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Ascaris Symptoms

Ascaris is a parasitic worm that lives in a host's small intestine. These worms are a species of nematode, or roundworm. Ascaris cause infections called ascariasis. The physical presence of the Ascaris worm can cause a variety of symptoms.

  1. No Symptoms

    • Many ascariasis infections don't trigger any symptoms. Physicians discover the Ascaris worms only during a stool examination.

    Common Symptoms

    • Abdominal pain is the most common complaint from ascariasis infection patients. Other common symptoms include slowed weight gain and slowed growth.

    Uncommon Symptoms

    • A person heavily infected with Ascaris worms might experience listlessness, loose stools and weight loss. Some infected patients become anorexic.

    Rare Symptoms

    • Ascaris worms can block intestines in very severe infections. This causes a distended abdomen and occasional vomiting.

    Pulmonary Symptoms

    • Some Ascaris worm larvae migrate to the lungs and then to the throat. This triggers coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties.

    Considerations

    • Ascarias worms infect over a billion people worldwide every year. Ascariasis infections are primarily seen in tropical and subtropical regions with warm, humid environments.

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