Ascariasis

Ascariasis – General Information

Ascariasis consists of an infection caused by a roundworm. These roundworms are parasites; they habitate our bodies, they use our bodies in order to assure their existence and reproduction. They usually develop from an egg and this entire process take place inside our bodies; the evolution starts from a single egg, which is microscopic. However, the adult worms are extremely large for a parasite; they can even grow up to 50 centimeters. Ascariasis represents the most frequent kind of infection caused by roundworms. It affects about 30 percent of the people on the planet, which means more than 100's of millions of people. Surprisingly, most of the infections are reported in the developing areas, and not in the poor and under-evolved countries. However, this disease affects mostly the people in the rural areas.

 The major risk factors which can lead to the appearance of Ascariasis are:

Ascariasis – Symptoms

In most of the cases of Ascariasis, the sufferers do not experience any signs or symptoms; they can present some digestive or stomach problems, but nothing unusual. But this happens only in the first stage; later, when the worms multiply and infest your body, the development of certain complication is unavoidable. The first stage, however, consist of the ingestion of the eggs of the worms and the migration of the larvae to the lungs. If the patient is quite sensitive, he may experience one of the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Wheezing

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Bloody stools
• Vomiting

• Fatigue
• Severe pain
• Vomiting
• The appearance of a worm in the mouth while vomiting
• The appearance of a worn in the nose

Ascariasis – Treatment

• Intestinal perforation and blockage: this problem can appear due to a large amount of worms which block a certain area of the intestine and cause vomiting, abdominal cramps and severe pain. If not treated immediately, this specific problem can lead to appendicitis or hemorrhages, as the worms will perforate the intestines.
• Nutritional deficiencies: these complications especially appear in the case of young sufferers.
• Allergic reactions: some sufferers can experience allergies to the specific secretions and excretions of the worms which are released in the sufferer’s body; these problems can also appear because of the worms which die inside the sufferer’s body.