Relationship between pinworm and urinary tract infections in young girls

Urinary tract infection is particularly common in young girls and Enterobiu s vermicularis (pinworm) is one of the most prevalent worms found in childr en worldwide, Young girls, with or without urinary tract infection, were ex amined for pinworms in order to explore a possible relationship between the se two problems. Of the 55 young girls with urinary tract infection, 20 (36 .4%) had pinworm eggs in the perianal and/or perineal region monitored usin g the cellophane tape method, while 9 (16.4%) of 55 young girls who had nev er previously had a urinary tract infection were found to have Enterobius e ggs in at least one of the cellophane tape tests, and the difference was fo und to be significant (p<0.05). These results suggested that urinary tract infections may be related to pinworms. When a urinary tract infection is di agnosed in young girls, cellulose tape should be applied to both the perian al and the perineal regions on at least three consecutive occasions.