• Sue Lim, Kevin Katz, Sigmund Krajden, Milan Fuksa, Jay S Keystone, and Kevin C Kain.
• Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital--University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.
• CMAJ. 2004 Aug 31; 171 (5): 479-84.

AbstractStrongyloidiasis, which is caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, is a common and persistent infection, particularly in developing countries. In the setting of compromised cellular immunity, it can result in fulminant dissemination with case-fatality rates of over 70%. The majority of new Canadian immigrants come from countries where Strongyloides is highly endemic; therefore, the burden of Strongyloides may be underappreciated in Canada. Because early diagnosis and therapy can have a marked impact on disease outcome, screening for this infection should be considered mandatory for patients who have a history of travel or residence in a disease-endemic area and risk factors for disseminated disease (e.g., corticosteroid use and human T-lymphotropic virus type I infection).

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