title: Diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection.
abstract: Strongyloides stercoralis infects 30 million people in 70 countries. Infection usually results in asymptomatic chronic disease of the gut, which can remain undetected for decades. However, in patients receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy, hyperinfection can occur, resulting in high mortality rates (up to 87%). Strongyloidiasis is difficult to diagnose because the parasite load is low and the larval output is irregular. Results of a single stool examination by use of conventional techniques fail to detect larvae in up to 70% of cases. Several immunodiagnostic assays have been found ineffective in detecting disseminated infections and show extensive cross-reactivity with hookworms, filariae, and schistosomes. Although it is important to detect latent S. stercoralis infections before administering chemotherapy or before the onset of immunosuppression in patients at risk, a specific and sensitive diagnostic test is lacking. This review describes the clinical manifestations of strongyloidiasis, as well as various diagnostic tests and treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA. siddiqui@cortex.ama.ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Berk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents