Strongyloides Stercoralis Case Study

Background Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted helminth that penetrates the skin as a method of infection. This parasitic worm gains nutrients and shelter from its host, while causing malnourishment or harm to the diseased. The infective filariform penetrates the skin from infected soil and migrates to the lungs through the blood stream. In order to mature the filariform larvae are coughed up and swallowed to develop into adults in the intestines. The diagnostic stage is the rhabditiform first stage larvae in feces. Autoreinfection can occur when the rhadbitiform larvae develop into the infective stage within the intestines. This internal infection can continue for years causing abdominal pain and diarrhea with amplified eosinophil counts. In addition, autoreinfection can …show more content…
stercoralis can be found concentrated in warm humid climates worldwide. Taiwan, an island to the east of China, is not considered to be the region for this parasite to be found, thus, this study investigated the case of a 17 year old female that presented a rhabditiform larvae in feces after a intestinal transplant who lived in Taiwan.2
Journal Summary and Major Findings The case report expresses a Taiwanese woman’s foray throughout an intestinal graft. At the age of 10 years old she experienced short bowel syndrome, which led to the disposition of the large intestine. An ileostomy stoma was installed and connected for waste removal from this age on. At the age of 12 years old the patient experienced symptoms that correlated with rheumatoid arthritis as was