title: Chronic strongyloidiasis - Don't look and you won't find.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Strongyloidiasis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases and it exists in Australia. Patients may have acquired their initial infection while in an endemic area. Because of the autoinfective cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis, the causative agent, these patients may remain infected for life unless effectively treated. Corticosteroids have precipitated death in more than 60% of disseminated strongyloidiasis cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to raise awareness of the unique features of S. stercoralis and outline the important role that general practitioners (GPs) have in diagnosing and treating chronic strongyloidiasis, as well as in preventing cases of fatal hyperinfection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic strongyloidiasis is not an overt disease - if you don't look for it, you won't find it. In particular, patients who have lived in an endemic area or have unexplained eosinophilia must be checked for the presence of the parasite before initiation of steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. These patients, if infected, may develop hyperinfective syndrome, which has a high fatality rate.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speare
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids