Significant weight loss, nausea, and vomiting due to strongyloidiasis:a case report

Strongyloidiasis is caused by infestation with Strongyloides stercoralis, a free living tropical and semitropical soil helminth that has a larval form that penetrates intact skin. Clinical manifestations may be varied from an asymptomatic infection in immunocompetent hosts to a diffuse and fatal form in immunocompromised hosts. We report a 56-year-old man from Dezful (south-west of Iran) with a 6-month history of nausea, vomiting and significant weight loss (greater than 10%). Abdominal ultrasonography had no significant findings. Upper gastrointestinal series and abdominal CT were performed. Dilated bowel loops especially in the jejunum, with decreased mucosal folds were seen. Abiopsy specimen from the third part of duodenum showed strongyloides larvae, thus albendazole 400 mg twice a day for 3 days was initiated. He responded well to this treatment regimen.