Types of Parasitic Roundworm Diseases
Ascariasis
Hookworm Disease
Pinworm Infection
Strongyloidiasis
Trichinosis
Whipworm Disease
Understanding Parasitic Roundworm Diseases
Roundworms, or nematodes, are a group of invertebrates
(animals having no backbone) with long, round bodies. They range in size from
those that can be seen by the naked eye to those several hundredths of an inch
long that can only be seen under a microscope.
Parasitic roundworms can live on or in humans where
they can cause a variety of health problems. Most parasitic roundworm eggs or
larvae (immature form) are found in the soil and enter the human body when a
person picks them up on the hands and then transfers them to the mouth. The eggs
or larvae also can enter the human body directly through the skin.
With the exception of the parasitic roundworm that
causes trichinosis, mature adult roundworms eventually end up or live in human
intestines and cause infection and disease. In trichinosis, it is the movement
of the larvae through the body from the intestines and their encystment
(becoming enclosed in a capsule) in muscle tissue that create serious problems.
Parasitic roundworms that infect humans are much more
widespread than many of us realize. Diseases caused by these parasites affect
not only poverty-stricken individuals in developing or remote areas of the
world, but they also can be important health problems for people throughout the
world, including in the United States.
As with other parasitic diseases, roundworm infections
in the intestines are more common in warm climates than in cooler, temperate areas.
Many parasitic diseases caused by roundworms result from poor personal hygiene. Contributing factors may include
- Lack of a clean water supply
- Inadequate sanitation measures
- Crowded living conditions combined with a lack of access to health care
and low levels of education
The best solution is to try to prevent these diseases rather than treat or cure them.
School-age children are particularly at risk for
parasitic roundworm infections. The parasitic roundworms consume nutrients
(nourishing materials) from the children, which can contribute to malnutrition
and developmental problems.
Source: National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 1/12/2011...#5907
