Strongyloides Hyperinfection: An Unusual Cause of Respiratory Failure
Authors: Faris Khasawneh, Radhika Sreedhar, Vishnu Chundi
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Letters21 April 2009Strongyloides Hyperinfection: An Unusual Cause of Respiratory FailureFaris Khasawneh, MD, Radhika Sreedhar, MD, and Vishnu Chundi, MDFaris Khasawneh, MDFrom St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL 60160.Search for more papers by this author, Radhika Sreedhar, MDFrom St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL 60160.Search for more papers by this author, and Vishnu Chundi, MDFrom St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL 60160.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-150-8-200904210-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Infection with Strongyloides stercoralis may present with symptoms of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1). However, use of steroids in a wheezing patient with chronic strongyloides may trigger disseminated strongyloides infection (1, 2). In this case, steroid-induced immunosuppression triggered strongyloides hyperinfection in a chronically infected patient.Case Report: A 71-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of shortness of breath associated with nonproductive cough and fever (temperature, 101.2 °F).Her medical history included stroke with subsequent aphasia, dysphagia, and dementia. She had a history of recurrent small-bowel obstructions secondary to adhesions resulting from a hysterectomy. She is a ...References1. Chu E, Whitlock WL, Dietrich RA. Pulmonary hyperinfection syndrome with Strongyloides stercoralis. Chest. 1990;97:1475-7. [PMID: 2347234] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Newberry AM, Williams DN, Stauffer WM, Boulware DR, Hendel-Paterson BR, Walker PF. Strongyloides hyperinfection presenting as acute respiratory failure and gram-negative sepsis. Chest. 2005;128:3681-4. [PMID: 16304332] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Lim S, Katz K, Krajden S, Fuska M, Keyatone JS, Kain KC. Complicated and fatal Strongyloides infection in Canadians: risk factors, diagnosis and management. CMAJ. 2004;171:479-84. [PMID: 15337730] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Brambilla G, Grassi V, Giffo B, Simeon R, Charneau C, Ba L. Malignant intestinal strongyloidiasis associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice. 2005;13:206-7. CrossrefGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL 60160.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByMeprednisoneStrongyloidiasis with Emphasis on Human Infections and Its Different Clinical FormsThe urgent need for clinical, diagnostic, and operational research for management of Buruli ulcer in AfricaSevere strongyloidiasis: a systematic review of case reportsImported Strongyloidiasis: Epidemiology, Presentations, and TreatmentAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Complicating Strongyloides stercoralis HyperinfectionRegulation and dysregulation of immunoglobulin E: a molecular and clinical perspective 21 April 2009Volume 150, Issue 8Page: 570-571KeywordsAsthmaDiagnostic radiologyLungsRespiratory failureSputumSteroidsThoraxTransplantationUpper respiratory tract infectionsVentilators ePublished: 21 April 2009 Issue Published: 21 April 2009 CopyrightCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...