A RARE CASE REPORT OF GALLBLADDER ASCARIASIS

Hepatobiliary ascariasis is found in subtropical or tropical countries and is prevalent geo-helminth infection. Ascariasis lumbricoides are found mainly in the small intestine. Rarely the worm may migrate to the pancreatic duct or common bile duct but rarely to the gallbladder due to cystic duct which is strait and tortuous. The gall bladder ascaris can cause obstructive features due to lithiasis or calcified worms. The management is usually conservative if the worm is alive or else it can be removed by surgery

Pancreatitis aguda por áscaris en un adulto del área urbana de Bogotá, a propósito de una presentación inusual. Reporte de caso / Acute pancreatitis due to ascaris in an adult from the urban area of Bogotá, regarding an unusual manifestation. Case report

Resumen Introducción: la pancreatitis aguda es una de las entidades que afectan más normalmente el tracto gastrointestinal. Sus causas más frecuentes son la biliar y la alcohólica; sin embargo, no se deben descartar las causas infecciosas, entre ellas las parasitarias. Caso: se presenta un caso de un hombre de 35 años de edad procedente del área urbana de Bogotá que ingresó por un dolor torácico al servicio de urgencias del Hospital San Ignacio, posteriormente con migración hacia el abdomen y síntomas gastrointestinales asociados. Se diagnosticó pancreatitis aguda, se descartaron las causas biliar y alcohólica, y se evidenció en la escanografía un cuerpo extraño endoluminal gástrico hacia las asas intestinales, cuyo diagnóstico se confirmó de manera endoscópica (áscaris lumbricoides). Se extrajo el helminto en su totalidad y se continuó el manejo intrahospitalario. Como complicación presentó un compromiso necrotizante con colecciones asociadas en imágenes de control, sin compromiso multiorgánico. Finalmente, se dio egreso por una adecuada evolución clínica. Conclusión: la ascariasis es una causa infrecuente de pancreatitis aguda en adultos de zonas urbanas, incluso en países en vías de desarrollo como Colombia. Su diagnóstico y manejo terapéutico se realizan vía endoscópica con la extracción del helminto. Como en todos los casos de pancreatitis, debe realizarse un seguimiento clínico en busca de complicaciones asociadas y compromiso multiorgánico.

Abstract Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common entities affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Its most frequent causes are biliary and alcoholic; however, infectious causes, including parasitic ones, should not be ruled out. Case: We present the case of a 35-year-old man from the urban area of Bogotá who was admitted to the emergency department of the San Ignacio Hospital due to chest pain, with subsequent migration to the abdomen and associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed, biliary and alcoholic causes were ruled out, and the scan revealed a gastric endoluminal foreign body towards the intestinal loops; the diagnosis was confirmed endoscopically (Ascaris lumbricoides). The helminth was entirely extracted, and the intrahospital management was continued. As a complication, he had necrosis with associated collections in control images without multi-organ involvement. Finally, he was discharged due to adequate clinical evolution. Conclusion: Ascariasis is a rare cause of acute pancreatitis in adults in urban areas, even in developing countries such as Colombia. Its diagnosis and therapeutic management are carried out endoscopically with the extraction of the helminth. As in all cases of pancreatitis, a clinical follow-up should be conducted in search of associated complications and multi-organ involvement.

Síndrome de Loeffler, ¿más frecuente de lo que pensamos?: un caso asociado a Ascaris lumbricoides y Strongyloides stercolaris

El síndrome de Loeffler consiste en una neumonía eosinofílica aguda consecuencia de una reacción inmunológica de tipo alérgico, principalmente secundario a la fase pulmonar de los ciclos de algunos parásitos. Los parásitos más frecuentemente asociados son los nemátodos, y, entre ellos, Ascaris lumbricoides que es el principal causante de Síndrome de Loeffler. Clínicamente puede cursar con tos, dificultad respiratoria de distinto grado, sibilancias y subcrepitantes en la auscultación y fiebre. Como hallazgos radiológicos suelen apreciarse infiltrados intersticiales y en los exámenes de laboratorio destaca la presencia de eosinofilia en el hemograma. Se trata de un síndrome con muy baja incidencia a nivel global, probablemente debido a su infradiagnóstico, por lo que presentamos el caso de un paciente de 14 años con diagnóstico de Síndrome de Loeffler asociado a Ascaris lumbricoides y a Strongyloides stercolaris. (provisto por Infomedic International)

