Suboclusión intestinal por Ascaris

Abstract

We report the case of a 28-year-old woman from Ecuador who had been living in Spain for three months, and consulted because of abdominal pain associated with food ingestion in the past 8 months. The day before her admission to hospital pain increased and the patient presented with vomiting. As an initial approach a blood test was performed, which yielded mild microcytic anemia (Hb: 9.9 g/dl; MCV: 72; MCH: 29). Simple chest and abdomen x-rays showed no alterations. Gastroscopy was normal too, and biopsies for Helicobacter pylori infection were negative, as were a number of tests for parasites. Abdominal pain and vomiting became more severe in the next few days, so we decided to obtain a new abdominal film in the standing position. We could appreciate some fluid levels in the jejunum. The case was then discussed with surgeons but in the absence of complete obstruction a nasogastric tube was inserted and a contrast x-ray study was made. These radiograms showed long negative images from the third duodenal portion through the entire jejunum (Figs. 1 and 2). Diagnosis: Ascaris lumbricoides infection.