Ascaris lumbricoides and intestinal perforation

✍ Scribed by Mr S. E. E. Efem

• Book ID: 101745987
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 205 KB
• Volume: 74
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.1800740738

✦ Synopsis

Intestinal perforation is a common and important cause of abdominal catastrophe. The aetiological factors are numerous, varied and well documented'-". Many authors in the tropics have implicated Ascaris lumbricoides as a causative agent in a proportion of these perforations" 'O. This author has always held a contrary view and, despite a careful search over the past 4.5 years, has not found any evidence to support ascariasis as a cause of intestinal perforation. This review evaluates the available medical literature dealing with this controversial topic.