infectious

Enterobiasis (pinworm infection)

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources2 sources

Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 · CDC Yellow Book 2024

Verified against1 document

Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (6)

About a third of those infected have no symptoms at all
Itch around the anus is the usual complaint [itching]
The itch breaks up sleep and can become real insomnia [insomnia · itching]
Girls may present instead with a urinary or genital infection
Watery stool is reported by some
Belly pain can occur, and worms blocking the appendix can set off appendicitis [abdominal pain]

Signs — what you find (3)

Redness around the anus from the scratching [itching · redness]
Scratched skin can pick up a surface bacterial infection, leaving it red and warm
Small thread-like worms are sometimes visible by eye around the anus

Tests (6)

The test is sticky tape or a pinworm paddle pressed to the skin around the anus, then read under the microscope
Look for eggs 50 by 30 microns with one flattened side, or the worms themselves
Female worms measure 8 to 13 mm, males 2 to 5 mm
Sample first thing in the morning, when the yield is best
Five negative morning samples in a row rule the diagnosis out
A stool sample does not make this diagnosis, since the worms are only now and then passed in stool; it is for excluding other causes

If not this — what else fits (5)

Itchy anus from another cause
Itchy vulva from another cause
Eczema of the skin
An abscess beside the rectum
Cellulitis of the skin

SourceStatPearls "Enterobius Vermicularis" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

MEBENDAZOLE

1st line

Strength100 mg

Formoral.solid

Adult dose and duration

100 mg single dose orally - repeat after 14 days

Paediatric dose

(Children > 2 years: 100 mg single dose, repeat in 2 weeks. Experience in children < 2 years is limited.)

Dose by age
3 years and over:	100 mg single dose, repeat in 2 weeks

Dose source

Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023

Why

Mebendazole is an anthelmintic that blocks glucose uptake in the pinworm by inhibiting microtubule formation, killing the parasite; treating the whole household at the same time is needed because reinfection is otherwise near-universal.

Cautions

TREAT ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD simultaneously to prevent reinfection.
Wash bed linen and clothes at high temperature; enforce hand hygiene.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
MEBAMOX 100MG 6 TAB.	EL NASR	3.25 EGP (0.54/unit)
PENTALMIN 100MG 6 TAB.	PHAROPHARMA	3.50 EGP (0.58/unit)
VERMIN 100MG 6 TAB.	MEMPHIS	8.00 EGP (1.33/unit)
ANTIVER 100MG 20*6 TABS.	ALEXANDRIA	200.00 EGP (33.33/unit)
ANTHELMIN 100MG/5ML SUSP. 30ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solid	PHARCO	3.50 EGP
PERMAX 100MG/5ML SUSP. 30ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solid	EIPICO	10.00 EGP

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.