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Requena-Méndez A, Roos E, van der Werff SD, Wyss K, Davidsson L, Naucler P, Färnert A, Asgeirsson H. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of imported strongyloidiasis at a tertiary hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 56:102666. [PMID: 37977232 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since Strongyloides can persist in its host for decades, and cause life threatening infections data on prevalence, the burden and risk factors for infection is crucial in migrant populations. METHODS In this observational retrospective cohort study, we describe the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics of imported strongyloidiasis diagnosed at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, during 2010-2021. RESULTS We identified 98 individuals with strongyloidiasis, 89 (90.8%) born in endemic and 9 (9.2%) in non-endemic countries. Sub-Saharan Africa was the most common origin among the group born in endemic countries (62, 69.7%), (p < 0.005). There were 22 individuals with an underlying immunosuppressive condition. Gastrointestinal symptoms (53/98, 54.1%) were the symptoms most frequently described, and were more frequent in adults (57.0%) vs children (0%) (p = 0.013). Eosinophilia was detected in 74 (75.5%), being more frequent in the endemic-borne group (79.8% vs 33.3%, p = 0.002). Eight persons developed complications of strongyloidiasis because of either hyperinfection or disseminated disease. No people living with HIV with CD4 <500/mm3 (n = 6) developed severe strongyloidiasis. CONCLUSION A limited number of strongyloidiasis cases was identified, with few complicated cases in immunosuppressed patients. Further studies focusing on identifying and exploring the risk of complicated strongyloidiasis in immunosuppressed patients are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Requena-Méndez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Barcelona Institute for Global Health, (ISGlobal, University of Barcelona), Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Emilia Roos
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Suzanne D van der Werff
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katja Wyss
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Pontus Naucler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Färnert
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hilmir Asgeirsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Buonfrate D, Angheben A, Gobbi F, Muñoz J, Requena-Mendez A, Gotuzzo E, Mena MA, Bisoffi Z. Imported strongyloidiasis: epidemiology, presentations, and treatment. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2012; 14:256-62. [PMID: 22322601 DOI: 10.1007/s11908-012-0248-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Strongyloidiasis is extremely more frequent in immigrants than in travellers. Clinical presentations do not differ significantly between the two groups, and the most frequent picture is a chronic infection characterized by intermittent, mild, non-specific symptoms. Acute presentation is rare but it has been reported in travellers. Screening of asymptomatic subjects is not generally recommended, while a presumptive treatment with ivermectin might be justified for all travellers and immigrant patients presenting unexplained eosinophilia and/or compatible symptoms, even in case of negative test results. In fact, delayed diagnosis and treatment has life-threatening consequences in patients with conditions predisposing to development of hyperinfection and dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Buonfrate
- Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD), Sacro Cuore Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, Negrar, Verona, Italy,
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