Sudden death in a 2-year-old child: Role of Ascaris infestation and other possibilities

Abstract

More than a billion people worldwide are infested with one or more parasite especially intestinal nematodes. Amongst the intestinal  nematodes, Ascaris lumbricoides is the most common parasitic infestation. Ascariasis tends to occur more commonly in places where  sanitation is minimal along with poor personal hygiene, and human faeces is used to fertilise crops, which is usually seen in  underdeveloped or developing countries. Children are more likely to be infested and have higher worm load. Sudden death  attributable to ascariasis per se is unusual; instead, it often leads to chronic malnutrition. A rare case is reported where death resulted  from airway obstruction by a single ascaris worm in a two-year-old child.