A question for the list providers: How do you treat confirmed or suspected pinworms? Do you give just one Vermox tablet or do you routinely treat with a second dose after two weeks? Do you prescribe for all family members - including parents- whether they have symptoms or not? Do you insist on examining the child or will you prescribe over the phone if the diagnosis sounds likely? Recently I treated one of my patients over the phone (a note had come home from school that pinworms were going around the class, he'd had several days of rectal itching, etc.). He wasn't much better after two weeks so I finally examined him. His tush was really red, I cultured it, and sure enough he had peri-rectal strep. Bactroban cleared it up quickly. Today (Sunday) I received a call from a family who goes to one of the peds I cover with on weekends. The mom said her six-year old had had several days of rectal itching and she saw peri-rectal worms late last night. How would you have handled it (after explaining that even after the Vermox is given it still takes several days for the itching to stop): Call in a script for the whole family? For either one or two pills each? Call in a script for two pills for the child only? Call in a script for one pill for the child only? Don't prescribe anything on the weekend and tell them they need to call their regular peds on Monday? Looking forward to seeing any responses. Michael Sachs, M.D. General Pediatrician