Roundworms

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

These intestinal parasites, known scientifically as Ascaris, resemble earthworms. You're more likely to encounter them in warm regions with poor sanitation, where children catch them by swallowing contaminated material.

In the course of their development, the parasites take a strange route through the body. Hatching from eggs in the digestive tract, their tiny larvae move out into the bloodstream and up to the lungs. There they break through into the airways, climb the windpipe, and are swallowed, traveling once again to the intestine. Upon their second arrival, the worms take up permanent residence and mature. Adults range from six to 20 inches in length and 1/10 to 2/10 inches in diameter.

Causes

Roundworm eggs can enter the body via contaminated food or water, through an open wound touching contaminated soil, or on unwashed hands that pass them from contaminated soil to the mouth.

Signs/Symptoms

Symptoms include irritability, restlessness at night, erratic or poor appetite, constant fatigue, weight loss (or lack of weight gain in children), abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, fever, coughing, and wheezing. Occasionally, these parasites can be seen in the stool or in bed. They can also be vomited, but this is rare.

Care

Your doctor can prescribe drugs that kill the worms. Complete recovery usually occurs within a week. The medications can't be used during pregnancy, however, because they can harm the baby.

You need care from a healthcare professional to completely eradicate the problem. However, there are a number of steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk of coming into contact with these parasites again. (See “What You Should Do.”)

Risks

If left untreated, roundworms can migrate to other body parts and could possibly cause intestinal obstruction.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

After Treatment

• Boil all linens, nightclothes, underwear, and towels used by an infected individual, and wash all his or her clothes. Fabrics that cannot be boiled can be soaked in a solution of ammonia and water.
• Clean your house meticulously. Scrub all toilet seats, bathroom floors and fixtures, counters, and table tops with disinfectant. Vacuum all rugs, curtains, sofas, and chairs thoroughly. Boil toys and other objects that your children handle, or sterilize these objects in a hot oven.
• Wash hands carefully with an antibacterial soap each time after using the toilet and before eating. Keep fingers away from the mouth.
• Shower daily with warm soap and water and rinse well.
• Carefully wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.

Call Your Doctor If...

• The roundworms reappear after treatment.
• You develop new symptoms.
• You experience any side effects from the medications.

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