AL is the facultative parasite and resides in human intestinal tract as a harmless inhabitant through its adult life. Ascaris infestation affects especially children reside in socioeconomic areas and with malnutrition and immune deficiencies [5]. They live from stomach to ileocecal valve without causing any serious symptoms. When environment may become change to intolerable for their living, they migrate to more appropriate areas of intestinal tract. AL may cause serious problems at this migration including pancreatitis, cholecystitis, liver abscess, intestinal obstruction and even perforation [6, 7]. Diagnosis with clinical symptoms and hematological investigation frequently is not possible. X-ray may show air fluid levels. USG may show two pairs echogenic tubular structures (railway track) longitudinally and bull's eye horizontally [1, 8]. Tubular structures may have active movements that could make diagnosis easily. USG is a simple and reliable method for diagnosis of AL obstruction [6, 9], as seen in our both of cases.
The most common acute complication of AL is intestinal obstruction. The rate of mortality from intestinal obstruction is 5.7% below the age of 10 years [4]. Partial intestinal obstruction from AL may resolve spontaneously with the conservative treatment including bowel rest, intravenous fluids, and nasogastric decompressing [10]. When mechanical obstruction persists, bolus of worm acts a fixed point, and leads to intussusception or volvulus. Ascaris may also excrete neurotoxins and anaphylatoxins leading to small bowel spasticity and inflammation. These toxins may induce the mechanical obstruction as well [5, 11]. Volvulus, intussusception or increasing pressure to the intestinal wall causes necrosis [12]. In case of necrosis, resection and primary anastomosis are necessary. Piperazine citrate is useful postoperatively.
In conclusion, AL should be kept in mind in preschool children with sudden-acute intestinal obstruction. USG is a very useful tool for its diagnosis.