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My 8yo son has had problems since infancy with chronic vomiting and IBS-like symptoms. I recently spent time with a very thorough Gastrointerologist. After much blood work, stool tests, etc, we decided to go ahead and have a colonoscopy done. He found that my son had a horrible infestation of pinworm. He said that could explain every one of his symptoms. He was given medicine as directed, and we did our cleaning. The symptoms seem to be back. I suspect it is still the pinworm.
None of the tests, besides the colonoscopy, saw the pinworm. I don't know what to do now. I read some people are just prone to have pinworms, and they are difficult to get rid of. The medications don't seem to help these people.
We cleaned our house and even sent the kids to stay with Grandma for 2 months, so they couldn't get reinfested from playing with toys. We wash his hands diligently. We also feed him many probiotics.
What is the next step?

Create an enviorment in his system that the pinworms don't like. I'm no expert, my kids got them when they were toddlers but not since. It's a really embarassing situation.

The only thing I remember food wise is alot of garlic. So much that he smells of it from head to toe. And keep him garlic friendly for a few months at least. Maybe he's so creeped out by the worms that he won't complain.

Why do you need a colonoscopy to find pinworms? They come out generally in the night and make the butt very itchy. You can see them. And meds should take care of the problem.

Our son had pin worms when he was an infant. We witheld all sugar and that got rid of them. By the way, adults who consume sucros regularly in their coffee, etc, also get pin worms.

I don't believe that honey or fruit sugar promotes pin worms; only sucros does it.

We did not do the colonoscopy to look for pinworm. We did it because he was vomiting daily and having IBS-like symptoms. He is also small for his age, and we were concerned about his nutrition. He is also struggling with his schoolwork. He seems to be 2 years behind his age physically and academically. None of the other tests yielded any results. Colonoscopy was a last resort.
We could not find the pinworms with a visual in the night, the tape test, or fecal tests done in a lab. He is a very sound sleeper too, so he wasn't scratching at night. He does not have the typical pinworm symptoms. As I mentioned before, we used the medication as directed. The medicine did not work.
We do not consume any sugar. We occasionally have fruit. I make everything we consume. We make our own soymilk, yogurts, etc. We grow our own vegetables from our garden. We forage for berries during the summer. I think you get the picture, I am diligent and obsessive about the food we eat. I could give him more garlic though, that is a good idea.
Has anyone used food grade diatomaceous earth? I am wondering if that will help, but I am uncertain of any side effects. I have only heard constipation as a side effect.

Do you have other children? Everyone in the family including all pets should also be treated. It's easy to feel responsible for the problem but try not to. Pinworms live in the dirt and all kinds of places. Parasites are good at surviving despite all our best efforts.

Maybe oil of oregano would help. It comes in a little gel cap. You may smell like an italian resturant, but Ive heard it is good for ridding of worms. Not sure how long you would take it.

Check this place out http://www.healthy-oil-planet.com

Do some research regarding food grade diatomaceous earth. Supposedly, it will kill any worms in your digestive track.

Was everyone in the house treated for pinworms? They are very contagious, so if he had them, it is likely that everyone has them. Also, two weeks after being treated, everyone needs to be treated again because the medicine doesn't kill the eggs that weren't yet hatched. Two doses, two weeks apart for everyone in the family, short fingernails, and all bedding washed in HOT water are the remedies I know of.

I have had pinworms twice as an adult, once about 30 years ago, and again about 10 years later. Also one of my kids had them once.

It is important to understand the life cycle of pinworms. They CANNOT reproduce in our gastro-intestinal track. What they do inside is to grow, mature and to produce eggs. Then the indivisual worms, each laden with many hundreds or thousands of eggs migrate down the G-I tract to the anus. They crawl out into the area around the anus causing considerable itching, and die. This could be the end of the story.

Each worm is about half an inch long and looks very much like an alflafa sprout only short.

On reaching the outside of the body, they die immediately, leaving the viable eggs on the surface of the skin around the anus. Each worm crawling out causes considerable itching.

Now there is only one way that the infestation can continue. Those eggs have to get from the area around the anus to the mouth.

The way that happens is the intense itching causes the the person to scratch, which results in the eggs getting on his/her hands and fingers. From there they can get into the food and/or directly into ones mouth through nail biting or thumb sucking.

Once in the mouth the eggs migrate down to the small intestine where they grow into worms full of eggs and, then, eventually, continue on down to the anus, crawl out causing itching, die, cause intense itching, scratching, and the cycle begins all over again.

So all that is necessary is to break this cycle. It can be hard especially with small kids but with adults as well. Medicines taken internally don't work very well. As long as some eggs get out, and some eggs get on the hands and to the mouth, the infestation continues to be renewed.

Things to consider or to ask your doctor about:
-medicine to kill the eggs externally, ie, around the anus,
-a barrier to prevent the hands from getting to the anal area,
-thorough washing of hands before eating,
-hypnosis to help prevent the urge to scratch which is often beyond our conscious control, and to prevent finger chewing or nailbiting, also often beyond conscious control.

Pinworms seldom persist where there is no nailbiting or thumbsucking.

Thorough washing of sheets and clothes is also important.

Also, I would get a second opinion as to whether the pinworms are really causing the mulltitude of symptoms that your doctor is attributing to them. Look for the pinworms especially during anal itching. You should see them.

I have another theory about the pinworm life-cycle.
I believe it is possible for the pinworm cycle to continue without ingesting the eggs, initially yes, but not for' incurable' re-infestations. I think this can happen when eggs are deposited around anus, hatch, then baby pinworm goes back up in to the anus to live long and prosper with it's reproductive siblings.
This cycle can continue indefinitely but may be able to stop if you wash bum area with very warm water and soap first thing in the morning, everyday, for months, diligently. Place towel gently directly into laundry hamper and wash your hands right away, with soap!
Like I said, just my theory, but if everything else isn't working, they could be resistant to drugs, incurable OR have another possible re-infestation method.