Larvae hatch in the small intestine where they grow and molt, finally taking up residence in the large intestine. The time from ingestion of eggs to the development of mature worms is approximately 3 months. Adult females lay eggs for up to 5 years. Rectal prolapse may occur in heavily infected hosts. There is no racial predilection.
Most patients are asymptomatic.
Clinical symptoms are limited to those with heavy infection, and these tend to be small children or others who eat a lot of dirt. Note that there is no pulmonary migration, and thus no pulmonary symptoms. Effective anthelmintic therapy is available. Treatment and disposition of parasites are based on the disease entity. Anthelmintic agent - Parasite biochemical pathways are sufficiently different from the human host to allow selective interference by chemotherapeutic agents in relatively small doses.