Ascariasis

Ascariasis is an infection of the intestine caused by a parasitic roundworm called Ascaris.

• How it enters the body: The worm’s tiny eggs can be present in contaminated soil, water, or food. If these eggs are swallowed (for example, from unwashed hands or unwashed vegetables), they can hatch inside the body.
• What the worms do inside: The worms live in the intestine and feed on the nutrients from the food you eat. That is why a person may feel weak or show poor growth over time.
• Common signs: You may notice worms in stool, along with problems like loss of appetite, stomach upset/diarrhoea, weight loss, and sometimes anaemia (low blood level), which can make a person tired and pale.
• Why it spreads easily in some places: It is more common where there is poor sanitation, because human waste can mix with soil and water, allowing eggs to spread.
• Prevention that really works: Wash hands with soap (especially after using the toilet and before eating), drink safe/boiled water, and eat well-washed and properly cooked food.
• Treatment: Doctors treat ascariasis with deworming medicines that kill the worms; taking the full dose as advised helps prevent the infection from continuing.

Ascariasis is a good example of a communicable disease where hygiene and clean food/water can break the chain of spread.