Clinical and epidemiologic features of strongyloidiasis. A prospective study in rural Tennessee

Arch Intern Med. 1987 Jul;147(7):1257-61.

Abstract

Hospitalized and domiciliary patients were studied to determine the incidence of the endemic nematode Strongyloides stercoralls in stool samples. Strongyloides was found in 14 (6.1%) of 229 hospitalized patients and in nine (2.6%) of 346 domiciliary patients. Clinical symptoms, laboratory data, and underlying diseases were compared for stool-positive and stool-negative patients. Infected patients were more likely to complain of abdominal bloating. They had a higher incidence of eosinophilia and guaiac-positive stools. They were more likely to have been treated with corticosteroids, cimetidine, and antacids. Efficacy of treatment with thiabendazole was studied in all stool-positive patients; a relapse rate of 15% was noted with standard thiabendazole therapy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Kentucky
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • North Carolina
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recurrence
  • Rural Population
  • Strongyloides / isolation & purification
  • Strongyloidiasis / diagnosis*
  • Strongyloidiasis / drug therapy
  • Strongyloidiasis / epidemiology
  • Tennessee
  • Thiabendazole / therapeutic use
  • Virginia

Substances

  • Thiabendazole