Ascaris Lumbricoides Diagnosed During Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia by Capsule Endoscopy

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common medical condition that has numerous possible causes, which include reduced dietary intake, blood loss, or reduced absorption, and often results in a referral to a gastroenterologist for further work-up. Reduced absorption of iron is an uncommon cause of iron deficiency in healthy non-vegetarian individuals and resource-rich countries. We present an uncommon cause of IDA in the western hemisphere, secondary to Ascaris lumbricoides infection in a 65-year-old female without a history of travel to endemic regions.