Pinworms & Threadworms
Takes 2 minutes · No clinic visit · Delivered to your door
Pinworms (threadworms) are small, thin parasites that cause itching around the anus, especially at night. They’re extremely common, especially in young children and households with kids, and can be assessed confidentially without an in-person exam.
Could It Be Pinworms?
- Intense itching around the anus, especially at night when the worms are most active
- Restless sleep or disturbed sleep in a child, often linked to nighttime itching
- Irritability or difficulty concentrating from disrupted sleep
- Occasionally, small, thin, white worms visible around the anus or in stool
- Mild stomach discomfort in some cases
- Symptoms affecting more than one person in the household at the same time
Treatment
- Oral antiparasitic medication (mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate) to kill the worms
- Guidance on the recommended second dose about 2 weeks after the first, since the medication doesn’t kill eggs
- Advice on treating the whole household at the same time, since pinworms spread easily between family members
- Hygiene guidance — washing bedding and clothing, short fingernails, handwashing — to prevent reinfection
- Ontario pharmacists can assess and prescribe directly for uncomplicated pinworm infections
How it works
Three steps to feeling better.
- Share your symptoms
Complete a short, secure assessment about what you’re experiencing — on your time, from anywhere.
- Pharmacist reviews and prescribes
A licensed Ontario pharmacist reviews your assessment and prescribes appropriate treatment when indicated.
- Treatment ships free
Your prescription is dispensed and delivered to your door in discreet packaging — no extra charge.
Why Rumini
Built for moments like this.
When you need help quickly and privately, these are the things that matter most.
Complete discretion
Your assessment, your prescription, and your delivery are handled with full privacy — PHIPA compliant at every step.
Fast from start to door
Start now, get your assessment reviewed quickly, and receive your medication with free same-province delivery.
Support when you need it
Our care team is available 7 days a week. Questions before, during, or after treatment — we’re here.
No clinic visit required
Ontario pharmacists are authorized to prescribe for uncomplicated UTIs. Skip the waiting room entirely.
Trust and credentials
A licensed Ontario Pharmacy.
Rumini operates under the full oversight of Ontario's regulatory framework for pharmacy practice.
OCP registration
#311091
Role
Pharmacist of Record
Location
45–2355 Derry Rd E, Mississauga, ON
Privacy standard
PHIPA compliant
Frequently Asked Questions.
What causes pinworms?
Pinworm eggs are swallowed or inhaled, often after touching contaminated surfaces, bedding, or another infected person, then transferring the eggs to the mouth. They hatch in the intestine, and female worms travel to lay eggs around the anus, usually at night, which causes the itching.
How are pinworms treated?
A single dose of an oral antiparasitic (mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate), followed by a second dose about 2 weeks later to catch any newly hatched worms. Ontario’s minor ailments program allows pharmacists to assess and prescribe directly for uncomplicated cases.
How long until symptoms improve?
Itching often improves within a few days of the first dose, though it’s normal for some itching to continue until the second dose clears any remaining worms. Full resolution is usually expected within a couple of weeks with both doses completed.
Does everyone in the house need treatment?
Pinworms spread very easily between close contacts, especially children and their caregivers, so it’s common to treat the whole household at the same time even if only one person has symptoms. Your pharmacist can advise on this during the assessment.
How can I prevent pinworms from coming back?
Wash bedding, sleepwear, and towels in hot water, keep fingernails short and clean, encourage handwashing (especially after using the bathroom and before eating), and avoid nail-biting or scratching the affected area during treatment.
When should I seek in-person care instead?
Seek in-person care for symptoms that don’t improve after completing both doses of treatment, signs of a skin infection from scratching (increasing redness, warmth, pus), significant abdominal pain, or symptoms in a child under 2 years old.