Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society  2014;18(4):241-245

doi:10.4235/jkgs.2014.18.4.241

Strongyloides Hyperinfection in an Elderly Patient Treated for Stomach Cancer.

Young Min RAH 1 ; Su A YUN ; Hee Jung YOON ; Seung Yun LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Strongyloides stercoralis; Stomach neoplasms; Ivermectin; Parasitology

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode with a complex life cycle, including a free living cycle, a parasitic cycle, and an auto-infection cycle. S. stercolaris infection may occur in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. It is usually asymptomatic and undetectable for decades in a healthy host. In immunocompromised patient, however, it may cause life threatening hyperinfection involving multiple organs. In Korea, several cases of Strongyloides hyperinfection have been reported since 1959. However, reports with gastric involvement and peritoneal invasion are rare. This is a report of gastric strongyloidiasis hyperinfection identified at ascites in an elderly patient who had subtotal gastrectomy due to stomach cancer.