Imported strongyloidiasis: epidemiology, presentations, and treatment.
Strongyloidiasis is extremely more frequent in immigrants than in travellers. Clinical presentations do not differ significantly between the two groups, and the most frequent picture is a chronic infection characterized by intermittent, mild, non-specific symptoms. Acute presentation is rare but it has been reported in travellers. Screening of asymptomatic subjects is not generally recommended, while a presumptive treatment with ivermectin might be justified for all travellers and immigrant patients presenting unexplained eosinophilia and/or compatible symptoms, even in case of negative test results. In fact, delayed diagnosis and treatment has life-threatening consequences in patients with conditions predisposing to development of hyperinfection and dissemination.
Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD), Sacro Cuore Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, Negrar, Verona, Italy, dora.buonfrate@sacrocuore.it.
Dora
D
Buonfrate
Andrea
A
Angheben
Federico
F
Gobbi
Jose
J
Muñoz
Ana
A
Requena-Mendez
Eduardo
E
Gotuzzo
Maria Alejandra
MA
Mena
Zeno
Z
Bisoffi