Roundworm is a parasitic infection of the small intestine. Because the Ascaris lumbricoides worm causes it, the infection is called ascariasis. Roundworms can infect people of all ages, but they are most common in children. Infections develop after eating unwashed produce infected with roundworm eggs, or after playing in soil contaminated with the eggs, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most children with a roundworm infection will show no symptoms. In severe cases, though, symptoms can become noticeable.
Passing Worms
In some cases, it is possible to see worms exiting a child's nose or mouth, according to MedlinePlus. Worms may also be visible in the child's stools.
Vomiting
Children with roundworm may vomit or experience stomach cramps or stomach pain. In severe cases, the vomiting can be the result of an intestinal obstruction caused by roundworms, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Roundworms are also able to migrate through the body via bile ducts, which can cause obstructions in the liver and gallbladder.
Coughing and Wheezing
Roundworms can also migrate from the small intestine though the gastrointestinal tract and into the lungs, which can cause a lung condition called pneumonitis, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This condition causes inflammation in the respiratory tract and can make your child have a dry cough or become wheezy. Some children may even cough up a worm.
Fever
A fever may develop in a child with a roundworm infection. This is most common in children who have a lung infection as a result of roundworms, according to Langone Medical Center at New York University. The fever is usually low grade, less than 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rashes
Another possible sign of a roundworm infection is a skin rash, according to MedlinePlus. A rash alone, though, should not be considered a sign on an infection because rashes have many causes. If your child has a rash and several other symptoms, she should be evaluated for roundworm.
