Hypertonic saline enema in gastrointestinal ascariasis.

Many dangerous surgical complications like intestinal obstruction, acute appendicitis with perforation, ileal perforation in a typhoid patient, Meckel's diverticulitis, disruption of post operative intestinal anastomosis, volvulus, and intussusception are known to occur due to ascariasis, with considerable morbidity and mortality. In this retrospective study of 250 cases of gastrointestinal ascariasis admitted in paediatric surgical wards of Govt. Medical College, Jabalpur (MP), the authors analysed the results of conservative (especially the use of hypertonic saline enema-given just like an ordinary soap water enema but substituting freshly made hypertonic saline in place of soap water) and surgical treatment. The success rate of conservative treatment was 95.6%. Hypertonic saline passes through the incompetent ileo-caecal valve (present in 80% of children) and irritates the worm bolus commonly situated in the terminal ileum, causing it to disintegrate. It also helps to increase the intestinal motility and passage of worms into the colon. The use of hypertonic saline enema is safe and effective in the conservative treatment of gastrointestinal ascariasis. Authors feel that it is the most grossly under utilized part of conservative treatment and deserves to be known and used on wider scale.

Clinical observation on combined use of herbal medicine and acupuncture for treatment of 50 cases of biliary ascariasis complicated by infection.

50 cases of biliary ascariasis complicated by infection were treated by An Hui Zhi Tong Decoction combined with acupuncture. The cure rate was 72%, with a total effective rate of 96%, the therapeutic effect being better than that of the control group of 42 cases treated by western medicine. This therapy exerts good antipyretic effect, improves the symptoms quickly, and has no adverse side effects, thus its therapeutic effect is certain for treatment of biliary ascariasis complicated by infection.

Ascaris lumbricoides aggregation in relation to child growth status, delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, and plant anthelmintic use in Madagascar.

The relationships between Ascaris lumbricoides worm burden, growth status, general delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) response, and plant anthelmintic use were investigated in a 12-mo prospective survey of 663 children, 4-10 yr old, living in the Ranomafana rainforest, Madagascar. Initial fecal examinations revealed prevalences of 93% for A. lumbricoides, 55% for Trichuris trichuria, and 27% for hookworm. After anthelmintic treatment and a 12-mo reinfection period, 428 of the children participated in worm expulsion studies using pyrantel pamoate, revealing an overdispersed A. lumbricoides worm population, mean = 19.2 (SD = 20.4). Malnutrition was common with 72% of the children growth stunted, 61% underweight, and 6% wasted. The children were also skin tested to recall antigens for DCH, with 94% reacting. The DCH immune response was significantly decreased in the malnourished children; however, DCH was not reduced in relation to increasing worm intensity. Growth status, growth velocity, and triceps skinfold did not vary significantly in relation to A. lumbricoides worm burden. Traditional plant anthelmintic treatment was effective in significantly reducing worm intensity. This study indicates that, in human communities where the children are predominately stunted, A. lumbricoides does not aggregate in the most malnourished or immunodepressed children.

Treatment of biliary colic by water injection in the region of Qimen, Riyue, and Juque points.

Water injection was used in the treatment of 56 cases of biliary colic. The method was based on the writings of Zhang Zhongjing about the role of the Qimen point in treating diseases and clinical practice in this respect, water injection being performed at the most sensitive spot in the region defined by the lines joining the Qimen (Liv 14), Riyue (GB 24), and Juque (Ren 14) points. Pain disappeared in 32 (57.1%) of the 56 cases treated, and the total effective rate was 96.4%, showing a significantly better result compared with that of the control group treated with Western medicine (P < 0.05).

Further observations on the therapeutic effect of magnets and magnetized water against ascariasis in children--analysis of 114 cases.

Ascariasis, the most common intestinal parasitic disease in children, is commonly treated with ascaricides, which however often produce sitic disease in children, is commonly treated only simple appliances which are easy to use, economical and cause no side effects. Treatment is effective in most cases.