title: A young man with bowel obstruction and cachexia.
abstract: A young man from Jamaica was admitted with cachexia, postprandial epigastric pain and vomiting. His abdominal examination revealed a soft abdomen with hyperactive bowel sounds, the laboratory investigations showed mild anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia, and abdominal x ray showed dilated and oedematous bowel loops. A duodenal biopsy revealed larvae and eggs in the epithelium consisted with Strongyloides infection. In retrospect the patient was found to be HTLV-1 positive. Helminthic infections can present with bowel obstruction even in the absence of eosinophilia or diarrhoea, and should be considered in patients with the appropriate epidemiological background.
authors.affiliation: North Middlesex Hospital, Flat F, 30 Greencroft Gardens, London NW6 3LT, UK.
authors.forename: Polychronis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mylona
authors.forename: Badri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vijaynagar