Ascariasis, what is it?

Maybe you haven’t heard the word, but we are talking about one of the most common parasitic infections in the world and that, unfortunately, mainly affects our children. The culprit is a large, round worm, Ascaris lumbricoides, which sometimes goes unnoticed, but is worth knowing about. As a doctor, I know that uncertainty creates anxiety, so I am going to tell you everything about this parasite: how it arrives, what symptoms it causes and, most importantly, how we can protect ourselves.

How is it spread and what causes it?

Ascariasis is spread by something as simple as ingesting the microscopic eggs of the parasite and its cycle begins in the ground.

The journey of Ascaris

The entrance door is the mouth: It all starts when you come into contact with contaminated soil or sand. Imagine your child playing in a park. If the soil is contaminated with eggs and then you suck your hands (or a toy), the contagion is underway! It can also occur if we eat fruits or vegetables that grew in that soil and were not washed properly.

• An unexpected trip to the lungs: Once inside, the eggs hatch and release tiny larvae. And these larvae, wanting to tour, cross the wall of the intestine and ride into the bloodstream, stopping in the lungs.
• The moment of cough: In the lungs, they grow a little. To return to the intestine (their final home), they make us cough! The man coughs them up and swallows them again.
• Home Sweet Home: Already in the intestine, they mature, transform into adult worms and reproduce. A female can lay thousands of eggs a day, which come out with feces, ready to infest again. This is the cycle we must break.

Symptoms, warning signs and risk factors

In fact, in most cases, if the parasite load is low, we will not even notice it. But in more severe infections, the body gives signals.

What signs to observe?

The symptoms depend on the stage of the parasite:

• Pulmonary phase (initial): It can be confused with a cold or asthma. Dry, continuous cough, and there may be difficulty breathing or “wheezing” in the chest (wheezing).
• Intestinal phase (adults): We can feel abdominal pain (sometimes in the form of cramps), nausea and, in the most severe cases, observe the worm in the feces or even in the vomit. This is scary, but it is a sign to do something.
• Nutrition and development: In children, if the infection becomes chronic, we will observe fatigue, lack of appetite and, over time, weight or height will stagnate. Worms steal nutrients from us.

Who is at risk?

Ascariasis has a predilection for boy scouts: They are, without a doubt, the most vulnerable population. They get their hands dirty, they put dirt in their mouths, they taste everything with their senses.

Sanitation problems: If we live or travel to places with poor wastewater practices, the risk skyrockets.

The origin of our food: Eating poorly washed or disinfected vegetables or salads, especially if we know that they come from soils that can be fertilized in this way.

The complications

The good news is that the treatment is highly effective. The bad news is that if we ignore the problem, things can get worse.

• Obstruction: It’s what worries us the most. Hundreds of adult worms can become tangled and form a mass that clogs the intestine. This causes severe abdominal pain, vomiting that won’t stop, and sometimes emergency surgery.
• Irregular migration: If lost, the worms can get into the liver or pancreas. This can cause pancreatitis or jaundice (the skin turns yellow). It’s strange, but it’s a possibility that puts us on alert.
• Chronic malnutrition: It is the silent complication. If the parasite lives for months, it steals the vitamins and proteins necessary for good school performance and adequate growth of our children.

How do we check if the parasite is present?

The stool examination: It’s the acid test. We simply take a stool sample to the laboratory, where a professional will observe it under a microscope in search of the characteristic Ascaris eggs.

Sometimes it is obvious: as we already said, sometimes the patient eliminates the adult worm. If this happens, it is necessary to go to the doctor for treatment.

We use anthelmintic drugs such as Albendazole or Mebendazole. They are very effective in the fight against the parasite.

In most situations, a single dose or a treatment of a few days is sufficient. The Drugs paralyze or kill the worm and allow it to be expelled.

With MAPFRE Health Insurance, your family has access to treatment and prevention of parasitic infections such as ascariasis, protecting their health.

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Practical prevention measures

• Wash your hands, always: This is our motto. After going to the bathroom, before handling food and, above all, after playing in the dirt or with pets. Show them how to do it right, by scrubbing with soap.
• Fruits and vegetables must be washed well. If you eat out or in a risk area, give preference to foods that you can peel or that are well cooked.
• Safe water: Make sure the water you drink is drinkable. When in doubt, boiling or using safe filters is always best.

If you live in a risk area: Consult your pediatrician or family doctor about regular preventative deworming. In highly endemic populations for Ascaris, it is an important measure for children’s health.

What you should know…

• Ascariasis is an intestinal worm infection that primarily affects children and is transmitted by ingesting eggs in contaminated soil, food, or hands.
• It produces pulmonary and intestinal symptoms, and in severe cases it can cause obstruction, malnutrition or expulsion of worms.
• It is diagnosed with stool examination and is easily treated with anthelmintics; Prevention is based on hygiene, safe water and food washing.

Literature

• MedlinePlus. Ascariasis.

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