Strongyloidiasis
Keywords:
Strongyloides stercoralis. Strongyloidiasis. Hyperinfection syndrome. Disseminated infection.Abstract
Context: Strongyloides stercoralis is a helminth, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries. Its infestation in humans usually does not produce symptoms. However, in some patients, severe and life-threatening forms of this infection can occur, especially in
immunocompromised individuals. Severe parasitic infection is triggered by an imbalance in the host’s immunity favoring the auto-infective cycle. Clinical presentation is variable, and it is very difficult to diagnose clinically. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. A high index
of suspicion is required to guide targeted investigations and reduce delays in commencing appropriate treatment, ultimately improving patient outcomes. In this review article, we summarized the existing and current published literature concerning the Strongyloides stercoralis
infection.
Objective: To review and summarize the current published literature concerning different aspects of the Strongyloides stercoralis infection, including its clinical manifestations, the role of fecal-oral transmission, and the management and control of the infection.
Materials and Methods: To review and summarize all the published literature to date from PubMed, Ovid and medRxiv. The cutoff for selected data sources was up to April 1st, 2022.
Conclusion: Infection by Strongyloides stercoralis is very common in tropical and subtropical regions. Most of the patients are asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic. However, life-threatening forms can occasionally occur, as in cases of hyper-infection syndrome and disseminated infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. In most of the patients, it is not diagnosed at all, or diagnosed very late. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose and
treat
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