Loeffler's syndrome consist of an acute eosinophilic pneumonia due to an immunnologic reaction, mainly owing to the pulmonary phase of the life's cycles of some parasites. Nematodes are the most common parasites related to the syndrome, and between them, Ascaris lumbricoides is the one that causes most of the Loeffler's Syndrome. Symptoms that can be caused by the syndrome are cough, breath difficulties of different grades, fever and wheezing and crackling on auscultation. Radiological findings are bilateral interstitial infiltrates and in laboratory test eosinophilia stands out in blood count. The global incidence of the syndrome is very low, maybe due to an underdiagnosis, so we present the case of a 14-year-old male child with Loeffler´s Syndrome caused by Ascaris lumbricoides and Strongyloides stercolaris. (provided by Infomedic International)

Ascariasis complicada en un infante / Complicated ascariasis in an infant

Introducción: La ascariasis es una enteroparasitosis con alta prevalencia en la población pediátrica tercermundista, la cual puede asociarse a otras enfermedades intestinales y tener graves complicaciones que requieren tratamiento quirúrgico. Objetivo: Informar el caso de un infante operado por coinfección de ascariasis intestinal y fiebre tifoidea complicadas. Presentación del caso: Paciente masculino de 9 años de edad asistido y operado en el hospital provincial N´gola Kimbanda de la provincia Namibe, Angola, por presentar evidencia clínica de peritonitis aguda generalizada por perforación intestinal de causa tifoidea y por cuyo orificio salían además áscaris lumbricoides vivos. Su evolución no fue satisfactoria y falleció 24 horas después de la operación. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico oportuno de la coinfección letal de ascariasis y fiebre tifoidea complicadas permitirá disminuir la morbilidad y mortalidad por esta prevalente asociación(AU)

Introduction: Ascariasis is an enteroparasitosis with high prevalence in the third-world pediatric population, which can be associated with other bowel diseases and have serious complications that require surgical treatment. Objective: Report the case of an infant operated by the co-infection of complicated intestinal ascariasis and typhoid fever. Case presentation: 9-year-old male patient attended and operated at N'gola Kimbanda Provincial Hospital in Namibe Province, Angola, after presenting clinical evidence of generalized acute peritonitis due to intestinal perforation of typhoid-causing and through which live ascaris lumbricoide also came out. His evolution was unsatisfactory and he died 24 hours after the operation. Conclusions: The timely diagnosis and surgical treatment of lethal co-infection of complicated ascariasis and typhoid fever will reduce morbidity and mortality from this prevalent association(AU)

Ascariasis, trichuriasis and fatal non-transfusion

Blood transfusion for chronic anemia can lead to acute or decompensated heart failure in patients who have fluid overload as part of their compensatory response and/or have intrinsic heart disease, and then it could be fatal in such clinical scenarios. This is the report of a case of profound chronic anemia in a young male patient, who was not transfused and then developed confusion followed by terminal cardiopulmonary arrest. Autopsy revealed severe trichuriasis to be the cause of the anemia, along with severe ascariasis, but minimal intrinsic brain disease. This supports the conclusion that anemia was the cause of the confusion, and the lesson that confusion may be a sign that the benefit of blood transfusion outweighs the risk in a patient with severe chronic anemia.

Ultrasonografía endoscópica para el diagnóstico de áscaris biliar: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Endoscopic ultrasound for the diagnosis of biliary ascariasis: case report and literature review

Resumen Se presenta un caso de áscaris de la vía biliar (AB), cuya manifestación clínica fue ictericia obstructiva, acompañada de dolor abdominal causado por un cuadro de pancreatitis aguda. Inicialmente, se sospechó de etiología litiásica, por lo cual se realizaron estudios de imágenes diagnósticas y se evidenció la presencia de AB como hallazgo incidental, diagnosticado por ultrasonografía endoscópica biliopancreática (UEB), que fue confirmado y tratado mediante colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE).

