Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025
07:50
A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts
Published on: September 20, 2018
16.0K
Rare presentations of ocular enterobiasis - Case reports
Sayani Bose1, Tanusree Mondal2, Sudip Kumar Das3
1Department of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Tropical Parasitology
|January 16, 2023
Summary
Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infections are common in children but can rarely affect the eyes. These case reports highlight ocular enterobiasis, emphasizing the need to consider unusual sites for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) is a common intestinal nematode, particularly in children.
- Transmission typically occurs via fecal-oral route and autoinfection.
- Extra-intestinal manifestations are rare, with ocular involvement being exceptionally uncommon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report two rare cases of ocular enterobiasis caused by Enterobius vermicularis.
- To highlight the diagnostic features of pinworm in an unusual extra-intestinal site.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic examination of discharged material from the conjunctiva.
- Identification of gravid female Enterobius vermicularis and its characteristic embryonated eggs.
- Saline wet mount preparation for direct visualization.
Main Results:
- Two patients presented with live, motile worms discharged from the conjunctiva.
- Microscopy confirmed the presence of gravid female Enterobius vermicularis and plano-convex embryonated eggs.
- Morphological identification included cervical alae and a straight, pointed tail.
Conclusions:
- Enterobius vermicularis can rarely cause ocular infections (ocular enterobiasis).
- Awareness of this unusual presentation is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
- Microscopic identification of the parasite and eggs is key for confirming the diagnosis.
