Pinworm

Natural Habitat

The human gastrointestinal tract, specifically the large intestine and rectum.

Diet & Feeding

Absorbs nutrients and bacteria from the host's intestinal contents.

Behavior Patterns

Adult females migrate out of the anus at night to deposit thousands of eggs on the perianal skin, leading to intense itching that aids in their spread through contaminated hands and surfaces.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include pinworm infection (enterobiasis) characterized by severe anal itching, disturbed sleep, and secondary skin infections from scratching; there are no known benefits.

Identified on: 3/13/2026