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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour family doctor might refer you to a doctor specializing in disorders of the digestive system (gastroenterologist) if it appears that you have a severe case of ascariasis. You may even need to consult a surgeon if the worms have blocked your intestines.
What you can do
Before your appointment, you may want to write a list to answer the following questions:
- When did your symptoms begin?
- Does anything make your symptoms better or worse?
- Have you noticed any worms in your stool or vomit?
- Have you traveled to any developing countries lately?
- What types of medications and supplements are you taking?
What to expect from your doctor
During the physical exam, your doctor may press on certain areas of your abdomen to check for pain or tenderness. He or she may also want a sample of your stool for testing.
- Maguire JH. Intestinal nematodes (roundworms). In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00287-3&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00287-3--s0010&uniq=173908408&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&sid=924114946#lpState=closed&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00287-3%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-443-06839-3%3BdisplayedEid%3D4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00287-3--s0010. Accessed Nov. 25, 2009.
- Leder K, et al. Ascariasis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2009.
- Weller PF, et al. Pulmonary manifestations of ascariasis. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2009.
- Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. Bad Bug Book: Foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins handbook. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodborneIllness/FoodborneIllnessFoodbornePathogensNaturalToxins/BadBugBook/ucm070828.htm. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009.
- Parasites and health: Ascariasis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Ascariasis.htm. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009.
- Ascariasis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/173908408-11/924114946/2088/66.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00010-1--sc0290_1245. Accessed Dec. 1, 2009.
- Bedell DA, et al. Ascariasis. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/174032189-3/924486535/1481/300.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50029-4--cesec6_1353. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 3, 2009.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
- Ascaris infection (Ascariasis). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/ascaris/factsht_ascaris.htm. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
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