After ingesting fertilized Ascaris eggs, they hatch in the small intestine and the larvae get absorbed into the blood and travel to the lungs, causing irritation and a type of allergic response. After spending about a week in the lungs, the larvae eventually get coughed up the trachea and into the throat, where they are swallowed down the esophagus into the stomach and pass into the small intestine.
The worms can block the intestine or bile duct and this causes abdominal pain. The abdominal discomfort is difficult to pinpoint and can easily be mistaken for indigestion and bloating, but it’s not relieved by passing gas or taking antacids. In mild cases, the nausea comes and goes, but does not usually lead to vomiting. Children who live in poor sanitary conditions and have weakened immune systems are much more likely to get infected and develop symptoms.
If the blood is dark and looks like coffee grounds, then it signifies bleeding from the small intestine. If the blood is bright cherry red, it signifies bleeding from the rectum from too much wiping or a burst blood vessel from straining too hard. In addition to blood in the stool, sometimes a visible Ascaris worm(s) can be seen in the toilet.
Even if food is available, it’s often not eaten due to loss of appetite and painful digestion. Weight loss is most noticeable around the face, upper body and buttocks/thighs. The abdomen can still protrude due to the mass of worms and blockage of food and liquids. Worms can often be seen in the vomit of people with severe Ascaris infections.
A lack of protein causes muscle wasting and weakness, as well as a distended belly. Lack of vitamin A leads to visual problems and potential blindness, as well as skin issues. [9] X Research source Lack of vitamin C leads to skin issues, internal bleeding, hair and teeth loss, as well as fatigue and listlessness.
There’s also some symptomatic overlap with gluten sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. It’s only when actual worms are found in vomit or diarrhea that Ascariasis is more obvious to doctors and patients, and easily distinguished from other infections or diseases.
Eating uncooked food (fruits and veggies) grown in contaminated soil or irrigated with wastewater is another frequent cause of infection. Always thoroughly wash produce at home before you eat, regardless of where you bought it from. Consider cooking all raw veggies before you eat them. Soaking fresh produce in water with some iodine, hydrogen peroxide and/or white vinegar might help kill parasites, as well as some viruses and bacteria.
Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap, especially if you’re traveling and buying food in undeveloped countries in Asia and Africa. When traveling, carry a small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and use it often to clean your hands. If you’re without soap and sanitizer, try using fresh citrus juice (from lemons, limes or grapefruits) on your hands to clean them.
If you do need to travel to these areas for work or family reasons, take the sanitary precautions mentioned above. Wash your hands frequently, keep your hands away from your mouth, use only bottled water and avoid eating raw veggies. In the U. S. , ascariasis is most common in the Southeastern states, but not nearly as prevalent as it is in developing countries with warm temperatures year-round. [13] X Research source
In many parts of the world where ascariasis is endemic, the lack of nutritious food and clean water is more of a concern than parasitic infections. Adults usually deal with ascariasis much better than kids. If a child is failing to thrive and losing weight, then it’s time for a doctor’s visit to see why. [14] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U. S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source A doctor will look at a stool sample for Ascaris eggs in order to make a diagnosis.
An effective single dose of albendazole is 400 mg; for mebendazole it’s 500 mg. [16] X Research source Albendazole and mebendazole are not recommended during pregnancy; pyrantel pamoate is the drug of choice for pregnant women. These drugs effectively kill the adult worms and usually don’t cause any side effects. People often carry larvae that aren’t killed by drugs, so they need a follow-up treatment within six months.
Your doctor will likely take x-rays (abdomen and chest), ultrasound, CT scan and/or an MRI to determine the extent of your problem before recommending surgery. Surgery is usually performed with an endoscope — a small tube with a cutting device and a camera on the end that’s inserted either down the throat or up through the anus to reach the worms in the small intestine.