Abstract The following is a case of biliary ascariasis (BA), whose clinical presentation was obstructive jaundice, accompanied by abdominal pain due to acute pancreatitis. At first, clinical suspicion led to consider a stone etiology, for which diagnostic imaging studies were performed, evidencing BA as an incidental finding diagnosed by endoscopic biliopancreatic ultrasonography (EBU), which was confirmed and treated using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Ascaridiosis en la vía biliar intrahepática: a propósito de un caso pediátrico / Ascariasis in the intrahepatic biliary duct: about a case in pediatrics

El 25 % de la población mundial se encuentra infectada por Ascaris lumbricoides. La ascaridiosis hepatobiliar ocurre en zonas con alta endemicidad y gran carga parasitaria, y genera desde intensa inflamación hasta fibrosis. Se presenta a un paciente de 2 años, que consultó por distensión abdominal y tos de 1 mes de evolución asociada a fiebre en las últimas 72 h. Se realizó una ecografía abdominal que evidenció áscaris en la vía biliar, en el estómago y en el intestino delgado, y una radiografía de tórax con infiltrado inflamatorio intersticial, asociado a hiperleucocitosis con hipereosinofilia y gamma-glutamiltranspeptidasa elevada. Se administró un tratamiento antibiótico, antihelmíntico, sin lograr la eliminación de los parásitos de la vía biliar, por lo que se requirió su extracción mediante colangiografía percutánea

Twenty five percent of the world population is affected by Ascaris lumbricoides. Hepatobiliary ascariasis occurs in areas with high endemicity and great amount of parasitic load, generating intense inflammation to fibrosis. We report a two-year-old patient that consults about abdominal distension and cough of one month of evolution associated with 72 hours of fever. Abdominal ultrasound is performed, which shows bile duct, stomach, small intestine with ascaris and chest x-ray with interstitial inflammatory infiltrate, associated with hyperleukocytosis with hypereosinophilia and elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Antibiotic, anthelminthic treatment is administered, without achieving the elimination of the bile duct parasites, requiring their removal by percutaneous cholangiography.

Ascariasis intestinal. Tres casos pediátricos con complicaciones severas en Cauca, Colombia / Intestinal ascariasis. Three pediatric cases with severe complications in Cauca, Colombia

Se presentan tres casos clínicos de niños atendidos en el Hospital Universitario San José de Popayán en Cauca, Colombia, quienes consultaron por una infección severa causada por Ascaris lumbricoides. La severidad de la infección tuvo como consecuencia en el primer caso una colangitis aguda, en el segundo caso una obstrucción intestinal con peritonitis generalizada, y en el tercer caso una perforación intestinal y choque séptico. El objetivo de mostrar estos casos es dar a conocer estas presentaciones clínicas poco frecuentes en el entorno médico. Además, se resalta la importancia del conocimiento sobre esta especie de parásito, que termina siendo un problema más de salud pública, no solo en nuestro país, sino en gran parte del mundo

We report three clinical cases of children treated at the San José University Hospital in Cauca, Colombia, who consulted with a severe infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. The severity of the infection resulted in acute cholangitis in the first case, in intestinal obstruction with generalized peritonitis in the second case, and in intestinal perforation and septic shock in the third case. The objective of this report is to inform the medical community about these unusual clinical presentations. In addition, the importance of this parasite is highlighted as a public health concern, not only in our country but also globally

