Ascariasis masquerading as obstructive jaundice in an infant – a case report

Abstract

Ascariasis is endemic in India and is common in areas of poor sanitation. The most common complications are intestinal and biliary ascariasis, which are associated with significant morbidity. We report a 7-month-old child who presented with obstructive jaundice and was also documented to have pancreatitis. She was noted to have a round worm occluding the common bile duct following ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP). The baby was conservatively managed with oral anthelmintics (to which she responded) and followed up with serial ultrasound.

Keywords

• biliary ascariasis
• magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
• anthel­mintics
• infant