Leighton P M, MacSween H M
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Dr Everett Chalmers Hospital, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Arch Intern Med. 1990 Aug;150(8):1747-8. doi: 10.1001/archinte.150.8.1747.
A 74-year-old woman with a history since childhood of skin eruptions and gastrointestinal problems was found to have peripheral eosinophilia. This finding was subsequently related to a chronic infection with the parasite Strongyloides stercoralis. This parasite is capable of autoinfection, which would account for the infection persisting for about 65 years. The intraduodenal habitat of S stercoralis and the negative results of numerous stool examinations promoted the use of the duodenal string test, which was diagnostic. A high index of suspicion should exist for patients from endemic regions in Southeast Asia and the Southeastern United States.
