Strongyloidiasis in childhood
J. A. Burke
Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode of man that is still
regularly encountered in many parts of the United States. Strongyloidiasis
should be considered in any child with unexplained eosinophilia,
steatorrhea, protein-losing enteropathy, or chronic diarrhea, especially if
associated with weight loss, growth failure, or recurrent upper abdominal
pain. This parasite should be ruled out in any patient from an endemic
region who is to be treated with corticosteroids of immunosuppressive
agents. Microscopical examination of duodenal fluid, Baermann's fecal
extraction technique, or the Haradi-Mori stool culture method may be
required to make a diagnosis because the organism is not routinely found in
concentrated feces even after multiple examinations in some infected
individuals. A diagnosis of strongyloidiasis is important because the
disease is curable.
