Biliary ascariasis

Ascaris lumbricoides, or the common roundworms, has a worldwide distribution but is mainly seen in Asian and Latin American countries. In humans the usual habitat is in the small intestine, mainly in the jejunum. But if the worm load is high, which may go up to a thousand worms, the worms tend to migrate away from the usual site of habitat. This brief paper aims at highlighting the condition of biliary ascariasis through the authors′ experience in managing three such cases over a period of 1 year. The clinical features which arouse suspicion of biliary ascariasis, as well as diagnostic modalities and management, are described. Initially the cases were managed conservatively, but we conclude that if worms are retained in biliary tree for more than 10 days, surgery should be performed; since retention of degraded and calcified dead worm can occur, and this can lead to complications which are difficult to manage