Ascariasis is caused by ingesting those worm eggs. This can happen when hands or fingers that have contaminated dirt on them are put in the mouth, or by eating vegetables or fruits that have not been carefully peeled, washed, or cooked. People with ascariasis often show no symptoms. If symptoms occur they can be light. Symptoms include abdominal discomfort or pain. Heavy infections can block the intestines and slow growth in children.
Other symptoms such as cough are due to migration of the worms through the body. Ascariasis is treatable with medication prescribed by your healthcare provider. Learn more in diagnosis of roundworm infection. Roundworm infections can usually be successfully treated with medication. Learn more in treatment of roundworm infection. If you are travelling to a part of the world where roundworm is common, you should take additional precautions, such as drinking only bottled water and avoiding raw fruits and vegetables.
These are the same precautions that help prevent many other infections associated with poor sanitation. Learn more in preventing roundworm infections.
The bowels are the part of the digestive system between the stomach and the anus that digest and absorb food and liquid. The early-phase symptoms of a roundworm infection affect only a small proportion of those affected and are rare in the UK. They usually begin four to 16 days after swallowing the eggs and last up to 3 weeks. They include:. If there are a lot of mature worms in the intestine they can cause blockages.
This will not occur before six weeks after the eggs have been swallowed. Signs and symptoms associated with an intestinal blockage due to a large number of worms include:. Eating food grown in contaminated soil can expose you to infection. You may also become infected if you touch contaminated soil with your hands and then eat without first washing your hands.
Contaminated soil or stools can also contaminate the water, making it possible to develop a roundworm infection by drinking contaminated water. When roundworm eggs are swallowed, they move into the first section of the small intestine, known as the duodenum. After one to two weeks, the eggs will hatch into larvae and move through the wall of your intestine into your bloodstream, where they reach your lungs. The larvae will pass from your lungs into your throat, where they are swallowed.
As the larvae are very small, you will be unaware of this process. After they are swallowed, the larvae will end up in the main part of your small intestine, where they will mature into adult worms.
These can live for up to two years. Female worms can lay up to , eggs a day. The eggs are released in your stools faeces. It takes between 60 and 70 days from the initial ingestion of eggs to the production of new eggs. Mebendazole is recommended for treating roundworm infections in adults and children over one year of age. Mebendazole works by stopping the roundworms from using glucose sugar.
Without glucose, the cells of the roundworms lose their energy supply and quickly die. A three-day course of mebendazole is usually recommended. This involves taking one tablet twice a day. In cases of heavy infestation, surgery may be necessary to remove worms and repair damage they've caused. Intestinal blockage or holes, bile duct blockage, and appendicitis are complications that may require surgery.
Your family doctor might refer you to a doctor trained in digestive disorders gastroenterologist. You may need to see a surgeon if the worms have blocked the intestines.
During the physical exam, your doctor may press on certain areas of the abdomen to check for pain or tenderness. He or she may also want a sample of stool for testing.
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This content does not have an Arabic version. People with ascariasis often have no symptoms. Symptoms become more noticeable when the roundworm infestation grows. Some people with a large infestation may have other symptoms, such as fatigue and fever.
A major infestation can cause extreme discomfort. After ingestion, the A. The worm goes through several stages:. You can limit your exposure to roundworms by avoiding unsafe food and water. Keeping your immediate environment clean also helps.
This includes laundering clothing exposed to unsanitary conditions and cleaning cooking surfaces well. Children who are 3 to 8 years old are most likely to be infected because of their contact with soil while playing. However, heavy infestations can spread to other parts of the body and lead to dangerous complications, including:.
Children are more likely to have gastrointestinal complications because the smaller size of their intestines increases their chances of having an intestinal blockage.
Doctors generally make the diagnosis by examining a stool sample for parasites and ova eggs. If your doctor suspects you have ascariasis, he or she will ask for a stool sample from you. Imaging tests can show how many worms have grown to maturity and where major groups of worms are inside the body.
Doctors usually treat roundworm with antiparasitic drugs. Medications most commonly used include:.
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