Strongyloides Hyperinfection: An Unusual Cause of Respiratory Failure

Abstract

Letters21 April 2009Strongyloides Hyperinfection: An Unusual Cause of Respiratory FailureFaris Khasawneh, MD, Radhika Sreedhar, MD, and Vishnu Chundi, MDFaris Khasawneh, MDFrom St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL 60160.Search for more papers by this author, Radhika Sreedhar, MDFrom St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL 60160.Search for more papers by this author, and Vishnu Chundi, MDFrom St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL 60160.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-150-8-200904210-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Infection with Strongyloides stercoralis may present with symptoms of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1). However, use of steroids in a wheezing patient with chronic strongyloides may trigger disseminated strongyloides infection (1, 2). In this case, steroid-induced immunosuppression triggered strongyloides hyperinfection in a chronically infected patient.Case Report: A 71-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of shortness of breath associated with nonproductive cough and fever (temperature, 101.2 °F).Her medical history included stroke with subsequent aphasia, dysphagia, and dementia. She had a history of recurrent small-bowel obstructions secondary to adhesions resulting from a hysterectomy. She is a ...