ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES THROUGH AN INTERCOSTAL CHEST TUBE IN A CASE WITH HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA
European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine, cilt.13, sa.8, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 13 Sayı: 8
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.12890/2026_007276
- Dergi Adı: European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Anahtar Kelimeler: albendazole, antihelminthic, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Introduction: Ascaris lumbricoides typically mimics pneumonia during its larval migration phase. However, its presentation with pleural effusion and the recovery of a live adult worm through an intercostal chest tube is extraordinarily rare. This case highlights a unique opportunistic parasitic infection in an immunocompromised paediatric patient, emphasising the need to consider parasitic aetiologies in refractory pulmonary symptoms within oncology settings. Case description: A 15-year-old female with stage IIIA Hodgkin’s lymphoma presented with fever, cough and respiratory distress five days after completing her second cycle of COPDAC chemotherapy. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotics and bilateral chest tube insertion for persistent pleural effusion, her clinical condition remained refractory. A live, 15-cm adult A. lumbricoides was unexpectedly recovered from the right chest tube. Following a 21-day course of albendazole, the patient showed complete clinical and radiological resolution. Conclusion: In paediatric oncology patients, standard treatments for pneumonia may fail when atypical pathogens are involved. This case underscores that clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for helminthic infections in immunocompromised hosts presenting with atypical or refractory pleural and pulmonary findings.