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Suggest Treatment For Worms In Stool While Breastfeeding
Question: I have seen worms in my stool although not consistently. I have had a negative stool test. I have three more samples to do for my doctors. I see pinholes on my stool. Dies that mean anything? Can I see worm eggs by looking through a magnifying glass? If I can what do they look like? I am trying to prove that I have this so I could get the proper medicine. Are there other tests that I could ask for?
Brief Answer:
About Pinworms.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
In my daily practice when a patient tells me that i have seen worms in stool i do not ask for tests but start directly the treatment.
As you are breastfeeding and Albendazol is not licensed during lactation (but as it is virtually unabsorbed from the gut it is unlikely to cause adverse effects in the baby or to affect breastmilk supply) to be sure about the diagnosis i would suggest to do the test with an adhesive tape (e.g. Scotch Tape).
Applied on the anal area will pick up deposited eggs, and diagnosis can be made by examining the tape with a microscope.
This test is most successful if done every morning for several days, because the females do not lay eggs every day, and the number of eggs vary.
It is far more sensitive than the stool examination because Pinworms do not lay eggs in the feces, but sometimes eggs are deposited in the intestine. As such, routine examination of fecal material gives a positive diagnosis in only 5 to 15% of infected subjects, and is therefore of little practical diagnostic use.
Hope this will help you in resolving the problem.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
About Pinworms.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
In my daily practice when a patient tells me that i have seen worms in stool i do not ask for tests but start directly the treatment.
As you are breastfeeding and Albendazol is not licensed during lactation (but as it is virtually unabsorbed from the gut it is unlikely to cause adverse effects in the baby or to affect breastmilk supply) to be sure about the diagnosis i would suggest to do the test with an adhesive tape (e.g. Scotch Tape).
Applied on the anal area will pick up deposited eggs, and diagnosis can be made by examining the tape with a microscope.
This test is most successful if done every morning for several days, because the females do not lay eggs every day, and the number of eggs vary.
It is far more sensitive than the stool examination because Pinworms do not lay eggs in the feces, but sometimes eggs are deposited in the intestine. As such, routine examination of fecal material gives a positive diagnosis in only 5 to 15% of infected subjects, and is therefore of little practical diagnostic use.
Hope this will help you in resolving the problem.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
does color matter in stool test? also does stool matter if it is hard or soft? if we can't do successful stool or rape test you suggested, can a ct scan, colonoscopy, endoscopy reveal works/parasites in my body/intestines?
Brief Answer:
No need for invasive examinations.
Detailed Answer:
As i explained you above, trying to pick up deposited eggs in the anal area with an adhesive tape is very sensitive and you will not need further invasive examinations (such as colonoscopy).
If the microscope will detect eggs in the tape than treatment should be started.
About stool test, the color and consistency does not matter.
Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
No need for invasive examinations.
Detailed Answer:
As i explained you above, trying to pick up deposited eggs in the anal area with an adhesive tape is very sensitive and you will not need further invasive examinations (such as colonoscopy).
If the microscope will detect eggs in the tape than treatment should be started.
About stool test, the color and consistency does not matter.
Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you. For your time and for answering my questions.
Brief Answer:
Thanks to you.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks to you for asking, it's a pleasure.
Wish you good health!
Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Thanks to you.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks to you for asking, it's a pleasure.
Wish you good health!
Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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