Everyone Healthy Library
Ascariasis
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Condition overview
Attributes
Commonality for Central Africais uncommon
Commonality for Central Americais uncommon
Commonality for North Africais common
Commonality for North Americais common
Linked signs and symptoms
12Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
2Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
5Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Behavioural changes
2Alternative and complementary therapies
1Other supportive options
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
12These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
Biological markers/agents
2This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
1Often decreased
1Introduction / full article
Ascariasis
Ascariasis
Ascariasis is an infection of the intestines caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. Highly prevalent in tropical or subtropical regions with poor levels of sanitation, ascariasis is the most common roundworm affecting humans. It is estimated that approximately one quarter of the world’s population has ascariasis.
Worms enter the host’s system in the form of eggs, which can be found in contaminated food. The eggs are able to survive for years in soil, and will contaminate fruit or vegetables grown in the soil. Once swallowed, the eggs hatch, and the larvae become established in the small intestine. The worms live for up to two years; during which time they will lay eggs to be excreted in the stool.