ABSTRACT
Introduction Ascariasis, a soil-transmitted infection, is the most common human helminthic
infection. Current estimates indicate that more than 1.4 billion people are infected worldwide. In the United States, there are an estimated 4 million people infected, primarily in the southeastern states and among immigrants. The etiologic agent, Ascaris lumbricoides, an intestinal roundworm, is the largest nematode to infect humans. The adult worm lives in the small intestine and can grow to a length of more than 30 cm. The female worms are larger than the males. lmportant factors associated with an increased prevalence of disease include socio-economic status, defecation practices and cultural differences relating to personal and food hygiene as well as housing and sewage systems. Most infections are subclinical; more severe complications occur in children who tend to suffer from the highest worm burdens.
