Ascariasis is an infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides or commonly known as roundworms. These worms can live and reproduce in in the human intestine and cause health problems that can cause complications.
Ascariasis occurs when roundworms enter the human body. The worms that cause this disease can infect the lungs or intestines. If left untreated, these worms will continue to multiply and infect other organs, such as the liver and pancreas.
Ascariasis can be found anywhere, but is more common in warm climates and in areas where feces are used as fertilizer. Indonesia is one of the countries that has many cases of ascariasis.
Causes of Ascariasis
Roundworm eggs can be found in soil contaminated with human feces. Therefore, a person can develop ascariasis due to contact with contaminated soil, for example because:
- Eating foodstuffs grown on contaminated soil
- Touching the mouth with unwashed hands after touching the ground
Eggs that enter the body will hatch in the intestine and become larvae. Furthermore, the larvae will enter the lungs through the bloodstream or lymph flow.
After being in the lungs for 10–14 days, the larvae will head to the throat. At this stage, the patient will cough so that the larvae come out or they can be swallowed again and return to the intestine.
The larvae that return to the intestine will grow into male or female worms, then reproduce. Female worms can grow up to 40 cm long with a diameter of 6 mm and can produce 200,000 worm eggs per day.
Some of the worm eggs will come out through the feces and contaminate the soil. Meanwhile, some will hatch and then move to the lungs and become adult worms in the intestine. The entire cycle can take about 2-3 months.
If left untreated, adult worms can survive and reproduce in the human body for 1-2 years. This means that during that time there will be new eggs and new adult worms so that ascariasis can last for a very long time.
Ascariasis Risk Factors
There are a number of factors that can increase a person's risk of contracting this parasite, namely:
- Live in a warm climate
- Live or work in an environment that uses human feces as fertilizer
- 10 years and under, especially if you are not disciplined to wash your hands
- Suffering from pica eating disorder who likes to eat dirt or sand
Symptoms of Ascariasis
In the majority of cases, ascariasis does not cause any complaints. Usually, symptoms will appear if the worms in the body are increasing.
Symptoms that arise due to ascariasis depend on the organ that is being infected. When roundworm larvae are infecting the lungs, the symptoms experienced by sufferers are similar to those of asthma or pneumonia, including:
- Fever
- Cough constantly
- Wheezing
- Hard to breathe
Meanwhile, when the worm larvae infect the intestines, the symptoms that can arise are:
- Weak
- Severe stomach ache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloody stools
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- There are worms in vomit or feces
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if you experience persistent stomach pain, diarrhea, and nausea. If left unchecked, roundworms will continue to multiply and cause dangerous complications.
Ascariasis Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced by the patient, along with where he lives and possible risk factors that the patient has. If the patient is suspected of having ascariasis, the doctor will perform a stool examination to determine the presence of worm eggs or larvae in the patient's stool.
Doctors may also run blood tests to see if there are elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. However, blood tests cannot confirm ascariasis because of elevated levels of eosinophil It can also be caused by other medical conditions.
In addition to the two tests above, the doctor may also perform scans, such as:
- X-ray, to check the presence of worms in the intestine and see the possibility of larvae in the lungs
- Ultrasound, to detect the presence of worms in the pancreas or liver
- CT scan or MRI, to see if the worms have blocked the ducts of the liver or pancreas
Ascariasis Treatment
In some cases, ascariasis can go away on its own. However, you are advised to immediately see a doctor if you experience symptoms of ascariasis.
The first treatment for ascariasis is deworming, such as pyrantel pamoate, mebendazole, piperazine, or albendazole, which are taken 1-3 times a day.
In severe ascariasis or causing complications, the doctor will perform a surgical procedure to remove the worms from the intestine and repair the damage in the patient's intestine.
Complications of Ascariasis
Ascariasis generally causes only mild symptoms and is not dangerous. However, worms in the body can continue to multiply and spread to other body organs. As a result, serious complications can occur, such as:
- Malnutrition and weight loss due to loss of appetite and impaired absorption of food in the intestines
- Impaired growth and development in children due to lack of nutrition
- Blockage of the intestine by a collection of worms that can cause intestinal tears and bleeding
- Blockage of the appendix that causes inflammation of the appendix
- Blockage of bile ducts and pancreatic enzymes that can cause severe abdominal pain
Prevention of Ascariasis
Ascariasis can be prevented by always maintaining cleanliness. Some simple ways to prevent ascariasis are:
- Wash hands with clean water and soap before cooking and preparing food, before eating, after defecating, and after touching the ground
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption
- Make sure the food is completely cooked before consumption
- Consuming bottled water that is still sealed when traveling