What is ascariasis?

What is ascariasis?

Ascariasis is a roundworm infection of your intestines. It’s common throughout the world in places where sanitation is poor. In these areas, people may be carrying the parasite that causes the infection.

Ascariasis, hookworm and whipworm are parasitic worms. They’re known as soil-transmitted helminths (STH) because the infection spreads through contaminated soil.

Ascaris, sometimes abbreviated as A., is the group of worms that cause ascariasis. The worm looks like the common earthworm. It’s about 6 to 13 inches long and about as thick as a pencil. Up to 100 worms could potentially infect a person.