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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffMost people infected with ascariasis have no symptoms. Moderate to heavy infestations cause symptoms that may vary, depending on which part of your body is being affected.
In the lungs
After you ingest the microscopic ascariasis eggs, they hatch in your intestine and the larvae migrate through your bloodstream or lymphatic system into your lungs. At this stage, you may experience signs and symptoms similar to asthma or pneumonia, including:
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
After spending six to 10 days in the lungs, the larvae travel to your throat, where you cough them up and then swallow them.
In the intestines
The larvae mature in your small intestines and typically live there as adults until they die. In mild or moderate ascariasis, the intestinal infestation can cause:
- Vague abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or bloody stools
If you have a heavy intestinal infestation — a large number of worms — you may experience:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- A worm in vomit or stool
When to see a doctor
Consult your doctor if you have persistent abdominal pain, diarrhea or nausea.
- 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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