Open AccessIntestinal Perforation Due to Adult Tapeworm of Taenia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Author(s) -
Rita Bhandari,
Rajan Chamlagain,
Edward Sutanto,
Hammad Adam,
Anil Dhungana,
Aishnath Azna Ali,
Bimochan Piya,
Abdulla Ubaid,
Andreas Neumayr
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
clinical medicine insights. case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1179-5476
DOI - 10.1177/11795476211072670
Subject(s) - taeniasis , taenia , perforation , exploratory laparotomy , medicine , cysticercosis , abdominal pain , surgery , helminths , general surgery , pathology , immunology , cestode infections , punching , materials science , metallurgy
Taeniasis is an intestinal helminth infection due to adult tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia. Taeniasis remains a major burden in low-income countries in Asia. We present a case of intestinal perforation caused by adult tapeworm of Taenia in a 50-year-old Nepali male. The patients presented to the hospital with severe abdominal pain and intermittent vomiting. Following clinical presentations and imaging features, gastrointestinal perforation was suspected. Surgical removal of adult tapeworm of Taenia, suspected to be T. saginata or T. asiatica, was carried out during exploratory laparotomy, which was followed by an uneventful postoperative period. In addition to case presentation, we systematically review published case reports on taeniasis-related intestinal perforation. A learning point from this case is clinician should maintain a clinical suspicion of taeniasis as a possible cause of intestinal perforation in endemic areas.