Sudden death in a 2-year-old child: Role of Ascaris infestation and other possibilities

More than a billion people worldwide are infested with one or more parasite especially intestinal nematodes. Amongst the intestinal nematodes, Ascaris lumbricoides is the most common parasitic infestation. Ascariasis tends to occur more commonly in places where sanitation is minimal along with poor personal hygiene, and human faeces is used to fertilise crops, which is usually seen in underdeveloped or developing countries. Children are more likely to be infested and have higher worm load. Sudden death attributable to ascariasis per se is unusual; instead, it often leads to chronic malnutrition. A rare case is reported where death resulted from airway obstruction by a single ascaris worm in a two-year-old child.