Surveillance of soil-transmitted nematode infections in Zhenjiang City from 2006 to 2018 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the epidemic trend of soil-transmitted nematodiasis in Zhenjiang City from 2006 to 2018, so as to provide evidence for formulating targeted control measures. Methods The permanent residents at ages of 3 years and greater and the immigrants who had lived in Zhenjiang City for more than one year were selected as the study subjects. Fecal samples were collected, and the soil-transmitted nematode eggs were detected in fecal samples with the modified Kato-Katz technique (three smears from one stool sample), while the children at ages of 12 years and lower were tested for Enterobius vermicularis eggs using the adhesive cellophane-tape perianal swab method. The prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections were estimated in Zhenjiang City each year from 2006 to 2018, and the data pertaining to the deworming for soil-transmitted nematode infections were collected during the study period. Results A total of 202 880 person-times were subjected to stool examinations in Zhenjiang City from 2006 to 2018, and 946 persons were detected with soil-transmitted nematode infections, with a mean prevalence of 0.47%. The overall prevalence of human soil-transmitted nematode infections appeared a decline tendency (P < 0.01), with a reduction from 1.10% in 2006 to 0.11% in 2018, and there was a region-specific overall prevalence (P < 0.01), with the highest prevalence seen in Runzhou District (1.65%) and the lowest detected in New District (0.04%). The mean prevalence of human Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura infections was 0.33%, 0.09% and 0.04% in Zhenjiang City, respectively, and showed a decline tendency year by year from 2006 to 2018 (P < 0.01). Among all infections, mild infections were predominant. During the period from 2006 through 2018, a total of 45 427 children were examined in Zhenjiang City from 2006 to 2018, and 145 children were positive for E. vermicularis infections, with a mean prevalence of 0.32%. The prevalence of E. vermicularis infections decreased from 1.33% in 2006 to 0.22% in 2018 in children, and the overall prevalence appeared a decline tendency (P < 0.01). A single parasite infection was predominant in soil-transmitted nematode infections (97.46%), and mixed infection of two parasites were mainly detected before 2007. A total of 535 089 person-times received deworming in Zhenjiang City from 2006 to 2018, and the rate of adverse events was 0.002%. Conclusions Currently, the soil-transmitted nematode infection is at a low level in Zhenjiang City, and the overall prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections shows a decline tendency year by year. The surveillance and health education of soil-transmitted nematodiasis should be further intensified to consolidate the control achievements.

Interpretation of Diagnosis of Ascariasis (WS/565–2017) / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Ascariasis once was a common disease in rural areas of China. It is showed that the average infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides in China was 1.36% according to the results of the national survey of important human parasitic diseases in 2015. Although the prevalence of ascariasis has been greatly reduced as compared with that at the beginning of this century, ascariasis is still widespread in China. The Diagnostic Criteria for Ascariasis (WS/565–2017) was promulgated and implemented by the former National Health and Family Planning Commission on August 1st, 2017. This Diagnostic Criteria for Ascariasis is composed of six chapters, including the Range of Application, Terms and Definitions, Diagnostic Basis, Diagnostic Principle, Diagnostic Standard, and Differential Diagnosis. Four informative appendixes (etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and differential diagnosis) and one normative appendix (laboratory examination) are appended. The criteria provide the technical reference for diagnosis of ascariasis in medical institutions and disease control institutions. Combined with the current epidemic situation of ascariasis in China, this paper interprets the main contents of the Diagnostic Criteria for Ascariasis (WS/565–2017), so as to promote its learning and implementation.

Interpretation of Diagnosis of Ascariasis (WS/565–2017) / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Ascariasis once was a common disease in rural areas of China. It is showed that the average infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides in China was 1.36% according to the results of the national survey of important human parasitic diseases in 2015. Although the prevalence of ascariasis has been greatly reduced as compared with that at the beginning of this century, ascariasis is still widespread in China. The Diagnostic Criteria for Ascariasis (WS/565–2017) was promulgated and implemented by the former National Health and Family Planning Commission on August 1st, 2017. This Diagnostic Criteria for Ascariasis is composed of six chapters, including the Range of Application, Terms and Definitions, Diagnostic Basis, Diagnostic Principle, Diagnostic Standard, and Differential Diagnosis. Four informative appendixes (etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and differential diagnosis) and one normative appendix (laboratory examination) are appended. The criteria provide the technical reference for diagnosis of ascariasis in medical institutions and disease control institutions. Combined with the current epidemic situation of ascariasis in China, this paper interprets the main contents of the Diagnostic Criteria for Ascariasis (WS/565–2017), so as to promote its learning and implementation.

