Strongyloidiasis overview: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 7: Line 7:
==Historical Perspective==
==Historical Perspective==
''[[Strongyloides]]'' was first discovered in 1876 by the French physician Louis Alexis Normand while working in the naval hospital in Toulon; he identified the adult worms and sent them to Arthur Réné Jean Baptiste Bavay, chief health inspector, who observed that the worms were the adult forms of the larvae found in [[stool]]. In 1883, the German parasitologist Rudolf Leuckart made initial observations on the life cycle of [[Parasites|parasite]]. Belgian physician Paul Van Durme described the mode of infection through the skin. The German parasitologist Friedrich Fülleborn described [[autoinfection]] and the mechanism by which strongyloidiasis involves the [[intestine]]. Strongyloidiasis was investigated further during the 1940s, as persons who had acquired the infection abroad and then received [[immunosuppression]] developed hyper-infestation syndrome.<ref name="Cox">{{cite journal | author=Cox FE | title=History of Human Parasitology | journal=Clin. Microbiol. Rev. | volume=15 | issue=4 | pages=595–612 | pmid=12364371 | doi=10.1128/CMR.15.4.595-612.2002 | pmc=126866 | url=http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/15/4/595}}</ref>
''[[Strongyloides]]'' was first discovered in 1876 by the French physician Louis Alexis Normand while working in the naval hospital in Toulon; he identified the adult worms and sent them to Arthur Réné Jean Baptiste Bavay, chief health inspector, who observed that the worms were the adult forms of the larvae found in [[stool]]. In 1883, the German parasitologist Rudolf Leuckart made initial observations on the life cycle of [[Parasites|parasite]]. Belgian physician Paul Van Durme described the mode of infection through the skin. The German parasitologist Friedrich Fülleborn described [[autoinfection]] and the mechanism by which strongyloidiasis involves the [[intestine]]. Strongyloidiasis was investigated further during the 1940s, as persons who had acquired the infection abroad and then received [[immunosuppression]] developed hyper-infestation syndrome.<ref name="Cox">{{cite journal | author=Cox FE | title=History of Human Parasitology | journal=Clin. Microbiol. Rev. | volume=15 | issue=4 | pages=595–612 | pmid=12364371 | doi=10.1128/CMR.15.4.595-612.2002 | pmc=126866 | url=http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/15/4/595}}</ref>
==Classification==
Strongyloidiasis may be classified as acute or chronic based on the duration of symptoms and as hyper infection syndrome or disseminated strongyloidiasis based on the organ system involvement.


==Pathophysiology==
==Pathophysiology==
Line 37: Line 39:


===Chest and Abdominal X-rays===
===Chest and Abdominal X-rays===
Radiographs can be useful investigations in the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis. A chest x-ray can reveal varying sizes of oval or round infiltrates ([[Löffler's syndrome]]). Plain abdominal radiographs and contrast studies may reveal worm masses in bowel loops.<ref name="pmid17940124">{{cite journal |vauthors=Segarra-Newnham M |title=Manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis infection |journal=Ann Pharmacother |volume=41 |issue=12 |pages=1992–2001 |year=2007 |pmid=17940124 |doi=10.1345/aph.1K302 |url=}}</ref>
Radiographs can be useful investigations in the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis. A chest X-ray can reveal varying sizes of oval or round infiltrates ([[Löffler's syndrome]]). Plain abdominal radiographs and contrast studies may reveal worm masses in bowel loops.<ref name="pmid17940124">{{cite journal |vauthors=Segarra-Newnham M |title=Manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis infection |journal=Ann Pharmacother |volume=41 |issue=12 |pages=1992–2001 |year=2007 |pmid=17940124 |doi=10.1345/aph.1K302 |url=}}</ref>


===CT===
===CT===

Revision as of 17:32, 3 August 2017

Strongyloidiasis Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Strongyloidiasis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

X Ray

CT

MRI

Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Strongyloidiasis overview On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Strongyloidiasis overview

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Strongyloidiasis overview

CDC on Strongyloidiasis overview

Strongyloidiasis overview in the news

Blogs on Strongyloidiasis overview

Directions to Hospitals Treating Strongyloidiasis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Strongyloidiasis overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Strongyloidiasis is a human parasitic disease caused by the nematode (roundworm) Strongyloides stercoralis or sometimes S. fülleborni. The primary mode of infection is through contact with soil that is contaminated with free-living larvae. It can cause a variety of symptoms, most commonly skin lesions, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. In some people, particularly those who require corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications, Strongyloides can cause a hyperinfection syndrome that can lead to death if left untreated. The disease may be complicated by disseminated strongyloidiasis (especially in immunosuppressed patients), eosinophilic pneumonia, and malnutrition. The diagnosis is made by blood and stool tests. Ivermectin is the drug of choice in the treatment of strongyloidiasis.

