STRONGYLOIDES STERCORALIS INFECTION

Course overview

DESPITE ITS ABILITY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING DISEASES, STRONGYLOIDIASIS IS ONE OF THE MOST NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES. MOREOVER, STRONGYLOIDES INFECTION CAN LAST THE HOST'S LIFETIME DUE TO ITS ABILITY TO CAUSE AUTOINFECTION OF THE HOST. THE HELMINTH S. STERCORALIS MAINLY INFECTS HUMANS BUT ALSO OCCURS NATURALLY IN DOMESTIC DOGS, CATS, AND PRIMATES. MANIFESTATIONS OF INFECTION CAN RANGE FROM ASYMPTOMATIC TO LIFE-THREATENING COMPLICATIONS AND REQUIRE A HIGH DEGREE OF SUSPICION TO MAKE THE DIAGNOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY EXAMINES THE PATHOGENESIS, DISEASE MANIFESTATIONS, AND MANAGEMENT OF STRONGYLOIDIASIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE.