A condition where a person reinfects themselves with the same parasite or pathogen they already have, usually by poor hygiene or accidental contamination.
From Greek 'auto' (self) and Latin 'infectio' (tainting). The medical term developed in parasitology in the 19th-20th centuries as doctors observed reinfection patterns.
With pinworms, autoinfection is incredibly common in children—they scratch and then put their fingers in their mouth, reinfecting themselves and spreading it to others. It's why doctors stress handwashing so much.
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