Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy with Ascaris infestation

Two cases of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy occurred among Vietnamese evacuees in Arkansas. In both cases, Ascaris lumbricoides seemed the likely cause. In endemic areas including the rural southeastern United States, a high index of suspicion for ascariasis is needed because these worms may cause a variety of abdominal disorders including pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and bowel obstruction. In appropriate settings, a therapeutic trial with antihelminthics is indicated.