Surgical complications of paediatric ascariasis

Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm) infestation is very common in the tropical and subtropical countries. Patients with ascariasis can be asymptomatic or may present with different clinical features in the form of simple nausea, decreased appetite, abdominal pain or more severe bowel obstruction, perforation, intussusception, biliary colic etc. Plain abdominal radiographs and ultrasonography (USG) are the quick, safe, noninvasive and relatively inexpensive tools in diagnosing the presence of worms. In this study, we explore the various complications of Ascaris lumbricoides infestation in children, with the aim of highlighting the acute surgical manifestations in endemic areas.