BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAscariasisIntestinal parasite - ascariasis; Roundworm - ascariasisAscariasis is an infection with the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. Causes People get ascariasis by consuming food or drink that is contaminated with roundworm eggs. Ascariasis is the most common intestinal worm infection. It is related to poor sanitation. People who live in places where human feces (stool) are used as fertilizer are also at risk for this disease.Once consumed, the eggs hatch and release immature roundworms called larvae inside the small intestine. Within a few days, the larvae move through the bloodstream to the lungs. They travel up through the large airways of the lungs and are swallowed back into the stomach and small intestine.As the larvae move through the lungs they may cause an uncommon form of pneumonia called eosinophilic pneumonia. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell. Once the larvae are back in the small intestine, they mature into adult roundworms. Adult worms live in the small intestine, where they lay eggs that are present in feces. They can live 10 to 24 months.An estimated 1 billion people are infected worldwide. Ascariasis occurs in people of all ages, though children are affected more severely than adults. Symptoms Most of the time, there are no symptoms. If there are symptoms, they may include:Bloody sputum (mucus coughed up by the lower airways) Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cough, wheezing WheezingWheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air moves through narrowed breathing tubes in the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low-grade fever Passing worms in stool Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Skin rash Stomach pain Stomach painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting or coughing up worms Worms leaving the body through the nose or mouth Exams and Tests The infected person may show signs of malnutrition. Tests to diagnose this condition include:Abdominal x-ray or other imaging tests Abdominal x-rayAn abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines. Wh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests, including complete blood count and eosinophil count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Eosinophil countAn absolute eosinophil count is a blood test that measures the number of one type of white blood cells called eosinophils. Eosinophils become active...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool exam to look for worms and worm eggs Stool examStool ova and parasites exam is a lab test to look for parasites or eggs (ova) in a stool sample. The parasites are associated with intestinal infec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment includes medicines such as albendazole that paralyze or kill intestinal parasitic worms.If there is a blockage of the intestine caused by a large number of worms, a procedure called endoscopy may be used to remove the worms. In rare cases, surgery is needed.EndoscopyEndoscopy is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube that has a small camera and light on the end of it. This instrument is called an...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article People who are treated for roundworms should be checked again in 3 months. This involves examining the stools to check for eggs of the worm. If eggs are present, treatment should be given again. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people recover from symptoms of the infection, even without treatment. But they may continue to carry the worms in their body.Complications can be caused by adult worms that move to certain organs, such as the:Appendix Bile duct Pancreas If the worms multiply, they can block the intestine. Possible Complications These complications may occur:Appendicitis Blockage in the bile ducts of the liver Blockage in the intestine Hole in the gut When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of ascariasis, particularly if you have traveled to an area where the disease is common. Also call if you have any of the following:Symptoms get worse Symptoms do not improve with treatment New symptoms occur Prevention Improved sanitation and hygiene in developing countries will reduce the risk in those areas. In places where ascariasis is common, people may be given deworming medicines as a preventive measure.Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Parasites-ascariasis. www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/index.html. Updated November 23, 2020. Accessed December 29, 2022.Mejia R, Weatherhead J, Hotez PJ. Intestinal nematodes (roundworms). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 286.AllVideoImagesTogRoundworm eggs - ascariasis - illustration Roundworms are the most common type of worm infection. It is estimated that there are 4,000,000 cases in the United States at any time. Infection is more common in warm climates. Eggs are passed in the stool of infected animals and contaminate the soil. Ingestion of contaminated soil then leads to roundworm infection. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)Roundworm eggs - ascariasisillustrationDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustrationRoundworm eggs - ascariasis - illustration Roundworms are the most common type of worm infection. It is estimated that there are 4,000,000 cases in the United States at any time. Infection is more common in warm climates. Eggs are passed in the stool of infected animals and contaminate the soil. Ingestion of contaminated soil then leads to roundworm infection. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)Roundworm eggs - ascariasisillustrationDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustrationRelated Information Simple pulmonary eosinophilia(Condition)Abscess(Condition) Review Date: 12/4/2022 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. 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AscariasisIntestinal parasite - ascariasis; Roundworm - ascariasisAscariasis is an infection with the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. Causes People get ascariasis by consuming food or drink that is contaminated with roundworm eggs. Ascariasis is the most common intestinal worm infection. It is related to poor sanitation. People who live in places where human feces (stool) are used as fertilizer are also at risk for this disease.Once consumed, the eggs hatch and release immature roundworms called larvae inside the small intestine. Within a few days, the larvae move through the bloodstream to the lungs. They travel up through the large airways of the lungs and are swallowed back into the stomach and small intestine.As the larvae move through the lungs they may cause an uncommon form of pneumonia called eosinophilic pneumonia. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell. Once the larvae are back in the small intestine, they mature into adult roundworms. Adult worms live in the small intestine, where they lay eggs that are present in feces. They can live 10 to 24 months.An estimated 1 billion people are infected worldwide. Ascariasis occurs in people of all ages, though children are affected more severely than adults. Symptoms Most of the time, there are no symptoms. If there are symptoms, they may include:Bloody sputum (mucus coughed up by the lower airways) Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cough, wheezing WheezingWheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air moves through narrowed breathing tubes in the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low-grade fever Passing worms in stool Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Skin rash Stomach pain Stomach painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting or coughing up worms Worms leaving the body through the nose or mouth Exams and Tests The infected person may show signs of malnutrition. Tests to diagnose this condition include:Abdominal x-ray or other imaging tests Abdominal x-rayAn abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines. Wh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests, including complete blood count and eosinophil count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Eosinophil countAn absolute eosinophil count is a blood test that measures the number of one type of white blood cells called eosinophils. Eosinophils become active...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool exam to look for worms and worm eggs Stool examStool ova and parasites exam is a lab test to look for parasites or eggs (ova) in a stool sample. The parasites are associated with intestinal infec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment includes medicines such as albendazole that paralyze or kill intestinal parasitic worms.If there is a blockage of the intestine caused by a large number of worms, a procedure called endoscopy may be used to remove the worms. In rare cases, surgery is needed.EndoscopyEndoscopy is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube that has a small camera and light on the end of it. This instrument is called an...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article People who are treated for roundworms should be checked again in 3 months. This involves examining the stools to check for eggs of the worm. If eggs are present, treatment should be given again. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people recover from symptoms of the infection, even without treatment. But they may continue to carry the worms in their body.Complications can be caused by adult worms that move to certain organs, such as the:Appendix Bile duct Pancreas If the worms multiply, they can block the intestine. Possible Complications These complications may occur:Appendicitis Blockage in the bile ducts of the liver Blockage in the intestine Hole in the gut When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of ascariasis, particularly if you have traveled to an area where the disease is common. Also call if you have any of the following:Symptoms get worse Symptoms do not improve with treatment New symptoms occur Prevention Improved sanitation and hygiene in developing countries will reduce the risk in those areas. In places where ascariasis is common, people may be given deworming medicines as a preventive measure.Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Parasites-ascariasis. www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/index.html. Updated November 23, 2020. Accessed December 29, 2022.Mejia R, Weatherhead J, Hotez PJ. Intestinal nematodes (roundworms). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 286.