[Sonographic imaging of Ascaris lumbricoides]

The round worm, Ascaris lumbricoides, is one of the largest of the parasites that infest the human bowel. The worms usually develop in the jejunum and can reach several thousand in number, causing bowel obstruction, volvulus, intussusception, appendicitis and even bowel perforation with penetration into the peritoneal cavity. They tend to invade the bile and pancreatic ducts and may cause acute cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Ascaris lumbricoides can be detected by sonography. This imaging modality can be helpful in diagnosing the presence of the worms and in evaluating response to treatment. We present an 18-month-old girl in whom bowel worms were detected by sonography.