Ascaris Lumbricoides (Human roundworm)

Ascaris lumbricoides (Roundworm) is one of the most common parasites in the world. According to the CDC, between 800 million and 1.2 billion people are estimated to have a roundworm infection globally today. It is in general not contagious from human to human. The incubation time from getting an infection through ingestion of an egg to having an adult worm in your body is approximately 8 weeks.

Life cycle

A full grown Ascaris worm can live up to 2 years in your intestines. In general it will produce thousands of eggs daily, that will leave through your feces. The eggs ripens in nature and can reinfect new hosts after about 2 weeks. The eggs have the ability to infect people a long time after having been excreted.

Symptoms

A light infection – with Ascaris will most likely not give any clear symptoms. Sporadic stomach ache, tiredness and less appetite are usual symptoms.

A large infection can lead to sporadic severe pains, cough and breathing issues.

Ascaris lumbricoides can find lodgement in the nose when regurgitated or coughed up. It is the most common intestinal helminth of man and frequently reaches epidemic proportions. Although it flourishes best in warm, tropical climates, it is cosmopolitan in distribution. In temperate regions it is generally associated with low standards of personal hygiene.

Treatment

Ascaris lumbricoides is treated with common pharmaceuticals that will kill the worm in different ways and flush it out the natural way. It usually takes a few days only.

Sources: CDC, https://pmj.bmj.com/content/76/898/484