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Monthy Case Studies - 1999
Case #21 - October, 1999
A mother submitted a stool specimen from her toddler-aged daughter for examination at a local clinic in California. She stated that she had seen many small brown worms in the child's diaper. No other symptoms were reported. What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?
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Answer to Case #21
The objects in this case were artifacts, banana seeds to be specific. Upon gross examination, the seeds somewhat resemble small worm-like structures. Closer, microscopic examination shows no morphological structures as one would see in adult or larval stages of helminths (such as organs, cuticle, mouth parts, and similar structures). Interestingly, several respondents echoed this, stating that they have received these so-called worms from parents who found them in their child's diaper.
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More on: Artifacts
Images presented in the monthly case studies are from specimens submitted for diagnosis or archiving. On rare occasions, clinical histories given may be partly fictitious.
