Diseases Caused by a Parasitic Roundworm

Parasites are organisms that depend on another organism to survive. Roundworms are a parasite whose eggs or larva are found in the soil. They enter into your body through the skin or through your mouth. Most roundworms end up in your intestines, sometimes causing disease. Several parasitic diseases affect different organs of your body.

Ascaris

• Ascaris lumbricoides is an intestinal roundworm commonly found in temperate and tropical climates. This parasite causes ascariasis in which a heavy infection can partially or completely block your intestines causing severe abdominal pain, vomiting and restlessness. Symptoms worsen as the worm grows. Your health care provider can diagnose the infection by investigating eggs in a stool sample. Treatment of ascariasis comes through the use of drugs such as mebendazole, albendazole or pyrantel pamoate.

Hookworms

• The parasite Ancylostoma duodenale causes hookworm infection through contact with the skin from contaminated soil or feces. Their eggs penetrate into the small intestines through the lungs where they lay more eggs. This parasite feeds off blood and can cause anemia. Symptoms of hookwook infection include slight abdominal pain and intestinal cramps, colic and nausea. A stool sample provides a diagnosis from a health care provider who can recommend medicine such as mebendazole or albendazole.

Trichinella

• The Trichinella spiralis parasite causes the trichinosis infection. The female worm attaches to the intestine and produces eggs which release larva that bury themselves into the muscle tissue and organs. This causes great discomfort for the host. The worm enters into a human through consumption of raw or undercooked pork. A blood test and microscopic examination of muscle tissue can produce a diagnosis. Patients are treated with thiabendazole and mebendazole but there is no effective drugs for eliminating encysted larva.

Strongyloidiasis

• Strongyloides stercoralis or threadworm is the parasite causing strongyloidiasis, a moderate infection causing burning abdominal pain. Severe cases of strongyloidiasis infections result in anemia, weight loss and chronic diarrhea. In immuno-compromised people, the parasite may cause acute respiratory distress syndrome that acts like pneumonia. Diagnosis includes stool samples and blood tests while the treatment is albendazole and thiabendazole.