Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conservative treatment for round worm intestinal obstruction

  • Original Article
  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The ascariasis is one of the most cosmopolitan intestinal parasite infections and it can be in inhospitable regions inhabited by human being, but its biggest prevalence is observed in the tropical and subtropical areas. Intestinal obstruction has been estimated to occur in 2 per 1000 ascaris-infected children per year. We are presenting a study emphasizing the conservative treatment for complete intestinal obstruction due to roundworms without sign and symptom of peritonitis and perforation.

Methods

A total of 22 patients of roundworm obstruction partial or complete without signs of and symptoms of peritonitis were admitted in the Department of Pediatric Surgery IMS, BHU Varanasi India in the period form 2003 – 2005. Patients were put nil by mouth, intravenous fluid, antibiotics, piperazine salt through nasogastric tube and glycerine + liquid paraffin emulsion enemas and were evaluated for duration of hospital stay, rate of conversion to surgical treatment and complications.

Results

19 (86%) patients were treated successfully with conservative line of management. Only 3 patients required surgical intervention. No mortality, complication and mean hospital stay was 4.1 days (range 4 – 5 days).

Conclusion

Round worm intestinal obstruction can be effectively treated by conservative line of management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Drake L, Bundy D. Multiple helmet infections in children; impact and control. Parasitological 2001; 122: 73–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Philip J, Chico M et al. Human infection with Ascaris. J Infect Dis 2000; 182: 1207–1213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Seltzer, E. Ascariasis. In Guerrant, RL, Weller, PF, eds. Tropical Infectious Diseases: Principles, Pathogens and Practice, 1st ed. Philadelphia; Churchill Livingstone; 1999; 553.

  4. Villamizar E, Mendez M, Bonilla E, Varon U, Onatara S Ascaris lumbricoides infestation as a cause of intestinal obstruction in children experience with 87 cases. J Pediatr Surg 1996; 31: 201–205.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Akgun Y Intestinal obstruction caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Dis Colon Rectum 1996; 39: 1159–1163.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wasadikar PP, Kulakarni AB Intestinal obstruction due to ascariasis. Br J Surg 1997 84: 410–412.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Louw JH Abdominal complications of Ascaris lumbricoides infestation in children. Br J Surg 1966; 53: 510–521.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Reddy CRR, Raghvendrarao AN, Ramkrishna Reddy M, Raja Kumari K. Intestinal parasitic infection-a survey in school children. Clinician 1972; 36: 50–53.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bhagabati JN, Zaman N. Intestinal obstruction-a clinical study of 235 cases. Clinician 1972; 36: 41–49.

    Google Scholar 

  10. N.E.N. Agununa intestinal ascariasis in Nizerian children. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1983; 29: 237–239.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Comoro MA, Kantar J. Non-operative management of intestinal obstruction due to ascaris lumbricoides. J Cull Physicians Surge Pak 2003; 13: 86–89.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pinus J Surgical complication of ascariasis. Prog Pediatr Surg 1982; 15: 79–86.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rode H, Cullis S, Millar A, Cremin B, Cywes S Abdominal complications of Ascaris lumbricoides in children. Pediatr Surg Int 1990; 5: 397–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Dávila GC, Trujillo HB, Vásquez C. Prevalencía de parasitosis intestinales en niños de zonas urbanas del estado de Colima, México. Vol. Med Hosp. Infanta Mes 2001; 58: 234–239.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Vasquez Tsuji O, Gutierrez Castrellon P, Yamazaki Nakashimada MA, Arredondo Suarez JC, Campos Riveral T, Martinez Barbosa I. Anthelmintics as a risk factor in intestinal obstruction by Ascaris lumbricoides in children. Bol Chil Parasitol 2000; 55: 3–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Montiel-Jarquín A, Carrillo-Ríos C, Flores-Flores J. Ascaridiasis vesicular asociada a hepatitis aguda. Manejo conservador. Cir Ciruj 2003; 71: 314–318.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Mahmood T, Mansoor N, Quraishy S, Ilyas M, Hussain S. Ultrasonographic appearance of Ascaris lumbricoides in the small bowel. J Ultrasound Med 2001; 20: 269–274.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wasadikar PP, Kulkarni AB. Intestinal obstruction due to ascariasis. Brit J Surg 1997; 410–412.

  19. Rodriguez-Garcia AJ, Belmares-Taboada J, Hernandez-Sierra JF. Ascaris lumbricoides-caused risk factors for intestinal occlusion and subocclusion. Cir Cir 2004; 72: 37–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rahman H, Pandey S, Mishra PC Sharan R, Srivastava AK, Agarwal VK. Surgical manifestations of ascariasis in childhood. J Indian Med Assoc 1992; 90: 37–39.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Soomro MA, Akhtar J. Non-operative management of intestinal obstruction due to ascaris lumbricoides. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2003; 13: 86–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Mukhopadhyay B et al. Clinical appraisal of Ascaris lumbricoides, with special reference to surgical complications. Pediatr Surg Int 2001; 17: 403–405.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bar-Moar JA, Chappel J, Gastrograffin treatment of intestinal obstruction due to Ascariasis Lumbricoides J Pediatr Surg 1984; 19: 174–176.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, 221005, U.P., India

    A. N. Gangopadhyay, Vijai D. Upadhyaya, D. K. Gupta, S. P. Sharma & Vijayendra Kumar

Authors
  1. A. N. Gangopadhyay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vijai D. Upadhyaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. K. Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. P. Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vijayendra Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. N. Gangopadhyay.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gangopadhyay, A.N., Upadhyaya, V.D., Gupta, D.K. et al. Conservative treatment for round worm intestinal obstruction. Indian J Pediatr 74, 1085–1087 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-007-0202-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-007-0202-z

Key words

Search

Navigation