The life span of roundworms in the human body

Some people have roundworms in their bodies, which can affect people's digestion and absorption, and may also damage people's intestines, so they are very harmful to the human body. Some people think that the roundworms in the stomach will disappear on their own after a period of time, so there is no need to deworm. In fact, this is not the case. Ascaris has a very long lifespan and will continue to reproduce if it is not eliminated. How long do roundworms live in the human body?

The eggs are very resistant to the external environment and can even survive in the soil for 3-5 years. After being discharged from the body, ascarid eggs can develop into infectious eggs in an aerobic environment if the temperature and humidity conditions are suitable. The development time of ascaris eggs varies in different seasons. The temperature is low in winter, and it takes about 127 to 182 days for the eggs excreted from the body to develop into infectious eggs. It takes 39 to 96 days in spring, 39 to 226 days in autumn, and only 21 to 30 days in summer. Ascaris eggs can survive for a long time in unhealthy and harsh environments.

Ascariasis is a disease caused by Ascaris lumbricoides parasitizing the human body. Patients often suffer from recurrent upper abdominal or periumbilical pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation caused by adult worms. In severe cases, it can cause malnutrition, intellectual and developmental disorders, and sometimes emotional restlessness, irritability, teeth grinding, itching and convulsions. Some patients may have allergic reactions, such as angioedema, intractable urticaria, etc.; sometimes it can also cause biliary ascariasis, ascariasis intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, peritonitis and other serious complications.

Pathogenicity

1. Ascaris larvae migrans

It mainly occurs in patients who have swallowed a large number of ascarid eggs in a short period of time. The incubation period is generally 7-9 days, and systemic and pulmonary symptoms appear clinically. Systemic symptoms include low-grade fever and fatigue, and a few patients may also have hives or rash. Respiratory symptoms include a foreign body sensation in the throat, paroxysmal coughing, often with wheezing-like attacks; little sputum, occasionally with blood in the sputum. Dry rales may be heard on both sides of the chest. Chest alignment examination showed deepening of the hilar shadows on both sides, increased lung striae, and dot-like, flocculent, or flaky infiltrative shadows. The latter usually disappears within 1-2 weeks. The course of the disease lasts for 7-10 days, and the above symptoms gradually ease and disappear.

2. Intestinal ascariasis

The vast majority of cases have no symptoms. The most common symptom in children is abdominal pain, which is located around the umbilicus and recurs at irregular intervals without being accompanied by abdominal muscle tension and tenderness.