title: Disseminated strongyloidiasis in a immunocompromised host.
abstract: Strongyloidiasis in an immunocompromised patient has the potential to be life threatening. We describe a boy who was on steroids for acute demyelinating myelitis and receiving antibiotics for E. coli UTI and meningitis. He developed anasarca, malabsorption, malnutrition and left ventricular failure. Duodenal biopsy revealed abundant rhabditiform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. The diagnosis went unsuspected and proved fatal. This emphasizes the need to have a high index of suspicion and early intervention for S. stercoralis in immunosuppressed persons who present with refractory gastrointestinal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India. suneel_cm@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Suneel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mundkur
authors.forename: Shrikiran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aroor
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jayashree
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000276:immunology*