Abhishek Yadav Additional Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
Varun Chandran Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
Karthi Vignesh Raj K Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
Pooja Gupta Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
Address for correspondence: Abhishek Yadav, Additional Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India E-mail: drayad_in@yahoo.com
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Yadav A, Chandran V, Raj KV, et al. Sudden death due to ascariasis infestation: an unrecognized danger. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2023;16(1):69-72.
Timeline
Received : October 17, 2022
Accepted : December 13, 2022
Published : March 30, 2023
Abstract
Ascaris Lumbricoides or common round worm is the most common of human helminths and is distributed worldwide. Infection is more prevalent in the low socioeconomic areas locations with poor hygienic habits like lack of regular hand washing and proper disposal of human excretions. Ascariasis causes both intestinal and extra intestinal problems but very rarely leads to death. Most patients infected with Ascaris have a chronic disease course and remain asymptomatic for years or present with only mild symptoms.We report a case of an adolescent boy who was admitted with abdominal pain and passed away next day. The autopsy was conducted and it was found that boy died due to intestinal obstruction due to the ascaris infestation. The authors aim to highlight the risk of mortality due to ascaris infestation. The susceptible population should be educated and screened so as to prevent any further complications and avoidable fatality. The authors also aid to increase the awareness amongst autopsy surgeons about the presence of this hidden pathological fnding in sudden undiagnosed death.
2. Paniker CKJ, Ghosh S. Paniker’s Textbook of Medical Parasitology. 7th Ed. Jaypee Brother Medical Publishers;New Delhi. 2013. Chapter-20: AscarisLumbricoides; p161-166.
3. Bethony JR, Brooker S, Albonico M, Geiger SM, Loukas A, Diemert D, et al. Soil-transmitted helminth infections: ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm. Lancet. 2006;367:1521– 32.
4. Crompton DW. Ascaris and ascariasis. AdvParasitol. 2001;48:285–375.
5. De Silva NR, Brooker S, Hotez PJ, Montresor A, Engels D, Savioli L. Soiltransmittedhelminth infections: updating the global picture. Trends Parasitol. 2003;19(12):547–51.
6. Li QY, Zhao DH, Qu HY, Zhou CN. Life-threatening complications of ascariasis in trauma patients: a review of the literature. World J Emerg Med, Vol 5, No 3, 2014 165.
7. National Health Programme. Ministry of Health and Family welfare. Government of India. [Internet]. [Cited 2022 Jan 14]. Available From: https://www. nhp.gov.in/national-dewormingday-2021_pg.
8. Bogitsh BJ, Carter CE, Oeltmann TN (eds): Human Parasitology. Chapter 16. Intestinal Nematodes. 3rd Edition. Elsevier: Amsterdam. 2005; 323–362.
9. Scott ME. Ascarislumbricoides: a review of its epidemiology and relationship to other infections. Ann Nestle. 2008;66:7–22.
10. Lapid O, Krieger Y, Bernstein T, Sofer S, Rsenberg L. Airway obstruction by Ascaris, roundworm in a burned child. Burns 1999;25:673–675.
11. Finsnes KD. Laryngeal spasm after general anaesthesia due to Ascarislumbricoides. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2013;57:944– 945.
12. Imbeloni LE. Fatal obstruction of an endotracheal tube by an intestinal roundworm. Resp Care 1984;29:368–370.
13. Gan QZ. Sudden asphyxia caused by an Ascaris worm obstructing the tracheal tube – a case report. Shichuan Med J. 2000;21:848.
14. M Maletin, I Veselinovic´, GB Stojiljkovic, D Vapa, B Budakov. Death Due to an Unrecognized Ascariasis Infestation Two Medicolegal Autopsy Cases. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2009;30 (3):292- 294.
15. Taren DL, Nesheim MC, Crompton DW, et al. Contributions of ascariasis to poor nutritional status in children from Chiriqui Province, Republic of Panama. Parasitology. 1987;95:603– 613.
16. A Das, S Biswas. Fatal Undernutrition Due to Severe Gastrointestinal Ascariasis in an Adult. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2022;43: e101–e104.
Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest in this work.
About this article
Cite this article
Yadav A, Chandran V, Raj KV, et al. Sudden death due to ascariasis infestation: an unrecognized danger. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2023;16(1):69-72.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.