In children the worms may cause poor growth, loss of weight and abdominal symptoms. Rarely the adult worms rupture the intestinal tract and enter the peritoneal cavity causing peritonitis and may obstruct the bile ducts. Management Sanitation - avoid eating food contaminated with the infective eggs. Satisfactory anthelmintics are available for treatment of infected individuals and other Ascarids of domesticated animals. Treatment - Mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate, Vermox .
Diagnosis is based on identifying eggs in the stool by fecal smears.
It is estimated that about 1 billion persons, almost one quarter of the world population, are infected. Characteristics Three large prominent lips, each with a dentigerous ridge, and no interlabia or alae. Lateral lines are visible grossly. Males are 15 to 31 cm long and 2 to 4 mm at greatest width. The posterior end is curved ventrad, and the tail is bluntly pointed.