Ascariasis is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Ascaris lumbricoides , popularly known as roundworm, which in the intestine causes abdominal discomfort, difficulty defecating or diarrhea and vomiting. Despite being found more frequently in the intestine, Ascaris lumbricoides can also develop in other parts of the body, such as heart, lung, gallbladder and liver, especially if there is no diagnosis or if the treatment is not done correctly.
The transmission of ascariasis occurs through the ingestion of eggs containing the infective form of the parasite in contaminated water and food. Ascariasis is curable and its treatment is easily done with the use of antiparasitic remedies prescribed by a general practitioner, therefore it is recommended to consult the doctor if symptoms appear that may indicate an infection by the parasite.
How the treatment is done
When the parasite is found only in the intestine, treatment can be done easily with the use of antiparasitic remedies for 1 to 3 days, or according to the doctor's guidance. It is usually recommended to use Albendazole in a single dose or Mebendazole twice a day for 3 days.
However, when there are large numbers of roundworms to the point of intestinal obstruction or when the parasite is present in other parts of the body, it may be necessary to perform surgery to remove the parasite and correct the lesions that may have caused it.
How to confirm the diagnosis
In most cases, ascariasis can be diagnosed only through the evaluation of symptoms by the general practitioner or infectious disease, however it is important that a stool test is carried out in order to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment. Through the examination of feces it is possible to identify the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs and, in some cases, the quantity. In addition, a macroscopic examination is performed in the stool, and adult worms can be observed in case of infection. Understand how the stool test is done.
When there are symptoms other than intestinal symptoms, the doctor may request an X-ray to check if the parasite is developing elsewhere in the body, in addition to knowing the severity of the infection.
Ascaris lumbricoides cycle
The cycle of Ascaris lumbricoides begins when the adult females present in the intestine lay their eggs, which are eliminated into the environment together with the feces. These eggs undergo a maturation process in the soil to become infectious. Due to the permanence in the soil, the eggs can stick to food or be transported by water, and there may be contamination of people.
After being ingested, the infective larva present inside the egg is released in the intestine, perforates it and moves to the lungs, where it undergoes a maturation process. After developing in the lungs, the larvae go up to the trachea and can be eliminated or swallowed. When they are swallowed, they undergo a differentiation process between male and female, reproduce and the release of eggs by the female Ascaris lumbricoides occurs again.
Main symptoms
Ascariasis symptoms are related to the amount of parasites in the body and there are mainly intestinal symptoms, the main ones being:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort; Nausea and vomiting; Diarrhea or blood in the stool; Excessive tiredness; Presence of worms in the stool.
In addition, as the parasite can spread to other parts of the body, other symptoms specific to each affected site may also appear, such as coughing and feeling short of breath, when it develops in the lungs, or vomiting with worms, when it appears in the liver or in the gallbladder, for example. Know how to recognize the symptoms of ascariasis.
In some cases, the parasite may be present even if there are no symptoms, as it is necessary that they develop and be present in large numbers for the first signs to begin. For this reason, many doctors recommend taking an antiparasitic once a year to eliminate possible parasites that may be growing, even if there are no symptoms.
