Hyperthemia after cardiac surgery due to ascariasis in a child: report of a case.

Ascaris lumbricoides is the most common parasite affecting humans, especially in countries and regions with lower socio-economic conditions. A 2-year-old female child underwent right pulmonary angioplasty using cardiopulmonary bypass. Serious hyperthermia continued after surgery, and, therefore, a re-exploration of the mediastinum was performed because mediastinitis was suspected. No evidence of wound infection was revealed. Ascaris lumbricoides was subsequently isolated from her stool. The patient had no further hyperthermia throughout her hospitalization and was discharged uneventfully on post-operative day 12. The probable origin of the fever was an A. lumbricoides infection and ascariasis may cause the occurrence of serious hyperthermia during the perioperative period. Ascaris lumbricoides infection may, therefore, cause high-grade fever after cardiac surgery.