title: Incidental detection of ascariasis worms on USG in a protein energy malnourished (PEM) child with abdominal pain.
abstract: A 10-year-old child presented with dull aching periumbilical abdominal pain for 15 days. The child was not gaining weight despite a good appetite. Physical examination of the child revealed grade-I protein energy malnourishment (PEM) according to IAP (Indian Academic of Paediatrics) classification. The rest of the systemic examination was normal. Routine blood investigation revealed anaemia with eosinophilia. Abdominal ultrasonography did not show any abnormality with curvilinear transducer (3.5-5 MHz), however, linear ultrasound transducer (7.5-12 MHz) with harmonic tissue imaging showed worms in the lumen of the small intestine with curling movement on real time scanning. Stool examination for the eggs of ascariasis was positive. The patient was treated with antihelminthic drugs. Dietary modification for the PEM was advised. After 3 months of treatment, the patient improved and stool examination for Ascaris was negative on follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Pokhraj Prakashchandra
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Suthar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Rajkumar Prakashbhai
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Doshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Chetan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Khyati P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Vadera
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole