Hookworm infestation as a cause of melena and severe anaemia in farmer.

Hookworm infections remain a major cause of morbidity in the developing world. Prevalence is highest in agricultural areas, where use of waste water for irrigation and poor hygiene increases infection rates among farmers. Infections present with gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic anaemia, and there are usually no signs of overt blood loss. The following report describes a case of melena in a middle-aged farmer, where the diagnosis of hookworm infestation was delayed due to the unusual presentation. The patient underwent multiple blood transfusions before referral to the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi and was managed conservatively with mebendazole at our hospital after exclusion of other possible causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. This case highlights the importance of considering hookworm infestations as a cause of melena in the older age group, where other critical differentials such as peptic ulcer disease and occult malignancy may result in delay in initiation of treatment and a significant financial burden on the patient.

Human infection by acanthocephalan parasites belonging to the genus Corynosoma found from small bowel endoscopy.

A 73-year-old man with a suspected ileus in January 2013 and subsequently suffered melena in February 2014 was endoscopically examined. As a result of the examinations, unidentified species of Corynosoma sp. and Corynosoma villosum were recovered from the small intestine, further endoscopic diagnosis suggested relevance between abdominal pain and the present infections in the small intestine. The recovered worms were composed of gravid females with developed eggs, suggesting that these parasites can survive for a long time in the intestine after infection. In this case, the short interval between infections appears to be due to the individual's eating habits which consist of regularly consuming uncooked seafood.

Melena revealing a nasopharyngeal leech: a paediatric case.

Leech infestation occurs after swimming or ingestion of freshwater, especially in rural areas. Symptoms are different depending on the binding site of the leech. At the nasopharynx, it is mainly responsible for epistaxis. We report a case of an unknown pharyngeal location of a leech in a three year-old girl responsible for melena and leading to a severe anaemia.

Hookworm causing melaena and severe anaemia in early infancy.

Hookworm infestation is usually acquired by transcutaneous penetration of larvae whilst walking barefoot on contaminated soil. We present a small infant who presented with melaena and severe anaemia requiring multiple blood transfusions where the cause of gastro-intestinal bleeding was found to be massive hookworm infestation.

Gastric wall erosion by an amebic liver abscess in a 3-year-old girl.

The occurrence of an amebic liver abscess (ALA) rupturing into the stomach is reported. ALAs in children can have atypical presentations, resulting in delayed diagnosis and increased morbidity and mortality. Timely treatment is usually followed by complete recovery.