title: Chronic strongyloidiasis in World War II Far East ex-prisoners of war.
abstract: Fifty-two of 142 (37%) American ex-prisoners of war that worked on the Burma-Thailand Railroad during World War II were found to have previously unrecognized symptomatic Strongyloides stercoralis infections. A characteristic urticarial creeping skin eruption on the abdomen, buttocks and thighs occurred in 92%. Infection was also associated with pruritus ani, abdominal pain, indigestion, heartburn, and diarrhea. Demonstration of larvae in ether-formalin stool concentrates in these chronic low density infections required 5 hours of microscopy per case to detect 90% of positive cases. Therapy with thiabendazole resulted in a clinical cure in 93% and a microscopic cure in 100%; but was associated with frequent side effects. Chronic strongyloidiasis should be considered in veterans of Far East conflicts and in others with intimate soil contact in rural Strongyloides stercoralis-endemic areas who present with recurrent creeping skin eruption, abdominal pain, and eosinophilia.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011329:Prisoners; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013321:Strongyloides; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013827:Thiabendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D013827:Thiabendazole