Introduction: Biliary ascariasis, although uncommon, can lead to infectious complications and severe outcomes. This study reported three patients with biliary ascariasis and who were admitted to a paediatric hospital in Salvador, Brazil.
Case reports: Case 1: A 1-year-old boy, with HIV, hospitalised with diarrhoea, fever, pain, and abdominal distension. He underwent an exploratory laparotomy, which showed peritonitis secondary to a perforation of the hepatic duct by ascaris. Case 2: A 3-year-old boy admitted with fever, abdominal pain and jaundice. Imaging examination was suggestive of ascaris in the intrahepatic biliary tract and a hepatic abscess. Case 3: A 7-year-old boy who was hospitalised with a history of abdominal colic, jaundice and fever, with a suggestive image of ascaris in the biliary tract and evolution to sepsis.
Discussion: Three cases of biliary ascariasis were reported with severe infectious complications involving peritonitis, hepatic abscess and sepsis.
Conclusion: In endemic regions, biliary ascariasis should be considered in cases with jaundice, abdominal pain and fever, due to its morbidity and risk of complications.
Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides; Biliary ascariasis; Liver abscess; Sepsis.
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