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Roundworm


About this topic


The medical name for roundworm is ascariasis. It is an infection of the intestinal tract caused by a worm called ascaris. When this worm lives in your bowels, it lays eggs there. The eggs are passed out of your body through your stool. You may become infected by eating or drinking things with the eggs in them. This may happen by: ‚  
  • Putting dirty fingers or hands in your mouth.
  • Eating dirty raw fruits and vegetables
  • Drinking dirty water


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What are the causes?


Roundworm is caused by a parasite called ascaris. These worms can live inside the intestine of a person for 1 to 2 years. ‚  

What can make this more likely to happen?


  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Poor community sanitation
  • Using human stool as soil fertilizer
  • Living in a tropical country

What are the main signs?


Within 1 to 2 weeks of swallowing the eggs, you may have a high fever. You may also have wheezing, a cough, and feel short of breath. In 6 to 8 weeks your signs may become worse or better. These will depend on the number of worms in your body. ‚  
If there are only a few worms, you may have: ‚  
  • Mild belly pain
  • Upset stomach and throwing up
  • Loose stools

If you have many worms in your body you may have: ‚  
  • Very bad belly pain
  • Upset stomach and throwing up
  • Weight loss

You may see a worm in your throw up, stool, or your nose. You may also feel like you have a lump in your throat. ‚  

How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?


Your doctor will do an exam and ask about your history. The doctor may also order some tests to check for worms. These may include: ‚  
  • Stool and blood tests
  • X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • CT scan

How does the doctor treat this health problem?


Treatment for this infection includes: ‚  
  • Drugs
  • Lifestyle changes, like washing your hands more often and changes in food preparation
  • Surgery may be needed when there are so many worms the bowels become blocked.

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may give you drugs to kill the worm. ‚  

What problems could happen?


Having many worms in your body may cause health problems like: ‚  
  • Not able to get good nutrition
  • Blocks in the bowels or bile ducts

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • Practice proper sanitation and disposal of stool.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
  • Always wash your hands after going to the toilet and before eating.
  • Teach children to keep their hands out of their mouth.
  • If you suspect that your drinking water may be contaminated, boil it for at least 30 minutes.
  • Wash, peel, or cook raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
  • Avoid sharing personal items with an infected person.

Where can I learn more?


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚  
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/index.html ‚  
KidsHealth ‚  
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/ascariasis.html ‚  
NHS Choices ‚  
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/roundworm/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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