eMedicine Specialties > Infectious Diseases > Gastrointestinal Tract and Intra-abdominal Infections

Strongyloidiasis

Author: Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MD, Director of Infectious Disease Fellowship, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Harper Hospital, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Ramesh A Bharadwaj, MD, Fellow in Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University; Hari Polenakovik, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH; Sylvia Polenakovik, MD, Clinical Instructor, Internist, Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne Hospital, Wright State University
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 3, 2009

Introduction

Background

Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal infection caused by two species of the parasitic nematode Strongyloides. The most common and clinically important pathogenic species in humans is Strongyloides stercoralis. Strongyloides fuelleborni is found sporadically in Africa and Papua New Guinea. Distinctive characteristics of this parasite are its ability to persist and replicate within a host for decades while producing minimal or no symptoms and its potential to cause life-threatening infection (hyperinfection syndrome, disseminated strongyloidiasis) in an immunocompromised host.

For more information on cutaneous manifestations of strongyloidiasis, see the article Strongyloidiasis in eMedicine’s Dermatology volume. For additional information on pediatric strongyloidiasis, see the article Strongyloidiasis in eMedicine’s Pediatrics: General Medicine volume.

Pathophysiology

The life cycle of S stercoralis is complex and unique among the intestinal nematodes. It has two types of life cycles—a free-living life cycle and a parasitic life cycle.

Human infection is acquired via penetration of intact skin by filariform larvae during contact with contaminated soil or other material contaminated with human feces. The larvae then enter the circulation and are carried hematogenously to the lungs, where they enter the alveolar space. They then ascend the tracheobronchial tree and are swallowed. When they reach the small bowel, they molt twice and mature into adult females (2 mm X 0.05 mm in diameter). (All parasitic adult worms are female.)

First stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ster...

First stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.

First stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ster...

First stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.


Second stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ste...

Second stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.

Second stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ste...

Second stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.


Third stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ster...

Third stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.

Third stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ster...

Third stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.


Fourth stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ste...

Fourth stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.

Fourth stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ste...

Fourth stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.


Fifth stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ster...

Fifth stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.

Fifth stage, life cycle of <EM>Strongyloides ster...

Fifth stage, life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis. Illustration by Tessa Kalman.


The parasitic females produce eggs via parthenogenesis. These eggs hatch into noninfective rhabditiform larvae, which may then be passed through the stool into the environment, where they mature into adult males and females. Alternatively, they may cause autoinfection.

Autoinfection involves premature transformation of noninfective larvae (rhabditiform, 0.25 mm X 0.015 mm) into infective larvae (filariform, 0.5 mm X 0.015 mm), which can penetrate the intestinal mucosa (internal autoinfection) or the skin of the perineal area (external autoinfection), thus establishing a developmental (parasitic) cycle within the host. Infection can be maintained by repeated migratory cycles for the remainder of the host’s life.

Autoinfection is kept in check by a normal host immune response. However, in patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity, autoinfection may give rise to the two most severe forms of strongyloidiasis: hyperinfection syndrome and disseminated strongyloidiasis.

Hyperinfection syndrome represents an acceleration of the normal life cycle of S stercoralis, leading to excessive worm burden without the spread of larvae outside the usual migration pattern (eg, gastrointestinal tract, lungs). Disseminated strongyloidiasis involves widespread dissemination of larvae to extraintestinal organs (eg, CNS, heart, urinary tract, endocrine organs), which are outside the realm of the parasite's ordinary life cycle. In these severe forms, translocation of enteric bacteria may occur, leading to polymicrobial bacteremia and occasionally meningitis with enteric pathogens. The enteric pathogens may be carried on the filariform larvae or may enter the circulation through intestinal ulcers.

Frequency

United States

Strongyloidiasis is uncommon, although endemic foci exist in rural areas of the southeastern states and the Appalachia region, with prevalence rates close to 4%. Populations in whom strongyloidiasis is more prevalent include patients in long-term institutionalized care, immigrants or refugees from tropical and subtropical countries, and persons who were stationed in Southeast Asia during World War II1 and the Vietnam War.

International

Strongyloidiasis is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. Prevalence rates are as high as 40% in certain areas, especially West Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. The disease is estimated to affect more than 70 million people worldwide.

Mortality/Morbidity

Severe strongyloidiasis carries a high mortality rate (up to 80%) because the diagnosis is often delayed. This relates to its nonspecific presentation and the host's immunocompromised status. Most immunocompetent individuals who develop strongyloidiasis have asymptomatic chronic infections that result in negligible morbidity.

