Strongyloides stercoralis infestation masquerading as steroid resistant asthma.
A 42 year old man presented with steroid resistant asthma of 6 months duration. Serial chest radiographs showed migrating interstitial shadowing. Electrocardiographs showed decreasing R-wave progression in the precordial leads, and endomyocardial biopsy showed eosinophil infiltration with fibrosis. Bronchoscopy revealed inflammatory changes and lavage showed filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis in the washings. This confirms the diagnosis of parasitic infection with eosinophilic cardiomyopathy.
Dept of Medicine, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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Pansegrouw
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*
D001507:Beclomethasone; D011241:Prednisone