Intestinal Obstruction in a 3-Year-Old Girl by Ascaris lumbricoides Infestation

Abstract

Ascaris lumbricoides infection affects approximately 1.5 billion people globally. Children with environmental and socio-economic risk factors are more susceptible to infestation, with serious complications such as intestinal obstruction (IO), volvulus, intussusception, and intestinal necrosis.We present the case of a 3-year-old girl who arrived at emergency department with abdominal pain and diarrhea for the last 3 days. The previous day she took an unspecified anthelmintic. Symptoms worsened with vomiting and diarrhea, with expulsion of roundworms through mouth and anus. Physical examination revealed bloating, absence of bowel sounds, abdominal tenderness, and a palpable mass in right hemi-abdomen. Abdominal radiographs showed air-fluid levels with mild bowel distention and shadows of roundworms. The diagnosis of IO by A lumbricoides. infestation was established and surgical approach scheduled. During exploratory laparotomy an intraluminal bolus of roundworms from jejunum to ascendant colon was evident. An ileum enterotomy was performed and worms were removed. Fluid therapy and antibiotics for 72 hours were administered, with posterior albendazol treatment for 3 days. Patient was uneventfully discharged on the tenth day.Reduction in parasitic load by means of improvements in sanitation, health education, and anthelmintic treatment must be implemented in endemic zones to prevent serious life-threatening complications by A lumbricoides. infestation, because some of them require urgent surgical treatment.

Liver Abscess Secondary to Ascaris Lumbricoides: Case Report

“…The alveolar membrane is damaged, and worms are expectorated and reenter the intestinal tract by day eighth or tenth, where they mature into adults with subsequent oral, nasal, or anal passage. People with poor socioeconomic environment, education, sanitization, poor hygienic habits or lack of water supply are more proper to acquire and re-acquire this parasite although proper treatment [1,4].…”

“…There are 1.5 billion people infected with Ascaris lumbricoides around the world, especially in tropical and sub-tropical areas like México, representing a source of high morbidity and mortality [1].…”

Comparação de duas técnicas parasitológicas na detecção de enteroparasitos em catadores no sul do Brasil

“…Complicações podem ocorrer em todas as idades, mas crianças entre 3 e 5 anos são mais suscetíveis a obstrução intestinal por A. lumbricoides. (6) Com relação ao helminto S. stercoralis, visualizase na Tabela 4 que a média de prevalência foi de 3,03%, enquanto que no presente estudo obteve-se uma prevalência de 10,42%. Infecções por Strongyloides spp.…”

“…(4)(5) Estas infecções podem causar obstrução intestinal, diarréia e anemia, o que pode piorar a qualidade de vida e de trabalho destas pessoas. (6) Os trabalhadores que manuseiam os materiais recicláveis enfrentam problemas como a exclusão social e a hostilidade, sendo muitas vezes vistos com desprezo, além da insalubridade a qual estão expostos, (7) pois a atividade de triagem dos resíduos está predisposta a riscos como biológico, físico, químico, ergonômico e psicossocial, entre outros. O ambiente das cooperativas ainda não é o adequado, principalmente pelo contato direto do trabalhador com os resíduos que não sofreram correta segregação na fonte e foram destinados inadequadamente, tais como: resíduos de serviço de saúde, fraldas descartáveis, papel higiênico, alimentos, absorvente íntimo, pilhas e lâmpadas.…”

An Uncommon An Uncommon Cause of Acute Abdomen in Underprivileged Communities

“…Approximately 1.5 billion or 25% of people around the world are infected with Ascaris lumbricoides mainly in tropical and subtropical regions [1,2]. Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides is related to poverty, poor fecal sanitation and poor hygiene.…”