Albendazole 400 mg po once, mebendazole 100 mg po bid for 3 days or 500 mg po once, or ivermectin 150 to 200 mcg/kg po once is effective. Albendazole, mebendazole, and ivermectin may harm the fetus, and risk of treatment in pregnant women infected with Ascaris must be balanced with risk of untreated disease. Nitazoxanide is effective for mild Ascarisinfections but less effective for heavy infections. Piperazine, once widely used, has been replaced by less toxic alternatives. Obstructive complications may be effectively treated with anthelmintic drugs or require surgical or endoscopic extraction of adult worms. When the lungs are affected, treatment is symptomatic; it includes bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Anthelmintic drugs are typically not used.