Ascariasis biliar: caso clínico pediátrico reportado en Hospital General Enrique Garcés / Biliary ascariasis: pediatric clinical case reported in Hospital General Enrique Garcés

Áscaris lumbricoides, nemátodo frecuente en la población infantil, relacionado con situaciones socioeconómicas bajas y condiciones higiénicas desfavorables. El ciclo de vida del parasito inicia con la ingesta de huevos embrionados, tras esto desempeña un período hístico-tisular y transalveolocapilar, posteriormente alcanza el intestino delgado como parásito adulto. En ocasiones migra a diferentes sitios causando complicaciones, destacando la migración a vía biliar provocando colecistitis parasitaria. El siguiente caso trata de un adolescente de 12 años 9 meses que consulta por dolor abdominal localizado en epigastrio y cuadrante superior derecho. Es ingresada en el Hospital General Enrique Garcés de la ciudad de Quito, Ecuador donde se evidencia en ecografía la presencia de Áscaris lumbricoides en el interior de la vesícula biliar. Se realiza manejo clínico administrando antihelmíntico. Dos días posterior a su ingreso y culminado el tratamiento se solicita control ecográfico sin evidenciar la presencia del parásito

Ascaris lumbricoides is a frequently nematode in children associated with low socio-economic situations and unfavorable hygienic conditions. The life cycle of the parasite starts with the intake of embryonic eggs, then it plays an hyshc-hssue period and trans-capillary period. Subsequently reaches the bowel intestine as anadult parasite. Sometimes they migrate to different places causing complications, including migration to bile duct causing parasitic cholecystitis. The following case is a boy of 12 years 9 months old consulting for abdominal pain located in epigastrium and right upper quadrant. He was hospitalized in the General Hospital Enrique Garces in the city of Quito ­ Ecuador evidenciating the presence of on Ascaris lumbricoides in the interior of the gallbladder in the ultrasound. Antiprotoozarios were given. Two days after finishing the treatment, we requested a control ultrasound without observing the parasite

Pancreatitis aguda por Ascaris Lumbricoides: presentación de un caso clínico / Acute pancreatitis due to Ascaris Lumbricoides: presentation of a clinical case

Caso clínico: paciente masculino de 30 años de edad, con dolor abdominal de 24 horas de evolución. A la exploración física, abdomen distendido, doloroso en epigastrio e hipocondrio derecho. Paraclínicos indicaron leucocitosis (12.400/cc), elevación de amilasa 3.2 N, lipasa 6.8 N, PCR de 192 mg/dl y procalcitonina de 0,136 ng/ml. El ultrasonido de abdomen sin signos dilatación de la vía biliar intra y extra hepática. La tomografía simple y contrastada de abdomen reportó un Baltazar C. El dolor epigástrico persistente motivó a la realización de una endoscopia digestiva alta, en la misma que se evidenció un ejemplar de Ascaris enclava-do en la papila duodenal el mismo que fue retirado con una pinza asa para cuerpo extraño. Conclusiones: la parasitosis intestinal es causa importante de obstrucción de la vía biliar y abdomen agudo inflamatorio, que requiere de oportuna atención en el enfermo.

Clinical case: male patient of 30 years of age, with abdominal pain of 24 hours of evolution. Physical examination showed distended abdomen, painful epigastrium and right hypochon-drium. Paraclinics indicated leukocytosis (12,400 / cc), elevation of amylase 3.2 N, lipase 6.8 N, CRP of 192 mg / dl and procalcitonin of 0.136 ng / ml. Ultrasound of the abdomen showed absence of dilation signs of the biliary tract intra and extra hepatic ascariasis. The simple and contrasted abdomen tomography reported a Baltazar C. The persistent epigastric pain moti-vated the performance of an upper digestive endoscopy; it was observed a specimen of asca-ris nestled in the duodenal papilla which was removed with a handle clamp for a foreign body. Conclusions: intestinal parasitosis is an important cause of obstruction of the bile duct and acute inflammatory abdomen, which requires timely attention in the patient.

