Question

I want a clear explanation about why coughing and respiratory symptoms can be caused by an intestinal
roundworm infection?

Answer 1

Roundworms are parasitic worms and infection caused by them are very common. Ascariasis is the most common roundworm infection of the small intestine caused by Ascaris lumbricoides and is common in poor sanitation areas where there is fecal contamination of food or soil. These worms use human intestine as a host to mature from larva or eggs to adults .After eggs are ingested they migrate via blood circulation liver and to lungs within two weeks of ingestion .Larva enters the alveoli of lungs which initiate allergic response(overabundance of eosinophils in blood) leading to respiratory symptoms coughing, chest pain , asthma.