About- Ascariasis is a common intestinal infection caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. The adult worms live in the small intestine, where they feed on intestinal contents and produce eggs that are passed out of the body through stool. The infection occurs when a person accidentally swallows Ascaris eggs, usually through contaminated soil, food, water, or unwashed fruits and vegetables. Ascariasis is more common in areas where sanitation and access to clean water are limited. Many people with a mild infection have no symptoms. However, a heavy infection can cause abdominal problems, nutritional deficiencies, intestinal blockage, and other complications. During part of its life cycle, the Ascaris larvae travel through the lungs, which may temporarily cause coughing, wheezing, or breathing difficulties. Ascariasis can usually be treated effectively with antiparasitic medicines prescribed or recommended by a healthcare professional.
Many people with ascariasis do not develop noticeable symptoms, particularly when the infection is mild. Symptoms are more likely when there are many worms or when the larvae are passing through the lungs. Possible symptoms include:
Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Loss of appetite
Worms in the stool
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain or discomfort
Diarrhoea
Irregular bowel movements
Fever
Chest discomfort
Blood-streaked mucus or blood in mucus in some cases
After a person swallows Ascaris eggs, the larvae hatch in the intestine and can travel through the bloodstream to the liver and then to the lungs. The larvae may enter the airways and eventually be swallowed again, returning to the intestine. During this stage, some people may develop:
Dry cough
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest discomfort
Fever
Blood-streaked mucus
These symptoms are generally temporary but may be more noticeable in people with a larger number of larvae.
Ascariasis occurs when a person swallows infectious Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. The eggs are passed in the stool of an infected person. If human faeces contaminate soil or water, the eggs can remain in the environment and eventually contaminate food or people’s hands. Common ways of becoming infected include:
Contact with soil contaminated with human faeces containing Ascaris eggs
Drinking contaminated water
Eating food contaminated with Ascaris eggs
Eating unwashed fruits or vegetables grown in contaminated soil
Handling contaminated soil and then touching the mouth without washing the hands
Children playing in contaminated soil and putting dirty fingers or objects into their mouths
The infection does not usually spread directly from one person to another simply through casual contact. The eggs generally need to mature in contaminated soil before they become capable of causing infection.
Most cases of ascariasis can be treated successfully. However, a heavy infection can sometimes cause serious complications. Possible complications include:
A large number of adult worms can form a mass that blocks the intestine. This may cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal swelling, and difficulty passing stool or gas.
During the larval migration stage, some people may develop temporary inflammation in the lungs, sometimes called Löffler syndrome, which can cause cough, wheezing, fever, and abnormal findings on chest imaging.
A healthcare professional may suspect ascariasis based on symptoms, medical history, travel or living conditions, and exposure to contaminated soil or food.
A stool test is commonly used to identify Ascaris eggs under a microscope. Several stool samples may sometimes be needed because eggs may not be present in every sample.
In some cases, an adult worm may be noticed in the stool or may be passed through the mouth or nose. If this happens, medical evaluation is recommended.
Blood tests may sometimes show an increased number of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that can increase with certain parasitic infections. However, this finding is not specific to ascariasis.
If complications are suspected, a doctor may recommend tests such as an ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, or other imaging studies to look for intestinal or biliary obstruction.
Ascariasis is generally treated with antiparasitic medicines. Commonly used medicines include albendazole and mebendazole, depending on the patient’s age, health status, pregnancy status, local treatment recommendations, and other factors. Treatment should be taken according to the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. In some cases, a follow-up stool examination may be recommended to determine whether the infection has cleared.
If a large number of worms cause an intestinal or biliary obstruction, additional treatment may be required. Severe complications may occasionally require an endoscopic procedure or surgery. Do not self-medicate with antiparasitic medicines, particularly for young children or during pregnancy, without appropriate medical advice.
Good sanitation and personal hygiene are important for preventing ascariasis. You can reduce the risk of infection by:
Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food
Washing children’s hands regularly
Washing fruits and vegetables carefully before eating them
Peeling or cooking fruits and vegetables when appropriate
Avoiding food or water that may be contaminated
Using safe drinking water
Avoiding contact with human faeces
Using proper toilets and sanitation facilities
Disposing of human waste safely
Keeping children’s play areas away from contaminated soil
Avoiding putting dirty fingers or objects into the mouth
In areas where intestinal worm infections are common, community-wide deworming programmes may be recommended for certain populations, particularly children, according to local public-health guidelines.
Consult a healthcare professional if you have persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, recurrent digestive symptoms, or believe that you may have a parasitic infection. Seek urgent medical attention if you develop:
Severe or worsening abdominal pain
Persistent vomiting
Severe abdominal swelling
Inability to pass stool or gas
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Severe breathing difficulty
Coughing up significant amounts of blood
Signs of a serious intestinal obstruction
Children with suspected ascariasis should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, particularly if they have poor growth, persistent abdominal symptoms, or evidence of worms in their stool.
People become infected by swallowing infectious Ascaris eggs. The eggs may be present in contaminated soil, food, water, or on unwashed hands and produce.
Yes. During the early stage of infection, Ascaris larvae can migrate through the lungs. This may cause coughing, wheezing, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath.
Yes. Adult Ascaris worms can sometimes be visible when they are passed in the stool. If you notice a worm in your stool, consult a healthcare professional for identification and treatment.
Ascariasis does not usually spread through ordinary person-to-person contact. Infection generally occurs when someone swallows infectious eggs that have matured in contaminated soil or on contaminated food, water, or hands.
Yes. Children can be particularly susceptible because they may frequently play in soil and put their hands or objects into their mouths. Poor sanitation and hygiene can further increase the risk.
Heavy or repeated intestinal worm infections can contribute to nutritional problems and may affect growth and development. Children with suspected infection should receive appropriate medical evaluation and treatment.
Yes. Ascariasis can generally be treated effectively with antiparasitic medicines. Treatment may vary depending on the patient’s age, health, pregnancy status, and severity of infection.
Yes. Treatment eliminates the existing infection but does not necessarily prevent a person from becoming infected again. Good sanitation, hand hygiene, safe food and water, and appropriate public-health measures help reduce reinfection.
Most infections do not cause severe complications, but a heavy worm burden can occasionally cause intestinal obstruction or migration of worms into the bile or pancreatic ducts. These complications require medical attention.
Ascariasis can often be diagnosed and treated by a general physician or primary-care doctor. An infectious disease specialist may be consulted in complicated or unusual cases.
If you are concerned about ascariasis, consult a General Physician/Primary Care Doctor. An Infectious Disease Specialist may be appropriate for complicated, recurrent, or unusual infections. Infectious Disease Specialist
This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and similar symptoms may occur with other medical conditions. If you suspect that you or your child has ascariasis, consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without medical advice. Seek urgent medical attention for severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty, or other serious symptoms.
