Related to the Helminth Ascaris species, mainly Ascaris lumbricoides.
Transmitted by ingestion of eggs in human fecal contaminated soil.
Diagnosis is based on finding the adults were more eggs in the feces.
Skin involvement manifests as urticaria
Liver abscess is rare.
Treatment: Albendazole (Albenza) 400 mg one time, ormenbendazole (Vermox) 100 mg PO BRD times three days, or ivermectin (Stromectol) 150 to 200 mcg/kg PO times one.
Endemic in regions were poor sanitation predisposes to contamination of soil and were you made to a pig feces are used as fertilizers.
Adult ascaris worms live 1–2 years.
Most infected hosts are asymptomatic.
A high worm burden causes G.I. obstructive symptoms including abdominal distention, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss.
When the hepatobiliary system is inhabited by a mass of worms, obstructive cholangitis and pancreatitis can occur.
In intestinal ascariasis abdominal barium study shows that cylindrical or coiled radiolucent filling defects within the barium filled intestinal lumen.
Abdominal ultrasound may be more sensitive for diagnosing intestinal and hepatobiliary ascariasis with typically echogenic long structures without acoustic shadowing being seen.