Race

Strongyloidiasis has no predilection for any racial or ethnic group.

Sex

Strongyloidiasis has no predilection for either sex.

Age

Strongyloidiasis occurs in all age groups, although acquisition is more common during childhood.

Clinical

History

  • Acute strongyloidiasis
    • Lower-extremity itch (eg, mild rash at the site of larval skin penetration, usually on feet)
    • Cough, dyspnea, wheezing, and low-grade fever (due to larval migration through lungs)
    • Epigastric discomfort, diarrhea, occasional nausea, and vomiting
  • Chronic strongyloidiasis
    • Asymptomatic or vague abdominal discomfort (most patients)
    • Abdominal pain, burning, and cramping (sometimes worse after eating)
    • Intermittent diarrhea (eg, alternating with constipation)
    • Occasional nausea and vomiting
    • Weight loss (if heavier infestation)
    • Recurrent maculopapular or serpiginous rashes (larva currens)
  • Severe strongyloidiasis
    • Insidious and occasionally abrupt onset
    • Nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain
    • Diarrhea, occasionally bloody
    • Cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, and wheezing
    • Stiff neck, headache, and confusion (if CNS involvement)
    • Rash
    • Fever, chills

Physical

  • Acute strongyloidiasis
    • Pruritic erythematous maculopapules at the site of larval skin penetration, usually on the feet
    • Wheezing
    • Low-grade fever
    • Epigastric tenderness
  • Chronic strongyloidiasis
    • Epigastric tenderness
    • Chronic urticaria
    • Larva currens ("racing larva") - Rapidly progressive serpiginous wheals beginning perianally and extending to the buttocks, upper thighs, and abdomen at a rate of 5-10 cm/h; pathognomonic lesion of strongyloidiasis possibly due to an external autoinfection (ie, filariform larvae in feces penetrate perianal skin, producing local allergic reaction)
  • Severe strongyloidiasis
    • Diffuse abdominal tenderness; abdominal distension; hyperactive, hypoactive, or absent bowel sounds; vomiting; hematemesis; and hematochezia
    • Altered mental status and meningismus (if CNS involvement)
    • Rash (petechiae, purpura) over the trunk and proximal extremities caused by small dermal blood vessel disruption due to massive migration of filariform larvae within the skin
    • Cough, respiratory distress, wheezing, hemoptysis, and crackles
    • Fever, chills

Causes

  • Risk factors for severe strongyloidiasis
    • Corticosteroid therapy - Most important risk factor; other immunosuppressive agents (eg, chemotherapeutic agents, tacrolimus, tumor necrosis factor [TNF] modulators)
    • Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 infection2,3
    • Neoplasms, particularly hematologic malignancies (lymphoma, leukemia)
    • Organ transplantation4,5,6
    • Malabsorption states
    • End-stage renal disease
    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Advanced age
    • HIV infection
    • No obvious precipitating factor

More on Strongyloidiasis

Overview: Strongyloidiasis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Strongyloidiasis
Treatment & Medication: Strongyloidiasis
Follow-up: Strongyloidiasis
Multimedia: Strongyloidiasis
References

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Further Reading

Keywords

strongyloidiasis, hyperinfection syndrome, disseminated strongyloidiasis, Strongyloides, threadworm infection, Cochin China diarrhea, parasitic nematodes, Strongyloides stercoralis, S stercoralis, Strongyloides fuelleborni, S fuelleborni, bacterial meningitis, rhabditiform larvae, parthenogenesis, filariform, bacteremia, Escherichia coli, E coli, Klebsiella species, helminth, strongyloidosis, acute strongyloidiasis, chronic strongyloidiasis, intestinal strongyloidiasis

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MD, Director of Infectious Disease Fellowship, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Harper Hospital, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ramesh A Bharadwaj, MD, Fellow in Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University
Ramesh A Bharadwaj, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Michigan State Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hari Polenakovik, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH
Hari Polenakovik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sylvia Polenakovik, MD, Clinical Instructor, Internist, Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne Hospital, Wright State University
Sylvia Polenakovik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Wesley W Emmons, MD, FACP, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University; Consulting Staff, Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Christiana Care, Newark, DE
Wesley W Emmons, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and International AIDS Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Ronald A Greenfield, MD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Ronald A Greenfield, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Microbiology, Central Society for Clinical Research, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Mycology Society of the Americas, Phi Beta Kappa, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, and Southwestern Association of Clinical Microbiology
Disclosure: Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Gilead Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ortho McNeil Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Wyeth Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Abbott Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Astellas Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Cubist  Speaking and teaching

CME Editor

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital
Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America
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Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD, Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital
Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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