Roundworms are one of the parasites. They invade the human body to feed on it. In doing so, their goal is not to kill the affected host. Nevertheless, they can cause major damage and should therefore be treated without fail.
What the roundworm?
Considered worldwide, flushing worms are considered the most common pathogen in the field of worm infections. In this regard, children are particularly affected by the symptoms. Roundworms are part of the nematode family. They are widespread in all regions of the world and are accordingly also found in German areas. A male roundworm can reach a length of up to 25 centimeters, females sometimes reach 40 centimeters. Roundworms can not only feed on humans. Other organisms also come into question. Only reproduction takes place in the final host. Each type of roundworm has a different end host. Thus, some prefer humans, while others reproduce in dogs, pigs, or other creatures. In humans, worms of the genus Ascaris lumbricoides are usually diagnosed. For Ascaris lumbricoides, humans are the main host on the one hand, and the final host on the other. In addition, other roundworms can survive in human organisms and cause physical symptoms.
Occurrence, distribution, and characteristics
Infection with Ascaris lumbricoides is the most common worm disease worldwide. According to experts, approximately 760 million to 1.4 billion people are thought to carry the pathogen. Infections are particularly common in Asia, South America and Africa. In slums and rural areas in particular, roundworms are able to reproduce in greater numbers. Children living in such regions have a 90 percent probability of contracting the disease. In industrialized countries, on the other hand, the roundworm is rather rare. It is believed to be carried by about one percent of the population. Since the 1950s, the number of cases of the disease in Central Europe has been steadily decreasing. A roundworm that has reached sexual maturity lives preferentially in the small intestine. It has a pinkish-yellow color and is about as thick as a pencil. Female flushing worms manage to produce up to 200,000 eggs a day. Most of them are excreted from the organism through the stool. For good development, the roundworm eggs need a warm temperature of about 30 degrees. In this case, the eggs can infect another person or animal only after they have developed further. The eggs do not mature in the human body. Therefore, direct infection between humans is not possible. The eggs only become infectious after two to six weeks. They can contaminate food or water, for example, as larvae. If the contaminated food is ingested, the larvae hatch in the organism. They pierce the wall of the small intestine and finally reach the liver via the veins. The path of the roundworm then leads to the lungs. In the process, it passes through the right side of the heart. Once the larvae reach an age of about 7 days, they can break through the vascular system and settle in the alveoli of the lungs. After shedding their skin, the roundworms ascend the trachea and trigger the host’s swallowing reflex in the pharynx, causing the host to transport the roundworms to the stomach. From the stomach, the parasites enter the intestine. Once in the small intestine, the worms continue to develop until they reach sexual maturity. A female roundworm starts producing eggs after 2 to 3 months. In total, such a worm can live up to 18 months. Roundworms are more common in regions with poor sanitary conditions. Moist soils and high population density increase the risk of contracting roundworms. Infection occurs after the eggs of a roundworm have entered the mouth. Thus, they enter the body mainly through contaminated food. This includes, for example, fruits and vegetables that have been fertilized with feces, uncooked meals, raw lettuce, and drinking water. Children can also become infected through contact with soil, toys or dust.
Diseases and ailments
Roundworms change their location in the human body during their development. Based on symptoms, it is usually possible to determine the location of the roundworm. Shortly after infection, no signs are usually noticeable, although the defense cells have already been activated.If the worm reaches the lungs, increasing symptoms are common. These include, for example, increased mucus production by the lungs. When infected, patients often suffer from a dry cough and decreased airflow. The bronchi exhibit an irritated state. Sometimes attacks reminiscent of asthma develop, accompanied by fever. In children, roundworms in the lungs can cause inflammation with life-threatening consequences. In the intestine, the symptoms depend mainly on the number of worms. Individual roundworms are rarely noticeable. There are isolated cases of abdominal pain and nausea. If hundreds of worms colonize the intestine, those affected often suffer from constipation, colicky abdominal pain and vomiting. If intestinal perforation occurs, rapid medical action is necessary. Children usually develop symptoms earlier because their intestines are much narrower than those of an adult person. Since roundworms impair digestion, some nutrients are not absorbed by the organism at all or only to a small extent. Therefore, deficiency symptoms or weight loss may occur.