Clinical effect of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy in treatment of biliary ascariasis / 临床肝胆病杂志

Objective To investigate an effective method for the treatment of biliary ascariasis.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 32 patients with biliary ascariasis who were treated in The People's Hospital of Huangmei County from January 1994 to January 2014.All the patients were given spasmolysis,pain management,anti-infective therapy,traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation-based treatment,Chinese materia medica for regulating qi and relieving pain,and ascariasis-relieving and parasite -expelling treatment.Patients were given surgical treatment due to poor response.Results Of all the 32 patients,5 (15.6％) had no response to the ascariasis-relieving treatment with Fructus Pruni Mume decoction and were given surgical treatment,and 27 (84.4％) were cured by Western medicine combined with Fructus Pruni Mume decoction.There were no complications such as acute pancreatitis,perfora tion of the gallbladder,and liver abscess.All the patients were treated with Fructus Pruni Mume decoction regularly after discharge and no patient experienced recurrence.Conclusion Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy is effective,safe,and reliable in the treatment of biliary ascariasis and holds promise for clinical application.

A Case of Biliary Ascariasis in Korea

Biliary ascariasis is still the leading cause of surgical complication of ascariasis, though its incidence has been dramatically reduced. Herein, we report a case of biliary ascariasis for the purpose of enhancing awareness of parasitic infections as a possible cause. A 72-year-old male visited the emergency room of Dankook University Hospital on 12 July 2015, complaining of right-upper-quadrant pain. By endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a tubular filling defect in the right hepatic duct was detected. The defect was endoscopically removed and diagnosed as an adult female of Ascaris lumbricoides worm, of 30 cm length. Upon removal of the worm, the pain subsided, and the patient was discharged without any complication. When treating cases of biliary colic, physicians should not neglect biliary ascariasis as the possible cause.

Obstrucción intestinal por Ascaris lumbricoides en un adulto mayor / Intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides infection in a geriatric patient

Ascaris lumbricoides is considered the largest intestinal nematode with a higher incidence in the childhood, representing a truly medical and public health problem, principally in undeveloped countries. We present the case of an 83 year old man, born and coming from the amazon region, without any relevant previous history of disease, admitted in the emergency department of our hospital for presenting intestinal obstruction and also presumptive biliary obstruction due to multiple balls of parasites, requiring immediate surgical intervention. We emphasize the need of consider this etiologic possibility in the differential diagnosis, that in this particular case, wasn't suspected in the first place.

Ascaris lumbricoides es considerado el nemátodo intestinal de mayor tamaño. Se presenta con mayor frecuencia en la infancia, representando un verdadero problema médico y de salud pública, especialmente en países en vías de desarrollo. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 83 años, natural y procedente de la región amazónica del Perú, sin antecedentes médicos de relevancia, que ingresa a Servicio de urgencias de nuestro hospital por un cuadro de obstrucción intestinal y presunta obstrucción biliar, requiriendo una intervención quirúrgica inmediata. El diagnóstico final de obstrucción intestinal por la presencia de múltiples ovillos de Ascaris lumbricoides, no fue considerado dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales previo al acto quirúrgico.

Ascariasis as a cause of acalculus eosinophilic cholecystitis – a rare case report.

Acalculus eosinophilic cholecystitis is a variant of chronic cholecystitis which is an inflammation of gall bladder. Here we presents a case of female child of 10 years age with features of abdominal pain for 6 months which after investigations found to be of an eosinophilic cholecystitis cuased by Ascaris lumricoides- a rare entity.

