Ascaris is a type of parasitic worm known as the Giant intestinal roundworm. This type of parasite infects human living in areas with poor sanitation. Roundworm is the most common type of human parasites worldwide, and its infection is named Ascariasis.
Roundworms live in the small intestines. The females can grow up to 40cm in length, weighing 9g and produce over 200,000 eggs everyday!
When Roundworm eggs are ingested, they will hatch in the intestines and burrow through the intestine walls. After that, they make their way to the heart, the lungs and finally break out into the alveoli as shown in the diagram below.
If large amounts of roundworms accumulate in the body, it will result in the blockage of intestinal tracts. At this stage, patients will feel intense abdominal pain. To examine if a person is infected with roundworm, stool sample can be send to examine and suspected cases can undergo an abdominal X-ray. In some cases where the blockage of intestine is too severe, surgery is required to get rid of the worms.
For more information of roundworms in your pets, check out: Roundworms in Pets
