title: Unsuspected strongyloidiasis in hospitalised elderly patients with and without eosinophilia.
abstract: The prevalence and associated factors of chronic uncomplicated strongyloidiasis were estimated among 200 consecutive elderly patients (aged >or= 60 years) admitted to a general hospital in northern Italy. One-hundred patients had a peripheral eosinophil concentration >or= 500 cells/microL (group A), and 100 were age- and gender-matched controls (group B). Measurements included serum IgG anti-Strongyloides antibody titre by an indirect immunofluorescence assay, combined with faecal culture for Strongyloides stercoralis. Anti-Strongyloides antibodies were detected in 28 patients (at high titre in 11 patients). Seropositivity was significantly more common among group A than among group B patients (OR 4.85). Strong seropositivity for anti-Strongyloides antibodies was associated with farm work (p < 0.001), but not with other patient characteristics or with signs and symptoms of strongyloidiasis. In conclusion, strongyloidiasis was relatively common among elderly in-patients; eosinophilia and a history of farm work were the most useful indications for this diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro, Novara, Italy. mario.pirisi@med.unipmn.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirisi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bisoffi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smirne
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gigli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minisini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortina
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bartoli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth