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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Lung signs and symptoms
Mild ascariasis — with only a few parasites in your body — may cause no symptoms. Symptoms occur with moderate or heavy infestations, sometimes progressing as the parasite migrates through your body. After you ingest ascaris eggs, they hatch in your intestine and the larvae migrate into your lungs. At this stage, you may experience symptoms similar to asthma or pneumonia, including:
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
Intestinal signs and symptoms
The ascaris larvae eventually reach your throat, where you cough them up and then swallow them. They then enter the intestine, where they mature and mate. In mild or moderate ascariasis, the intestinal infestation can cause:
- Vague abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or bloody stools
Heavy infestation signs and symptoms
If you have a heavy intestinal infestation — a large number of worms — you may experience:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- A worm in vomit or stool
- A worm emerging from nose or mouth
