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Fatal Strongyloides hyper-infection in a patient with myasthenia gravis

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Abstract

Purpose

We report a fatal case of Strongyloides hyper-infection as the result of corticosteroid therapy of a patient with myasthenia gravis.

Case presentation

Our patient was a farmer with a past history of living in an endemic area for Strongyloides stercoralis in Iran. Hyper-infection was diagnosed during the advanced-stage disease by demonstration of enormous number of larvae in the direct smears prepared from both the stool and tracheal secretions. Unfortunately, despite appropriate anti-parasite therapy, the patient died due to respiratory failure.

Conclusion

We recommend the provision of more awareness in high-risk people prior to immunosuppressive therapy, through screening for S. stercoralis, even in non-endemic regions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Ali-Asghar Pahlevan for the time generously spent in thoroughly revising the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    M. Saraei, B. Hosseinbigi & M. Shahnazi

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    B. Bijani

  3. Buali Hospital, Buali St, 34137-86165, Qazvin, Iran

    B. Bijani

Authors
  1. M. Saraei
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  2. B. Hosseinbigi
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  3. M. Shahnazi
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  4. B. Bijani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Bijani.

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Saraei, M., Hosseinbigi, B., Shahnazi, M. et al. Fatal Strongyloides hyper-infection in a patient with myasthenia gravis. Infection 42, 1039–1042 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-014-0637-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-014-0637-x

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