Ascariasis

Ascariasis is basically a kind of roundworm infection which acts as parasites and uses human body to host and mature from eggs or larvae to reproduce or to become adult worm. These worms can be around 30 centimetres when it grows adult and it is considered to be the common human worm infections. Since most of the people usually have mild cases of Ascariasis, no symptoms are produced. However, in severe cases when the worm affects largely some serious symptoms and health complications arise. Ascariasis is common in young child and mostly found in kids residing in subtropical and tropical regions where the hygiene and sanitation is poor.

Symptoms of Ascariasis

People that are affected by Ascariasis usually have no symptoms. Heavy infestations usually cause symptoms that vary depending upon the part of body which is affected.

Symptoms for Lungs Infestations:

• Persistent coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath

Sometimes, a tangled fungus fibre may grow in air spaces in lungs as a part of the chronic pulmonary Aspergillosis and it is referred as simple Aspergilloma. It is the benign condition which may not produce any symptoms or may produce mild coughing, wheezing, fatigue, shortness of breath, and unintentional weight loss.

What are the Causes of Aspergillosis?

Aspergillus mold is inevitable. It is found everywhere in decaying leaves outside the house, in compost and on plants, grain crops and trees. You will also find it in spores and it also thrive in air conditioning and heating ducts, insulation and some spices and foods. 

Exposing yourself to Aspergillus everyday is not harmful, especially if you are having stronger and healthy immune system. The immune system cells find the mold spores that you inhaled and destroy them. But people with weak immune system are likely to develop Aspergillosis because their body has less amount of infection fighting cells. So, the mold spores take hold of it and invade the lungs and in serious conditions the other parts of the body. Aspergillosis is no contagious from person to person and hence there is nothing to worry.

Symptoms for Intestine Infestations!

The larvae usually mature in the small intestine and after becoming adult worm they thrive in intestines until they die. In modern infestation you may experience symptoms like:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Vague abdominal pain
• Bloody stools or diarrhea

Causes of Ascariasis

Ascariasis doesn’t spread from person to person. But when the person comes into contact with the mixed soil having human feces comprising ascaris eggs they have get infected. In many nations human feces are used for fertilizing the plants. Since small child plays in dirt, they are likely to caught by the infection because after playing in dirt they put their finger in mouth and the infection is transferred to their body. Vegetables and fruits that are grown in contaminated soil are also likely to have the infection which can transmit to your body if consumed in unwashed manner.

Risk of Ascariasis

Some of the risk factors of Ascariasis include:

• Usually children below the age of 10 years are likely to have the infection. Kids of any age group are at higher risk of developing the infection because they play in dirt
• Ascariasis worms usually grow in warm climates and hence the tropical and subtropical regions in the world are likely to have such worms. People residing in those areas are likely have the infection more easily than other regions
• Ascariasis is also common in the developing nations where human feces are mixed in soil for fertilization

Complications of Ascariasis

• Children that are having Ascariasis are usually at the risk of nutritional deficiencies. They experience loss of appetite and poor digestion of foods
• In the cases of heavy Ascariasis infestation the worms blocks the portion of intestine and this causes serious abdominal cramping and lead to vomiting
• In some cases worms may also block the narrow ducts in pancreas and liver and this cause serious pain

Diagnosis of Ascariasis

In the cases of heavy Ascariasis infestation, patient may experience vomiting and coughing and the worms come out from body openings like nostrils and mouth. If you experience this then ensure to take the worms to the doctor and they will identify and prescribe you the best medication for it. Some of the tests that are done to find out the presence of Ascariasis infestation include:

• Stool Test – The eggs take two months to mature and it travels from digestive system to the stool and to diagnose Ascariasis, doctor would ask you to examine the stool for microscopic eggs and larvae. However, the eggs would appear in stool until 40 days of infection.
• Blood Test – Bloos test is also done to find the presence of increased number of certain white blood cells called eosinophils as Ascariasis increase the number of these white blood cells.
• X-rays, ultrasound, CT Scan and MRIs are also done in order to find the infestation in body

Treatment for Ascariasis

The infection with no symptoms is usually not treated. But if the condition is serious, you may be prescribed with some de-worming medications. The de-worming medicines are prescribed to kill the adult worms and each medicine is taken in single dose.

In heavy infestation, surgery may be necessary to repair the damages caused by the worms and remove the worms permanently. Bile duct obstruction, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis are some of the complications where surgery is necessary.