Historical Perspective

Strongyloides was first discovered in 1876 by the French physician Louis Alexis Normand while working in the naval hospital in Toulon; he identified the adult worms and sent them to Arthur Réné Jean Baptiste Bavay, chief health inspector, who observed that the worms were the adult forms of the larvae found in stool. In 1883, the German parasitologist Rudolf Leuckart made initial observations on the life cycle of parasite. Belgian physician Paul Van Durme described the mode of infection through the skin. The German parasitologist Friedrich Fülleborn described autoinfection and the mechanism by which strongyloidiasis involves the intestine. Strongyloidiasis was investigated further during the 1940s, as persons who had acquired the infection abroad and then received immunosuppression developed hyper-infestation syndrome.[1]

Classification

Strongyloidiasis may be classified as acute or chronic based on the duration of symptoms and as hyper infection syndrome or disseminated strongyloidiasis based on the organ system involvement.

Pathophysiology

Strongyloides is classified as a soil-transmitted helminth. The primary mode of infection is through contact with soil that is contaminated with free-living larvae. When the larvae come in contact with skin, they are able to penetrate it and migrate through the body, eventually finding their way to the small intestine where they burrow and lay their eggs. Unlike other soil-transmitted helminths such as hookworm and whipworm, whose eggs do not hatch until they are outside the body, the eggs of Strongyloides hatch into larvae in the intestine. Most of these larvae will be excreted in the stool, but some of the larvae may molt and immediately re-infect the host either by burrowing into the intestinal wall or by penetrating the perianal skin. This characteristic of Strongyloides is termed auto-infection. The significance of auto-infection is that if left untreated, persons may remain infected throughout their lifetime.[2][3][4][5]

Causes

Strongyloidiasis is a human parasitic disease caused by the nematode (roundworm) Strongyloides stercoralis or sometimes S. fülleborni.

Differentiating Strongyloidiasis from other Diseases

Strongyloidiasis can mimic other worm infections like Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm infections (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale), Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) and gastrointestinal pathologies such as peptic ulcer disease, intussusception in children, and bile duct stone.[6][7][8]

Epidemiology and Demographics

The global prevalence of Strongyloides is unknown, but experts estimate that there are between 30–100 million infected persons worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical countries. Strongyloidiasis is more common in the pediatric age group (ages 2-10 years).[9][8][10]

Risk Factors

Strongyloides is found more frequently in the socioeconomically disadvantaged, institutionalized populations, and in rural areas. Activities that increase contact with the soil increase the risk of becoming infected, such as walking with bare feet or contact with human waste or sewage. Occupations that increase contact with contaminated soil such as farming and coal mining, and a history of infection with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1 (HTLV-1) also increase the risk of infection.[11][9]

Natural history, Complications and Prognosis

If strongyloidiasis is left untreated, the infection can disseminate and transform into hyperinfection syndrome which has a mortality rate of 90%. Complications that can develop as a result of strongyloidiasis are disseminated strongyloidiasis (especially in patients with HIV or an otherwise suppressed immune system), eosinophilic pneumonia, malnutrition, and malabsorption. With appropriate treatment, people should make a full recovery. Treatment needs to be repeated often. Infections that are severe or widespread often have a poor outcome, especially in people with a suppressed immune system.

Diagnosis

History and symptoms

Strongyloides infection occurs in five forms. On acquiring the infection, there may be respiratory symptoms (Löffler's syndrome). The infection may then become chronic with mainly digestive symptoms. On reinfection (when larvae migrate through the body), there may be respiratory, skin, and digestive symptoms. Finally, hyperinfection syndrome causes symptoms in many organ systems, including the central nervous system.[12][13]

Physical examination

The physical examination findings in strongyloidiasis vary and are usually dependent on the worm burden and the involved organ.[14]

Laboratory findings

The gold standard for the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis is serial stool examination. Duodenal aspirate is more sensitive than stool examination. Duodenal biopsy may reveal parasites in the gastric crypts, duodenal glands, or eosinophilic infiltration in the lamina propria. In disseminated cases of strongyloidiasis, larvae can be detected in sputum by simple wet-mount of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Immunodiagnostic tests for strongyloidiasis are indicated when the infection is suspected and the organism cannot be demonstrated by duodenal aspiration, string tests, or by repeated examinations of stool. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is currently recommended because of its greater sensitivity (90%). Cross-reactions in patients with filariasis and some other nematode infections can occur. Antibody test results cannot be used to differentiate between past and current infection.[15][2][16]

Chest and Abdominal X-rays

Radiographs can be useful investigations in the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis. A chest X-ray can reveal varying sizes of oval or round infiltrates (Löffler's syndrome). Plain abdominal radiographs and contrast studies may reveal worm masses in bowel loops.[14]

CT

There are no specific CT findings associated with strongyloidiasis. However, in cases of abdominal obstruction due to worm burden, CT can demonstrate collapsed loops of the bowel distally and radial distribution of several dilated, fluid-filled bowel loops.

