Giant worms coming out of someone's body is the sort of thing usually reserved for horror movies. However, like many horror tropes, some are loosely grounded in reality, and you can add worms making a home in your intestine to that list.
Videos by Wide Open Country
According to a disturbing case report by BioMedCentral from April 10, Doctors in Indonesia treated a 3-year-old boy suffering from a bloated abdomen and constipation. He reportedly complained of diarrhea and fever before arriving and was initially diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.
However, after a day of observation in the Soebandi General Hospital, the young boy vomited up worms. After an identification, doctors diagnosed the youngster with 'ascariasis.'
The journal explains that ascariasis in humans is one of the most significant 'neglected' tropical diseases. Per the Mayo Clinic, ascariasis is a parasitic infection caused by roundworms. They use the human body as a host to hatch eggs or mature from larvae. The journal says the worms can block or even perforate the intestine in severe cases.
Doctors performed an X-ray on the boy's stomach, which showed misty grey patches, indicating an obstruction. Surgeons performed a 'laparotomy,' which is an incision in the abdomen. They found worms blocking three separate areas of his small intestine. A small incision was made on the boy's intestine, and the worms were 'milked' or squeezed out of the cut.
Doctors discharged the patient a week later with pyrantel pamoate, which is a dewormer, and albendazole to treat infections.
Where Did The Worms In The Boy's Gut Come From?
Doctors theorize that the boy may have ingested the worms, or their eggs, in contaminated food or drink. Adult worms can be up to 50cm long. The journal also explains that symptoms present differently between patients. Some are reportedly 'asymptomatic,' so they show no signs at all. Others may experience diarrhea, anemia, or abdominal pain. The study also notes that an intestinal obstruction due to ascariasis is rare in children.
The three-year-old boy lived in Bali, Indonesia, and reportedly played with his friends in the river almost daily. He rarely wore footwear while playing. He also allegedly picked up trash in a landfill with his grandparents and often drank unboiled water from the river.
The study stresses how rare an intestinal obstruction caused by ascariasis is. It also concludes,' Poor hygiene and sanitation may influence this massive condition.'
