title: Strongyloidiasis: a case with acute pancreatitis and a literature review.
abstract: Strongyloides stercoralis, a soil transmitted helminth infection, affects millions with varying prevalence worldwide. A large number of affected hosts are asymptomatic. Symptoms pertaining to pulmonary and gastrointestinal involvement may be present. Manifestations of involvement beyond lung and intestine can be seen with dissemination of infection and lethal hyperinfection. Immunosuppression secondary to use of steroids or other immunosuppressants and coexistence of human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 are the known risk factors for dissemination and hyperinfection. Diagnostic modalities comprise stool examination, serology and molecular testing. Stool tests are inexpensive but are limited by low sensitivity, whereas serologic and molecular tests are more precise but at the expense of higher cost. Treatment with Ivermectin or Albendazole as an alternative is safe and efficacious. We present a rare case of acute pancreatitis secondary to Strongyloides. High index of suspicion in patients specifically from endemic countries of origin and lack of other common etiologies of acute pancreatitis may help in early diagnosis and prompt treatment of this potentially fatal infection.
authors: Jasbir Makker, Bhavna Balar, Myrta Daniel, Division of Gastroenterology, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, NY 10457, United States.
authors: Jasbir
authors: J
authors: Makker
authors: Jasbir Makker, Bhavna Balar, Myrta Daniel, Division of Gastroenterology, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, NY 10457, United States.
authors: Bhavna
authors: B
authors: Balar
authors: Jasbir Makker, Bhavna Balar, Myrta Daniel, Division of Gastroenterology, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, NY 10457, United States.
authors: Masooma
authors: M
authors: Niazi
authors: Jasbir Makker, Bhavna Balar, Myrta Daniel, Division of Gastroenterology, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, NY 10457, United States.
authors: Myrta
authors: M
authors: Daniel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D007559:Ivermectin
keywords: Autoinfection; Eosinophilia; Helminth; Pancreatitis; Strongyloides