Ascariasis
Ascariasis is an infection caused by a large roundworm parasite that lives in your intestines after you accidentally swallow its microscopic eggs.
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Ascariasis is a type of intestinal worm infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, a very large type of roundworm. These worms can grow up to a foot long and live inside your small intestine, which is the part of your body where your food is digested and absorbed.
The infection happens when someone accidentally swallows the microscopic eggs of the worm. These eggs are usually found in soil that has been contaminated with human waste. Once inside your body, the eggs hatch, travel through your bloodstream to your lungs, and eventually move back to your intestines to grow into adult worms.
Common Symptoms
- Mild stomach pain or cramping.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea or irregular bowel movements.
- Passing a live worm in your stool or vomiting one up.
- A cough or wheezing, especially when the worm larvae are moving through your lungs.