Strongyloidiasis (patient information)

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Strongyloidiasis

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Strongyloidiasis?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

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Overview

Strongyloidiasis is infection with the roundworm Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis).

What are the symptoms of Strongyloidiasis?

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. If there are symptoms, they may include:

What causes Strongyloidiasis?

S. stercoralis is a roundworm that is fairly common in warm, moist areas. Rarely, it can be found as far north as Canada. People catch the infection when their skin comes in contact with soil contaminated with the worms. The tiny worm is barely visible to the naked eye. Young roundworms can move through a person's skin and into the bloodstream to the lungs and airways. They then move up to the throat, where they are swallowed into the stomach. The worms then move to the small intestine, where they attach to the wall. Later, they produce eggs, which hatch into tiny larvae and pass out of the body. Unlike other worms, these larvae can reenter the body through the skin around the anus, which allows an infection to grow. Areas where the worms go through the skin may become red and painful. This infection is uncommon in the United States. Most cases seen in North America are brought by travelers who have visited or lived in South America or Africa.

Diagnosis

The following tests may be done:

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of strongyloidiasis.

Treatment options

The goal of treatment is to eliminate the worms with anti-worm medications such as ivermectin or albendazole. In some cases, people with no symptoms are treated. This includes people who take drugs that suppress the immune system.

Prevention

Good personal hygiene can reduce the risk of strongyloidiasis. Public health services and sanitary facilities provide good infection control.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

With good treatment, people should make a full recovery and the parasites should be removed. Sometimes treatment needs to be repeated. Infections that are severe or widespread often have a poor outcome, especially in people with a weakened immune system.

Possible complications

Sources

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001654/