Ascaris lumbricoides
Giant intestinal roundworm
Symptoms reported
- •Ascaris pneumonitis
- •Cough and dyspnea
- •Abdominal pain
- •Distension
- •Vomiting
- •Eosinophilia
Life cycle
Eggs are swallowed, larvae hatch and migrate through the lungs before returning to the small intestine to mature into large adults.
Transmission
Swallowing water or raw vegetables polluted with embryonated eggs, or via contaminated hands and house flies.
Conventional medical treatment
Levamizol hydrochloride (Ketrax), Mebendazole (Vermox), or Flubendazole (Fluvermal).
For information only. Discuss with a licensed healthcare provider before starting any pharmaceutical.
Treatment Options — Natural First, Pharmaceutical When Needed
Natural First
- •Paico (Chenopodium ambrosioides)
- •Garlic
- •Berberine
- •Clove
- •Activated charcoal (binder)
- •Hydration + electrolytes
- •Rest + bone broth nutrition
Pharmaceutical (if natural-first insufficient)
- •Levamizol hydrochloride (Ketrax), Mebendazole (Vermox), or Flubendazole (Fluvermal).
When to escalate to pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical first if: heavy worm burden with anemia or weight loss, persistent symptoms > 6 weeks of natural treatment, pediatric failure to thrive, immunocompromised host, or pregnancy.
Traditional herbal alternatives
In stock at our apothecary
In our database (educational reference)
Each herb above carries a tradition. See the 2,000-year lineage of Western herbal medicine →
“In extreme cases there may be lobular pneumonitis, cellular infiltration, serous exudates and haemorrhage causing cough and bronchial irritation.”
— Applied Medical Parasitology
This page is for educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before acting on anything you read here.