The roundworm (nematode). Strongy-loides stercoralis causes strongyloidiasis, a human parasitic disease. Most cases of strongyloidiasis in North America are spread by travelers who have visited or lived in South America or Africa.
Roundworms are parasitic organisms that live inside people, animals, and plants. They can cause a number of different types of infections and diseases in humans.
Roundworms are a group of tiny animals that have a long round body and no backbones (invertebrates). They live inside people, animals, and plants. Roundworms are considered parasites * . About 60 species of roundworms infect humans and billions of people are infected with one or more types of roundworms.
The eggs of roundworms live in the soil. They are picked up by animals or people through the mouth or the skin. Roundworms can cause disease in humans. Some of the diseases include:
Roundworms are naturally occurring organisms in the environment. They can be picked up by animals and humans through the soil and by animal to human transfer or by human to human transfer. Nematodes, also known as roundworms, include almost half a million different kinds of species. The World Health Organization estimates that about 1.2 billion people worldwide are infected with ascariasis and that between 500 and 800 million people have hookworm infections globally. In the United States, about 4 million people are infected with ascariasis. The most common type of roundworm infection in the United States is pinworm infection with about 42 million cases reported.
The healthcare provider obtains a complete health history asking specific questions about signs of the disease, the presence of pets in the home, exposure to possibly contaminated soil through gardening or farming, and handwashing and hygiene practices. Physical examination is done to confirm symptoms and to determine additional findings of parasitic infection. A blood sample is drawn to examine the blood for signs of infection, such as increased white blood cell count, or signs of anemia. As most of the roundworm infections are in some portion of the intestine, stool is often examined for presence of the eggs or parasites. Diagnostic studies that may be specific to the disease include:
Roundworm diseases can be prevented by careful hygiene practices.
Specific prevention strategies for pinworm:
Specific prevention strategies for Trichinosis:
See also Global Health Issues: Overview • Hookworm • Infection • Intestinal Infections • Intestinal Parasites • Parasitic Diseases: Overview • Travel-Related Infections: Overview • Trichinosis • Zoonoses: Overview
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Despommier, Dickson D. People, Parasites, and Plowshares: Learning from Our Body's Most Terrifying Invaders. New York: Columbia University Press, 2013.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “Parasitic Roundworm Diseases.” National Institutes of Health. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/parasiticroundworm/pages/default.aspx (accessed April 9, 2016).
University of Maryland Medical Center. “Roundworms.” https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/roundworms (accessed April 9, 2016).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329. Toll-free: 800-232-4636. Website: http://www.cdc.gov (accessed April 9, 2016).
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 5601 Fishers Ln., MSC 9806, Bethesda, MD 20892. Toll-free: 866-284-4107. Website: http://www.niaid.nih.gov (accessed April 9, 2016).
* parasites are organisms such as protozoa (one-celled animals), worms, or insects that must live on or inside a human or other organism to survive. An animal or plant harboring a parasite is called its host. Parasites live at the expense of the host and may cause illness.
* infection (in-FEK-shun) is the invasion and proliferation of microorganisms in the body, including bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
* larvae (LAR-vee) is the immature form of an insect or worm that hatches from an egg. The singular form is larva (LAR-vuh).
* anemia (uh-NEE-me-uh) is a blood condition in which there is a decreased hemoglobin in the blood and, usually, fewer than normal numbers of red blood cells.
* Inflammation (in-fla-MAY-shun) is the body's reaction to irritation, infection, or injury that often involves swelling, pain, redness, and warmth.
* carnivorous (KARN-i-vor-us) refers to an animal or a plant which eats animals.
* omnivorous (om-NIH-vor-us) refers to an animal which eats animals and plants.