On 13/8, Master, Doctor Dinh Khac Truong, Deputy Head of the General Surgery Department at Son La Provincial General Hospital, reported a rare case involving a child with dilated intestinal loops and a very large worm mass. Doctors diagnosed severe intestinal obstruction due to massive worm infestation and ordered emergency surgery.

During the operation, surgeons opened the small intestine and extracted over 200 roundworms. They then cleaned the abdominal cavity and repaired the intestine. The patient's condition is now stable, and she remains under observation and care at the hospital.

Roundworms, scientifically known as Ascaris lumbricoides, are common parasites, particularly affecting children aged 2-10. These infestations are prevalent in unsanitary, hot, and humid environments. The risk of infection increases with poor hand hygiene before eating and after handling soil contaminated with worm eggs. Once ingested, the eggs hatch into larvae, which then mature into adult worms inside the body.

When present in large numbers, worms can cause severe intestinal obstruction, disrupting normal bowel function. Mild symptoms include malnutrition and general abdominal discomfort. More serious signs often involve intense abdominal pain, vomiting (sometimes green-yellow fluid or even worms), abdominal distension, and inability to pass gas or stool. Children might also become irritable, lose appetite, experience fatigue, and develop a fever. Parents observing any of these symptoms should seek prompt medical consultation.

Illustration: Quynh Tran.

According to doctors, intestinal obstruction is a critical surgical emergency. Children suffering from worm-induced obstruction may exhibit symptoms such as cramping abdominal pain that gradually intensifies, abdominal distension, and vomiting, sometimes including worms. Without timely diagnosis and intervention, this condition can lead to intestinal necrosis and other severe, life-threatening complications.

Doctors advise parents to proactively prevent worm infections in children through several measures: ensuring proper personal hygiene, washing hands before meals and after using the toilet, consuming thoroughly cooked food and boiled water, and maintaining a clean living environment. Regularly trimming children's fingernails is also important. Crucially, deworming should be done every six months as recommended by healthcare professionals. If a child exhibits unusual or cramping abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, or vomits worms, parents must not delay seeking immediate medical examination and treatment.

Thuy An