Airway obstruction by Ascaris, roundworm in a burned child.

Ascaris lumbricoides, roundworm, is a Nematode parasite infecting about 1 billion people worldwide. We report the case of a ten-year-old Bedouin girl hospitalized with burns to 45% of her body surface area, including the face. The patient was intubated upon admission and mechanically ventilated. Four days later she was extubated but required reintubation 15 min later for severe hypoxemia. Laryngoscopy disclosed an unidentified tube which obstructed the opening of the larynx. The 'tube' was removed by Magill forceps. The object was identified as a 35 cm long Ascaris roundworm. Once the worm was removed the patients' respiratory condition dramatically improved. We review the main features of Ascaris infection and some similar cases of airway obstruction caused by this worm.