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Sudden Death due to Ascariasis Infestation: An Unrecognized Danger

Abhishek Yadav, Varun Chandran, Karthi Vignesh Raj K, Pooja Gupta

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Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 16(1):p 69-72, January-March 2023. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.16123.8

How 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.

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.


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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.


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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.


Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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.


Received Accepted Published
October 17, 2022 December 13, 2022 March 30, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.16123.8

Keywords

Ascaris LumbricoidesAscariasisRound wormIntestinal ObstructionSudden Death.AscariasisRound wormIntestinal ObstructionSudden Death.

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Received October 17, 2022
Accepted December 13, 2022
Published March 30, 2023

licence


Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

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.


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