Ascariasis history and symptoms
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Fatimo Biobaku M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
Overview
Ascariasis is often asymptomatic. It can sometimes present with pulmonary and abdominal symptoms which are usually mild, however, severe cases of ascariasis occasionally occur especially following mechanical obstruction of a viscus.[1]
History and Symptoms
History and Symptoms
The clinical symptoms vary and it is usually dependent on the worm burden and the involved organ.[2] The patient can present with the following signs and symptoms:[1][2]
- It is often asymptomatic
- Pulmonary symptoms from immune-mediated hypersensitivity response can occur in the 2nd week after egg ingestion, and these symptoms can include:
- A low-grade fever
- A non-productive cough
- Chest discomfort
- Dyspnea in severe cases
- Eosinophilic pneumonia (löffler’s syndrome) in severe cases- This can present with dyspnea and wheezing
- Mild abdominal discomfort
- Dyspepsia
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Passage of worms in vomitus or stool
- Poor growth and malnutrition may occur in children
- Mechanical obstruction by the worm can result in signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction, bile and pancreatic duct obstruction, and appendicitis
- Signs and symptoms of a complicated mechanical obstruction can occur such as perforation, intussusception, volvulus.
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Durand, Marlene (2015). “Chapter 288:Intestinal Nematodes (Roundworms)”. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases Updated Edition, Eighth Edition. Elsevier. pp. 3199–3207. ISBN 978-1-4557-4801-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kliegman, Robert; Stanton, Bonita; St. Geme, Joseph; Schor, Nina (2016). “Chapter 291:Ascariasis (Ascaris lumbricoides)”. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Twentieth Edition. Elsevier. pp. 1733–1734. ISBN 978-1-4557-7566-8.
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