A Social History of Ascariasis in the 1960s Korea: From a Norm to a Shameful Disease / 의사학

Until the 1950s, Ascaris was regarded as an essential part of life which controls every aspect of human physiology among Koreans. Therefore, Ascaris should not be removed from human body. Efforts from medical professionals and the Korean government officials who wished to push forward the parasite control program, had to constantly contest with this perception of Ascaris among ordinary Koreans. In 1966, the 'Parasitic Disease Prevention Act' was promulgated and 'the Korean Association for Parasite Eradication (KAPE)' established in Korea. From the 1970s, Korea mobilized 15 million people each year to achieve the eradication goal. Such mass mobilization could not be possible without public awareness on necessity of parasite eradication. Until the early 1960s, however, Korean people were not sympathetic to the needs of eradication of parasites, especially that of Ascaris. Then, what changed the social perception towards Ascaris during the 1960s? What contributing factors allowed the mass mobilization and public involvement for that campaign? Employing newspaper articles and periodicals, this paper analyzes how social perception on Ascariasis changed during the 1960s, when the 'Parasitic Disease Prevention Act' was established. During the 1960s, Ascariasis became a shameful disease for Koreans. A series of events made Ascariasis more visible and shameful to Koreans. First event happened with Korean miners who were dispatched to Germany in 1963. When the miners turned out to have been infected with intestinal parasites, they were prohibited from work at the mines by the authorities in Germany and quarantined for several weeks. This humiliating experience of Korean expatriate people having bodies swarmed with parasites became a national shame to Koreans. The parasite infected bodies of Korean workers were revealed to the World through German newspapers. Second event happened when a child died of intestinal obstruction due to Ascariasis. The doctor retrieved 1,063 Ascaris from the bowel of the 9 year-old girl, and the photo of the 1,063 worms was published in several newspapers. It was a shocking visualization of Ascariasis in Korean society. Through these visualizations of Ascariasis, the Korean society began to perceive Ascariasis as a shame of the nation as well as that of an individual.

Study of incidence of helminthic infestation in children aged 1 to 15 years attending to a tertiary care hospital.

Background: Helminthic infestation is common in children because of their habits and opportunity for exposure. The present study was undertaken in the Narayana Hospital, Nellore to determine the incidence of various helminthes, the symptomatology and clinical manifestations of various helminthes and to correlate type of helminthic infestatioin. Material and methods: This is a prospective study, was done in 1 to 15 years children who attended O P D or admitted to the pediatric ward, Narayana Hospital, Nellore. The material for the study comprises of 500 children’s, who attended OPD or admitted to the Pediatric ward belonging to 1 to 15 years age groups. A detailed clinical examination including stool examination was done for all the 500 children. Blood examination was done for knowing the degree of anemia. Results and discussion: Out of 500 children examined in various age groups, 275 children’s were found to be positive for one or other helminthic ova in the stool samples examined giving an overall incidence of 55%. Number of stool samples examined Number of stool samples infested with Helminths. Out of 500 children examined, 235 were males and 265 were females, of which 130 males and 145 females were found to be infested for one or other helminthic ova. Out of 500 stool examples examined 275 were positive for one or other helminthic ova, 160 were positive for ascariasis, 20 were positive for Hookworm, 40 were positive for Trichuris trichura, 10 were positivefor hymenolepis nana and 5 was positive for Taenia infestation. Out of 500 children studied, 130 children belong to class V Socio - economic class, 150 children belong to class IV socio - economic class, 120 children belong to class III Soci -economic class and 100 children belong to class II Socio – economic class, giving a percentage of infestation according to Socio - economic class, giving a percentage of infestation according to Socio-–economic class as 80% in class V, 63.3% in class IV, 41.7% in class - III and 30% in class II respectively. Anemia in hookworm infestation was of mild degree in all 15 children. Anemia in mixed infestation was of mild degree in 20 children and moderate degree in 5 children. Out of 500 children studied 300 children had normal nutritional status a nd positive percentage of helminthic infestation in them was 26.7%, 140 children had Grade – I malnutrition and positive percentage of helminthic infestation in them 96.4, 40 children had Grade-II and 20 children had Grade - 111 malnutrition. Positive percentage of helminthic infestation in Grade – II and Grade – III malnutrition was found to be 100%. Conclusion: This study confirms the finding of the other authors all over india regarding helminthic infestations in respect to epidemiology, clinical manifestations and relation with nutritional status. There was a high co-relation with poor nutritional status.