Fatal Case of a Child Harboring Enterobius vermicularis

Enterobius vermicularis is a threadlike parasite also known as pinworms. It is the most common helminth infection, affecting the gastrointestinal tracts of children worldwide, although it seldom causes any fatalities. Enterobius vermicularis infections are usually asymptomatic and may only cause anal pruritis, with occasional reported cases of ectopic migration into the appendix or the female genital tract by adult pinworms. Here, we report a case of a 15-year-old girl who presented to the emergency department with high-grade fever, vomiting, and vague abdominal pain for three days. She was diagnosed with acute abdominal pain and underwent emergency ileocecectomy, but died the following day. Pathological examination of ileocecal junction showed intraluminal and intramural Enterobius vermicularis, which were attributed as the cause of her death in the absence of any other pathologies. Death due to Enterobius vermicularis is rare; this case calls for clinicians to be vigilant in exploring Enterobius vermicularis infections in patients with undiagnosed acute abdominal pain, since it could be a potential cause of death.

Automated summary

In this case report, a 15-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with high-grade fever, vomiting, and vague abdominal pain. Despite being diagnosed with acute abdominal pain and undergoing emergency ileocecectomy, she unfortunately died the next day. Pathological examination revealed the presence of Enterobius vermicularis in the ileocecal junction, which was determined to be the cause of her death. This rare case highlights the importance for clinicians to consider Enterobius vermicularis infections as a potential cause of death in patients with undiagnosed acute abdominal pain.