An unusual masquerader residing in the lungs

Year 2017, Volume: 07 Issue: 01, 51 - 53, 01.03.2017

Isabella Princess, Anila Mathan, Shanmugaraj T.k, Suresh Kumar

https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.vi.328847

Abstract

Parasitic infections of the lungs are almost always rare as the number of causative parasites is limited. There is an
equal balance between protozoans and helminths causing lung infections. Most of the times, these infections are only
seen in immunocompromised individuals. Among the helminths causing infection in this group of patients,
Strongyloides stercoralis is associated with hyper infection syndrome. Most of these infections go unnoticed as they
are not looked for carefully due to non-suspicion of the same. Development or exacerbation of symptoms is common
in acute Strongyloidiasis. In such cases, the mortality rate is quite high. We present a case of pulmonary
Strongyloidiasis who presented with acute exacerbation of COPD on corticosteroid therapy in whom the outcome was
fatal. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 7(1): 51-53  

Keywords

Strongyloidiasis, Strongyloides stercoralis, bronchiectasis, COPD

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