Geo-helminthic infection and nexus of Malignancy in adults: A Case Series

• ¹Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina,

Geo-helminths are those groups of intestinal parasites belonging to the phylum Nematoda transmitted primarily through contaminated soil. 1 WHO classifies them as a neglected tropical disease. Generally, not a fatal diseases unless in immunocompromised disease but have a high morbidity and untoward nutritional and cognitive consequences in children. 2  There are four (4) Parasites under Geo-helminths: Ascaris Lumbricoides, Hookworm (Ancyclsotoma duodenale,Nectaor Americanus), Trichuris trichura and Strongyloides stercoralis. Ascaris lumbricoides  is the commonest and most important of the human nematodes. The first case was a 31 yr old grocery seller who had appendectomy done 5 weeks earlier now presenting cough difficulty breathing, right hypochondria pain and jaundice. Patient cough out an ascaris and CT scan showed hepatocellular carcinoma. The second case was a patient with Hodgkins lymphoma who has failed first line treatment. Admitted with passage of watery loose stool, cough, abdominal pain and progressive worsening of clinical condition. Sputum analysis and stool reveals strongyloides rhabtidiform larvae.