Pancreatitis due to Ascaris lumbricoides: second occurrence after 2 years
Shad, J.A.; Lee, Y.R.
Southern Medical Journal 94(1): 78-80
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0038-4348 PMID: 11213951 Document Number: 539042
Pancreatitis is a common disease in the United States, with the most likely etiologies being biliary tract disease and alcohol use. Infections with parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides comprise a small percentage of pancreatitis cases in the United States, but they are a common etiology in developing countries. In the United States, the incidence of pancreatic and biliary ascariasis has been increasing because of the migration of people from endemic countries, as well as increased travel by Americans to such countries. Patients treated for this roundworm can have reinvasion for the same reasons. We report the case of a patient with two episodes of pancreatitis due to A. lumbricoides 2 years apart.