Ascariasis with Paralytic Ileus and Acute Gastroenteritis in a 2-Year-Old Child: A Case Report
Abstract
Ascariasis, caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, is a common soil-transmitted helminth infection among children in developing countries. Severe infestation may cause gastrointestinal complications, including intestinal obstruction and ileus. This case report describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and management of a pediatric patient with ascariasis complicated by ileus, acute gastroenteritis, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance.A 2-year-old girl presented with watery diarrhea for three days, vomiting, fever, decreased appetite, and a history of passing worms in her stool. Physical examination revealed a moderately ill appearance, a tympanic abdomen, and decreased bowel peristalsis. Laboratory findings showed eosinophilia, basophilia, hypokalemia at 3.2 mmol/L, and hypochloremia at 93.1 mmol/L. Stool examination revealed watery stool with mucus, 6–11 leukocytes per high-power field, and Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. Abdominal radiography demonstrated dilated small and large bowel loops with a herringbone pattern suggestive of ileus.The patient was diagnosed with ascariasis complicated by ileus, acute gastroenteritis, mild-to-moderate dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance. Management included intravenous rehydration, nasogastric decompression, ondansetron, albendazole 400 mg as a single dose, zinc supplementation, oral rehydration therapy, and empirical ceftriaxone. During hospitalization, gastrointestinal symptoms gradually improved, accompanied by continued…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Patient-Centered Pharmaceutical Design to Improve Acceptability of Medicines: Similarities and Differences in Paediatric and Geriatric Populations
- Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020
- Phase 2b Study of Pimodivir (JNJ-63623872) as Monotherapy or in Combination With Oseltamivir for Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Seasonal Influenza A: TOPAZ Trial
- Gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19
- COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Disease: Implications for the Gastroenterologist
- Persistent gut barrier damage and commensal bacterial influx following eradication of Giardia infection in mice
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.