Anisakiasis: nematode infestation producing small-bowel obstruction
D. Appleby, W. Kapoor, M. Karpf and S. Williams
A case of small-bowel obstruction occurred secondary to an uncommon
parasitic disease, anisakiasis. Intestinal obstruction is a rare
manifestation of this disease. Anisakiasis may be seen initially with
nausea and vomiting or may mimic acute appendicitis or Crohn's disease. The
predisposing factor in all cases is the ingestion of raw fish, and the
disease is preventable by cooking fish at greater than 60 degrees C for a
short time or by freezing at less than -20 degrees C for more than 24
hours. Anisakiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of
small-bowel obstruction in patients whose diet includes raw fish.
