Acute Abdomen by Ascaris lumbricoides: A Serious Complication

Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most common intestinal parasites causing Ascariasis in pre-school children living in under-developed countries with poor sanitation (Schulze et al., 2005; Steinberg et al., 2003). About 30 % of adult and 60-70% children in endemic areas have worm infestation (Khuroo et al., 1989). Most of the cases however, remain asymptomatic, but in cases with high worm burden they can produce serious complications like intestinal obstruction or perforation which requires urgent surgical interventions (Agrawal et al., 2016). Though Ascaris lumbricoides infection can be diagnosed microbiologically (Arora et al., 2005), X-ray and ultrasonography is a quick, safe, and non-invasive tool for early diagnosis (Mehta et al., 2010; Mani et al., 1997). The authors present this case with the objective is to create awareness regarding the clinical presentations of Ascaris lumbricoides infection so as to avoid serious complications. Therefore, Ascariasis should be kept as a differential diagnosis of acute abdomen. In spite of Ascariasis being very common, to the best of our knowledge a case of Ascaris lumbricoides presenting as acute abdomen with intestinal obstruction has not been reported from Meerut City.