A Case of Chronic Strongyloidiasis with Recurrent Hyperinfection
- Author:
Kuenyoul PARK
1
;
Min Sun KIM
;
Jeonghyun CHANG
;
Eo Jin KIM
;
Changhoon YOO
;
Min Jae KIM
;
Heungsup SUNG
;
Mi Na KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Strongyloides stercoralis; Chronic; Recurrent; Hyperinfection; Sepsis; Meningitis
- MeSH: Abdominal Pain; Albendazole; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diarrhea; Escherichia coli; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Ivermectin; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Larva; Male; Meningitis; Middle Aged; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Sepsis; Sputum; Strongyloides stercoralis; Strongyloidiasis; Weight Loss
- From:Laboratory Medicine Online 2019;9(3):171-176
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode that often causes chronic diarrhea and may develop severe complicated form of hyperinfection or disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of recurrent strongyloidiasis presenting with pulmonary and meningeal involvement. A 55-year-old male diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 4 months ago was admitted due to chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss for 2–3 months. He had been treated with albendazole for chronic recurrent strongyloidiasis 13 years ago and again 2 years ago. He developed sepsis of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli on Days 3 and 7, respectively, and then meningitis of E. coli on Day 42. Strongyloidiasis was diagnosed by detection of abundant filariform larvae in sputum specimens on Day 15. He was treated for disseminated strongyloidiasis with albendazole and ivermectin for five weeks until clearance of larvae was confirmed in sputum and stool specimens. Laboratory diagnosis is important to guide appropriate treatment and to prevent chronic and recurrent strongyloidiasis.
