urinary bladder or any other abnormality. Planoconvex ova of the Enterobius Vermicularis were identified within her urine sample; nevertheless, wet mount examination of her stool specimen did not demonstrate any eggs. The patient was treated by a single dose of 400 mg of oral albendazole which was repeated after 2 weeks in order to eradicate any emerging parasites. The symptoms of the patient completely resolved and there was no recurrence of her symptoms at her 6-month follow-up. Her urine upon examination during her 6 months follow-up assessment did not reveal any abnormality.

Figure 1.
Adult pinworm isolated from urine. Reproduced from [13] under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Choudhury et al. [13] made the ensuing educative summating discussions:

Figure 2.
E Vermicularis eggs (wet mount). Reproduced from: [17] under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Figure 3.
The living worm (left) after the incision of its spherical envelope (right). Reproduced from [17] under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Even though there was a speculation that the infection was sexually transmitted, the patient denied it. The patient did not experience any symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract or itching sensation within his anus. The cello-tape test was undertaken and a microscopy examination identified Enterobius vermicularis eggs. Even though the patient had a negative cello-tape test and no irritative symptoms he was treated with mebendazole 100 mg PO bid for 3 days followed by two more courses with 3-week time interval. At his six-month follow-up assessment, there had been no recurrence of enteroparasitosis. After informing the patient, his three grandsons were examined using the cello-tape anal swab technique (one smear per child), for the presence of Enterobius vermicularis eggs. All three samples were positive for parasite eggs and the children were treated with the same antihelmintic regimen.
Zahariou et al. [17] made the ensuing discussions:
Zahariou et al. [17] made the ensuing conclusions:
Sammour et al. [30] stated the following:
Sammour et al. [30] reported a 54-year-old woman, who had manifested with a history of irritative urinary voiding symptoms for one month. She had recently been treated with norfloxacin, with no improvement. Her urinalysis demonstrated leucocyturia, and her urine culture was negative. She had Computed Tomography (CT) scan of her abdomen which showed an 8 mm stone within her distal left ureter, which was removed endoscopically. Her cystoscopy was normal during her ureteroscopy stone removal. Her voiding symptoms did not improve after her ureterolithotripsy, and she had persistent leucocyturia despite negative urine cultures and three courses of antibiotics. She had a second CT scan which did not demonstrate any urological abnormalities. She was treated with analgesics; after two months the patient noticed two worms within her own urine and brought them to the clinic. The worms were examined in a parasitology laboratory and a diagnosis of mature female Oxyurus worms (Enterobius vermicularis) was made. The patient was treated with 200 mg mebendazole once a day, for three days, with complete resolution of her urinary voiding symptoms and normalization of her urinalysis. A scotch-tape test applied to the perianal and perineal areas after treatment was negative. In her follow-up after six months, the patient remained asymptomatic.
Sammour et al. [30] made the ensuing discussions:
Conclusions
Nil
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