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Case Reports
. 2025 Apr 6;17(4):e81813.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.81813. eCollection 2025 Apr.

Ascaris Peritonitis in a Pediatric Patient With Typhoid Fever

Charles Tumwesige  1 , Arthur J Nek  1 , Daniel Odulusi  1 , Colin Meghoo  2 , Johnson Ebine  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ascaris Peritonitis in a Pediatric Patient With Typhoid Fever

Charles Tumwesige et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Intestinal infestation with ascaris worms is very common worldwide and usually causes minimal or no abdominal symptoms. Severe abdominal complications such as bowel obstruction may occur, but bowel perforation from ascariasis is rare. We present a case of a seven-year-old boy who initially presented with typhoid fever and then developed ascaris peritonitis requiring emergent surgery. We discuss preoperative diagnosis and perioperative management, as well as the purported mechanisms of coinfection with typhoid fever and ascariasis that can lead to small bowel perforation.

Keywords: ascariasis; intestinal perforation; laparotomy; peritonitis; typhoid fever.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Kabale University Research Ethics Committee (KAB-REC) issued approval N/A. Ethical approval was waived by Kabale University Research Ethics Committee (KAB-REC). Case reports on a single patient encountered during clinical care do not constitute research at our institution and therefore are exempted from ethics approval. However, informed written consent to use information and images for educational purposes and publication must be obtained from the patient. Written consent was obtained from the patient. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Four ascaris worms removed from peritoneum, with long knife handle for scale
Figure 2
Figure 2. Area of small bowel perforation in the distal ileum (arrow) with worms extracted from the peritoneum in the foreground
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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