Respiratory arrest from Ascaris lumbricoides
1Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Shriners Hospitals for Children, 231 Albert B. Sabin Way, PO Box 670558, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0558, USA. kevin.bailey@uc.edu
Pediatrics
|August 4, 2010
Summary
A rare complication of Ascaris lumbricoides infestation caused airway obstruction in a boy with electrical injuries. Prompt treatment was successful, highlighting the need for awareness and management strategies for this unusual condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Trauma surgery
Background:
- High-voltage electrical injuries pose significant risks to children.
- Ascaris lumbricoides is a common intestinal nematode with potential for extraintestinal migration.
- Airway obstruction is a critical and potentially life-threatening complication.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old boy with a high-voltage electrical injury developed unexpected airway obstruction.
- The obstruction was attributed to Ascaris lumbricoides.
- Literature review identified 4 prior cases of this rare complication.
Findings:
- Successful treatment of the airway obstruction in the reported case.
- Established the rarity of Ascaris lumbricoides-induced airway obstruction following electrical injury.
- Identified existing literature on this specific complication.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering parasitic complications in patients with severe trauma.
- Underscores the need for vigilance regarding Ascaris lumbricoides migration in pediatric patients.
- Suggests the development of specific protocols for prevention and management of this rare but severe complication.
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