A 3-year-old boy from Indonesia had to undergo emergency intestinal surgery after vomiting live worms — the shocking result of a heavy infestation of Ascaris lumbricoides, a parasitic roundworm transmitted through contaminated soil or water.
The boy was initially admitted for what seemed like simple constipation, but doctors soon discovered he had severe intestinal obstruction. Within a day in hospital, the child began vomiting worms — prompting urgent imaging and surgical intervention. During surgery, doctors found three sites of intestinal blockage and had to physically extract the tangled mass of worms using a ‘milking’ procedure.
The child had several risk factors: he often played barefoot in rivers, drank unboiled water, and regularly accompanied his grandparents to landfills to help sort garbage with bare hands. These high-risk exposures likely contributed to the massive worm burden.
While many children may carry roundworms without symptoms, severe cases like this can lead to intestinal obstruction or even perforation. A similar case from Cameroon, reported in 2019 and involving a 4-year-old boy, documented intestinal rupture from Ascaris, requiring bowel resection.
A report on the Indonesian boy, published on April 10 in the ‘Journal of Medical Reports’, urges caregivers — especially in tropical regions — to stay vigilant.
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How Parents Can Help Prevent Worm Infections
Make handwashing a habit: Use soap after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before meals. Many infections spread through hand-to-mouth contact.
Clean under the nails: Scratching the anal area (especially common in threadworm infections) can transfer eggs to hands and surfaces.
Always wear shoes outdoors: Parasite eggs can lurk in contaminated soil — walking barefoot, especially in tropical areas, raises risk of hookworm infections.
Wash and cook food properly: Undercooked meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables can carry tapeworm or roundworm eggs.
Treat the whole family: If one child is infected, everyone in the household may need treatment to prevent re-infection.
Avoid untreated water: Drinking unboiled or unfiltered water, especially in rural or under-resourced areas, can lead to infection.
The Indonesian child recovered with surgery and a course of antiparasitic drugs, but doctors caution that such cases can turn fatal quickly if missed. In areas where ascariasis is still endemic, prevention and awareness are the first line of defence.
The writer is a senior independent journalist.
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