What are the symptoms of intestinal ascariasis?

Intestinal ascariasis is a common parasitic disease caused by the parasitism of roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides) in the human small intestine. The main symptoms include:

1. General symptoms: Some patients may experience general symptoms such as irritability, lethargy, and bruxism (teeth grinding). In children, severe infections can lead to malnutrition and impair growth and development.

2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Patients often experience intermittent epigastric or periumbilical abdominal pain, which may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, loss of appetite or abnormal increase in appetite (pica), as well as diarrhea or constipation may occur.

3. Abdominal pain: This is the most common symptom. Patients often present with recurrent episodes of epigastric or periumbilical pain, which may intensify due to the movement of the worms.

4. Complication-related symptoms: In some cases, intestinal ascariasis can lead to serious complications such as biliary ascariasis or intestinal obstruction caused by roundworms. These complications may present with specific symptoms, such as paroxysmal colicky pain caused by biliary ascariasis.

Treatment typically involves administration of anthelmintic drugs such as albendazole or mebendazole. Attention to personal hygiene and environmental sanitation is also important to prevent reinfection.