Ascariasis

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  • Ascariasis

Etiology

  • Tropics/sub-tropics/SE US
  • Eggs swallowed if contaminated soil ingested (e.g. human feces used as fertilizer)→ eggs hatch in intestines → larvae enter blood stream → migrate lungs → mature & coughed up → swallowed → mature in intestines
  • Can migrate to biliary tree

Symptoms

  • Often asx
  • If heavy worm burden→ cough, fever, sob, n, v, d, abd pain, jaundice, impaired growth of children, sbo