eMedicine Specialties > Infectious Diseases > Gastrointestinal Tract and Intra-abdominal Infections
Strongyloidiasis
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.)
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
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| 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










Overview: Strongyloidiasis