Bites & parasites
Pinworms and threadworms
Nothing sends a parent searching the internet at 2 a.m. quite like a child scratching in their sleep. Pinworms are the most common worm infection in Canadian children, and they are one of the 28 conditions an Ontario pharmacist can assess and treat. At Murray Shore Pharmacy in North York, we handle it matter-of-factly: confirm, treat the household correctly, and stop the reinfection cycle.
Common signs
- Intense itching around the anus, distinctly worse at night
- Restless sleep, irritability, or night waking in a child
- Fine, white, thread-like worms visible around the anus at night or on stool
- Itching or discomfort in the vaginal area in girls, since worms can migrate
- Other household members developing the same nighttime itching
See a doctor instead if
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, or weight loss, which are not typical of pinworms
- Blood in the stool
- Signs of urinary or vaginal infection alongside the itching
- A child under one year of age
- Symptoms persisting after two full treatment rounds
Any of these sound like you? Call 416-789-1800 and we will point you the right way — or reach Health811 (opens in a new tab) by calling 811.
How the assessment works
The pharmacist asks about the telltale pattern, nighttime perianal itching, and whether worms have actually been seen, and may suggest the simple morning tape test at home to confirm. An antihelmintic may be prescribed where appropriate, typically for the whole household at once with a repeat dose two weeks later, because treating one child alone almost guarantees a bounce-back. Hygiene coaching covers the egg cycle: nails, hands, underwear, and bedding. OHIP covers the assessment.
Source 1Three ways to get started. Do it all from home, or come in.
Start online from your phone, call us, or walk in and ask for the pharmacist. No appointment is needed. When you start online, a pharmacist calls or messages you back to finish the assessment. Prefer email? Write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers from the pharmacy team. Tap a question to open it.
What is the tape test and how do I do it?
First thing in the morning, before your child uses the toilet or bathes, press a piece of clear tape against the skin around the anus, then stick it to a glass slide or clear bag. Eggs and sometimes worms show up on the tape. The pharmacist will explain what to look for.
Does the whole family really need treatment if only one child has it?
Usually yes. Pinworm eggs spread invisibly on hands, bedding, and surfaces, and other household members are often infected without symptoms. Treating everyone on the same day, then repeating in two weeks, is what breaks the cycle.
Why the second dose two weeks later?
The medication kills worms but not eggs already laid. Eggs hatched in the two weeks after the first dose produce new worms, and the second dose eliminates them before they can lay eggs of their own.
How did my child get pinworms in the first place?
Almost always from other children: eggs pass hand to mouth after contact with contaminated surfaces at school, daycare, or playdates. It says nothing about your home's cleanliness, and it is extraordinarily common.
Do we need to deep-clean the whole house?
A focused effort beats a deep clean: hot-wash bedding, pyjamas, and underwear on treatment day, keep nails short, and push morning showers and handwashing for two weeks. Eggs on surfaces die within a couple of weeks on their own.
What should I bring to the assessment?
Health cards for everyone who may need treatment, the tape test if you did one, and a note of your child's age and weight. If you saw worms, describing exactly what you saw and when is genuinely useful.
Do I need an appointment?
No, walk in with your child during pharmacy hours, or call 416-789-1800 if you would like to check timing first. Most families want this handled the same day, and that is usually possible.
Is the assessment covered by OHIP?
Yes, the assessment is covered with a valid Ontario health card. Any treatment products are a separate purchase.
Can adults get pinworms?
Yes, commonly from their own children through shared bedding, towels, and surfaces. Adults in the household are typically treated at the same time, which is part of why the whole-household approach works.
How do we prevent pinworms after treatment?
Handwashing before meals and after the toilet, short fingernails, morning showers, and daily underwear changes for two weeks cover the essentials. The Canadian Paediatric Society's Caring for Kids pinworm guide is a solid family reference.
Should I tell my child's school or daycare?
It is considerate, since pinworms circulate through classrooms, but children can normally attend as usual once treatment has started. The pharmacist can note the treatment date if the school or daycare asks for confirmation.
Sources & further reading
Numbered references, linked from the sections above.
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416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.