Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

ABSTRACT Intestinal obstruction caused by Ascaris lumbricoides (AL) is rare but clinically significant, particularly in endemic regions. We report an 18‐year‐old Afghan male who presented with a two‐month history of intermittent right lower quadrant pain, worsening over the past week with anorexia,...

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Main Authors: Seyed Abbas Fatemiyoun, Farzad Rafiei, Seyed Shahab Adin Sheikhalishahi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Clinical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70524
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author Seyed Abbas Fatemiyoun
Farzad Rafiei
Seyed Shahab Adin Sheikhalishahi
author_facet Seyed Abbas Fatemiyoun
Farzad Rafiei
Seyed Shahab Adin Sheikhalishahi
author_sort Seyed Abbas Fatemiyoun
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Intestinal obstruction caused by Ascaris lumbricoides (AL) is rare but clinically significant, particularly in endemic regions. We report an 18‐year‐old Afghan male who presented with a two‐month history of intermittent right lower quadrant pain, worsening over the past week with anorexia, constipation, nausea, and fatigue. Examination revealed generalized abdominal tenderness, involuntary guarding, and silent bowel sounds, suggesting an acute abdomen. Initial diagnosis was complicated appendicitis. After stabilization, laparotomy revealed a small bowel obstruction caused by a mass of AL, which was relieved via enterotomy and bowel repair. An incidental appendectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with albendazole and mebendazole. Bowel function returned by postoperative day three, and he was discharged on day five in stable condition. At one‐week follow‐up, he was asymptomatic with no complications. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of parasitic infections, especially in non‐endemic areas, and emphasizes the importance of early imaging, timely surgical intervention, and comprehensive management. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for parasitic causes in bowel obstruction cases, particularly in endemic populations, to ensure prompt diagnosis and optimal outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-ebc431e04afc42a6bf905c3b2d7115822025-08-20T02:29:23ZengWileyClinical Case Reports2050-09042025-05-01135n/an/a10.1002/ccr3.70524Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the LiteratureSeyed Abbas Fatemiyoun0Farzad Rafiei1Seyed Shahab Adin Sheikhalishahi2Department of General Surgery Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd IranStudent Research Committee Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd IranStudent Research Committee Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd IranABSTRACT Intestinal obstruction caused by Ascaris lumbricoides (AL) is rare but clinically significant, particularly in endemic regions. We report an 18‐year‐old Afghan male who presented with a two‐month history of intermittent right lower quadrant pain, worsening over the past week with anorexia, constipation, nausea, and fatigue. Examination revealed generalized abdominal tenderness, involuntary guarding, and silent bowel sounds, suggesting an acute abdomen. Initial diagnosis was complicated appendicitis. After stabilization, laparotomy revealed a small bowel obstruction caused by a mass of AL, which was relieved via enterotomy and bowel repair. An incidental appendectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with albendazole and mebendazole. Bowel function returned by postoperative day three, and he was discharged on day five in stable condition. At one‐week follow‐up, he was asymptomatic with no complications. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of parasitic infections, especially in non‐endemic areas, and emphasizes the importance of early imaging, timely surgical intervention, and comprehensive management. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for parasitic causes in bowel obstruction cases, particularly in endemic populations, to ensure prompt diagnosis and optimal outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70524acute abdomenAscaris lumbricoides (AL)case reportintestinal obstruction (IO)soil‐transmitted helminths (STH)
spellingShingle Seyed Abbas Fatemiyoun
Farzad Rafiei
Seyed Shahab Adin Sheikhalishahi
Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Clinical Case Reports
acute abdomen
Ascaris lumbricoides (AL)
case report
intestinal obstruction (IO)
soil‐transmitted helminths (STH)
title Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_fullStr Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full_unstemmed Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_short Acute Abdomen due to Small Bowel Obstruction by Ascaris Lumbricoides in an 18‐Year‐Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_sort acute abdomen due to small bowel obstruction by ascaris lumbricoides in an 18 year old male a case report and review of the literature
topic acute abdomen
Ascaris lumbricoides (AL)
case report
intestinal obstruction (IO)
soil‐transmitted helminths (STH)
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70524
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AT farzadrafiei acuteabdomenduetosmallbowelobstructionbyascarislumbricoidesinan18yearoldmaleacasereportandreviewoftheliterature
AT seyedshahabadinsheikhalishahi acuteabdomenduetosmallbowelobstructionbyascarislumbricoidesinan18yearoldmaleacasereportandreviewoftheliterature