The man was asked to give a stool sample, and doctors found fertilized eggs from the intestinal parasite Ascaris lumbricoides in his poop. He was eventually given IV fluids, a single dose of the anti-parasitic drug albendazole, and discharged him from the hospital after a day.
What is Ascaris lumbricoides?
Ascaris lumbricoides, which is also referred to as just Ascaris, is a parasitic worm—one that can grow up to 14 inches long— that lives in the intestine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains. Ascaris eggs come out in the poop of an infected person and, if a person with an Ascaris infection (aka, ascariasis) poops outside or if their feces is used as fertilizer, the worm eggs can be deposited in the soil. From there, they can be accidentally ingested by someone who puts their hands or fingers that have contaminated dirt on them in their mouth, or by eating vegetables or fruits that have not been carefully peeled, washed, or cooked, the CDC says.
How common are Ascaris infections?
If you look at Ascaris infection cases on a global scale, it's a pretty common—anywhere from 800 million to 1.2 billion people have these worms in their intestinal tract, the CDC says. But its most commonly found in places where access to personal hygiene and proper sanitation practices aren't available, as well as in places where human feces is used as fertilizer.
That's why this infection is "very rare in the U.S.," Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician in Akron, Ohio, and a professor of medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Health. That said, it's a good idea to at least be aware that this is a thing when you travel. "Travelers to endemic areas should take precautions," Dr. Watkins says. That includes washing your hands well with soap and water before eating or touching your mouth, and only eating foods that have been properly prepared.
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What are the symptoms of an Ascaris infection?
People who have ascariasis don't usually have symptoms, the CDC says. But, if they do show signs of the infection, they're often minor. Those can include:
- Intestinal discomfort
- Intestinal pain
In some situations, a person may develop a cough due to the worms migrating in the body, the CDC says. And, in more severe cases, ascariasis can block the intestines and slow the growth of children.
How is an Ascaris infection usually treated?
Treatment usually involves the use of anti-parasitic medications like albendazole or mebendazole, per the CDC. Typically, someone will be treated for one to three days, and will recover just fine.
As for the man with the parasites in his stomach, he was seen for a follow-up visit two weeks after his appointment. At that time, he said he was feeling well and had passed the worms in his poop.
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