Overview
Roundworms are the most common type of worm infection. It is estimated that there are 4,000,000 cases in the United States at any time. Infection is more common in warm climates. Eggs are passed in the stool of infected animals and contaminate the soil. Ingestion of contaminated soil then leads to roundworm infection. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
Review Date 12/24/2020
Updated by: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.