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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffIn heavy infestations, it's possible to find worms after you cough or vomit, and the worms can come out of other body openings, including your nose. If you notice anything resembling a worm when you cough or vomit, or if one emerges from your nose or mouth, keep it to let your doctor examine it. Other tests, such as stool tests, blood tests and imaging tests, also can help your doctor identify ascariasis.
Stool tests
About two months after you ingest ascaris eggs, the ascaris worms mature and begin laying thousands of eggs a day. These eggs travel through your digestive system and eventually can be found in your stool. To diagnose ascariasis, your doctor will examine your stool for the microscopic ascaris eggs and larvae.
Blood tests
Eggs will not appear in stool until at least 40 days after you are infected. And in some cases — if you are only infected with male worms — you won't have any eggs at all. A blood test that shows you have an increased number of a certain type of white blood cell (eosinophils) may indicate the presence of ascariasis.
Imaging tests
If you are infested with a large number of worms, the mass of worms may be visible in an X-ray. An ultrasound may show if any ascaris worms are in your pancreas or liver. A CT or MRI scan may show if any worms are in your liver or bile ducts.