MRI

There are no specific MRI findings associated with strongyloidiasis.

Ultrasound

There are no specific ultrasound findings associated with strongyloidiasis.

Other Imaging Findings

There are no other specific imaging findings associated with strongyloidiasis infection.

Other diagnostic tests

Upper and lower GI endoscopy, skin biopsy, and BAL fluid examination are some other diagnostic tests that are employed in diagnosing strongyloidiasis when there is a negative stool exam.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

The drug of choice for the treatment of uncomplicated strongyloidiasis is ivermectin with albendazole as the alternative. All patients who are at risk of disseminated strongyloidiasis should be hospitalized.[14][17]

Surgery

Strongyloidiasis is usually managed with medical therapy. However, surgery may be indicated when medical management fails or complications arise.

Primary Prevention

The prevention of strongyloidiasis is best achieved through improvements in personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

Secondary Prevention

Secondary preventive measures of strongyloidiasis are similar to primary preventive measures.[14]

References

  1. Cox FE. "History of Human Parasitology". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 15 (4): 595–612. doi:10.1128/CMR.15.4.595-612.2002. PMC 126866. PMID 12364371.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Beknazarova M, Whiley H, Ross K (2016). "Strongyloidiasis: A Disease of Socioeconomic Disadvantage". Int J Environ Res Public Health. 13 (5). doi:10.3390/ijerph13050517. PMC 4881142. PMID 27213420.
  3. Ardiç N (2009). "[An overview of Strongyloides stercoralis and its infections]". Mikrobiyol Bul (in Turkish). 43 (1): 169–77. PMID 19334396.
  4. Keiser PB, Nutman TB (2004). "Strongyloides stercoralis in the Immunocompromised Population". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 17 (1): 208–17. PMC 321465. PMID 14726461.
  5. "CDC - Strongyloides - Biology".
  6. Durand, Marlene (2015). "Chapter 288:Intestinal Nematodes (Roundworms)". Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases Updated Edition, Eighth Edition. Elsevier. pp. 3199–3207. ISBN 978-1-4557-4801-3.
  7. Kim, Kami; Weiss, Louis; Tanowitz, Herbert (2016). "Chapter 39:Parasitic Infections". Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine Sixth Edition. Elsevier. pp. 682–698. ISBN 978-1-4557-3383-5.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Puthiyakunnon S, Boddu S, Li Y, Zhou X, Wang C, Li J, Chen X (2014). "Strongyloidiasis--an insight into its global prevalence and management". PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 8 (8): e3018. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003018. PMC 4133206. PMID 25121962.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "CDC - Strongyloides - Epidemiology & Risk Factors".
  10. Schär F, Trostdorf U, Giardina F, Khieu V, Muth S, Marti H, Vounatsou P, Odermatt P (2013). "Strongyloides stercoralis: Global Distribution and Risk Factors". PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 7 (7): e2288. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002288. PMC 3708837. PMID 23875033.
  11. Ostera G, Blum J (2016). "Strongyloidiasis: Risk and Healthcare Access for Latin American Immigrants Living in the United States". Curr Trop Med Rep. 3: 1–3. doi:10.1007/s40475-016-0065-3. PMC 4757600. PMID 26925367.
  12. Montes M, Sawhney C, Barros N. "Strongyloides stercoralis: there but not seen". Curr Opin Infect Dis. 23 (5): 500–4. doi:10.1097/QCO.0b013e32833df718. PMC 2948977. PMID 20733481.
  13. Marcos LA, Terashima A, Dupont HL, Gotuzzo E. "Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome: an emerging global infectious disease". Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 102 (4): 314–8. doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.01.020. PMID 18321548.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Segarra-Newnham M (2007). "Manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis infection". Ann Pharmacother. 41 (12): 1992–2001. doi:10.1345/aph.1K302. PMID 17940124.
  15. Mendes T, Minori K, Ueta M, Miguel DC, Allegretti SM (2017). "Strongyloidiasis Current Status with Emphasis in Diagnosis and Drug Research". J Parasitol Res. 2017: 5056314. doi:10.1155/2017/5056314. PMC 5292188. PMID 28210503.
  16. Siddiqui AA, Berk SL (2001). "Diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection". Clin. Infect. Dis. 33 (7): 1040–7. doi:10.1086/322707. PMID 11528578.
  17. http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Strongyloidiasis.htm

Template:WH Template:WS