Keep kids from putting things in their mouths, especially if they're around soil that may be contaminated with poop.Teach kids to wash their hands well and often, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.Kids who live in areas where ascariasis is common might be treated for it even if they haven't been diagnosed with an infection. Good sanitation is the best way to prevent ascariasis.Ĭhildren adopted from developing nations may be tested for worms even if they have no symptoms. This usually happens only if they block the intestines or cause problems with the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder. Very rarely, doctors do surgery to remove the worms. Symptoms usually stop within 1 week of starting treatment. How Is Ascariasis Treated?ĭoctors treat ascariasis with prescription anti-parasite drugs. Sometimes, imaging tests (like an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan) can show the worms in the belly or chest. They can also test stool samples for eggs. How Is Ascariasis Diagnosed?ĭoctors can diagnose ascariasis by looking at a worm that comes out when someone coughs or poops. To become infected, a person has to swallow the worm's eggs. Is Ascariasis Contagious?Īscariasis doesn't spread from one person to another. It can also block the appendix and other organs, leading to appendicitis or problems with the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder. A large mass of worms in the intestines can lead to malnutrition and poor growth. That's because their intestines are smaller and more likely to get blocked by the worms. Kids are more likely than adults to complain of gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms also depend on which part of the body is affected. Those who do can have symptoms that range from mild to severe depending on how many worms are in the intestines. Most people with ascariasis don't have any symptoms. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Ascariasis? When they come out in the poop, they start the life cycle all over again. And each female worm can produce over 200,000 eggs per day.
A person can have many worms at the same time if many eggs hatch. They can be as thick as a pencil and can measure from 5 to 14 inches long. This happens about 2 months after the egg was swallowed.Īdult worms live in the small intestine for 1 to 2 years. The swallowed larvae return to the small intestine and grow and mature into adults. Larvae in the lungs can climb up the airways to the throat, where they are swallowed. Then, they travel to different organs, such as the liver, lungs, brain, or kidneys. The larvae go through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. Swallowed eggs pass into the intestines, where they hatch into larvae. They tend to put things in their mouths, including dirt, and often have poorer hygiene habits than adults. due to strict sanitation practices.Ĭhildren are more likely to get ascariasis. Infections are more common in warmer or tropical climates, especially in areas with poor sanitation or crowded living conditions. Globally, ascariasis is the most common human worm infection. eating fruits or vegetables that weren't peeled, washed, or cooked.They get into the body when someone eats or drinks something contaminated with the eggs. What Causes Ascariasis?Īscaris eggs are found in soil and human feces (poop). Treatment with prescription anti-parasite drugs usually clears up the infection within a week. Ascariasis (as-keh-RYE-eh-sis) is an intestinal infection caused by a worm called Ascaris lumbricoides.