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Ascariasis, trichuriasis and fatal non-transfusion
Larry Nichols1, Joshua Curtis Bridgewater1, Nicholas Brennan Wagner1
1Mercer University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Clinical Science Education, Macon, GA, USA.
Autopsy & Case Reports
|August 30, 2021
Summary
Severe chronic anemia, if left untreated with blood transfusion, can lead to fatal confusion and cardiopulmonary arrest. This case highlights that confusion in severe anemia may indicate transfusion benefits outweigh risks.
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Pathology
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Blood transfusions are vital for chronic anemia but carry risks, especially in patients with fluid overload or heart disease.
- Untreated severe chronic anemia can precipitate serious complications, including cardiac events.
Observation:
- A young male with profound chronic anemia, not receiving transfusion, developed confusion and subsequently cardiopulmonary arrest.
- Autopsy revealed severe trichuriasis and ascariasis as the cause of anemia, with minimal intrinsic brain pathology.
Findings:
- The patient's confusion and terminal cardiopulmonary arrest were attributed to severe anemia.
- The autopsy confirmed parasitic infections as the etiology of the profound anemia.
Implications:
- Confusion in severe chronic anemia may be a critical sign indicating that the benefits of blood transfusion outweigh the potential risks.
- This case underscores the importance of timely blood transfusion in managing severe anemia to prevent fatal outcomes.
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