ABSTRACT
Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic infection caused by Strongyloides stercoralis. The infection is usually mild or asymptomatic in normal immunocompetent individuals, but could be very severe or even fatal due to hyper infection in individuals who are immunosuppressed. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, risk factors and features of strongyloidiasis among diarrhea patients in Ibadan. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of diarrhea patients from a teaching hospital, three major government hospitals and one mission hospital in Ibadan. Self administered questionnaire, clinical assessment and laboratory investigations were used to confirm health status and presence of S. stercoralis. Diagnosis was made by microscopic examination of stool in saline preparation and formol-ether concentration. One thousand and ninety patients, (562 (51.6%) males and 528 (48.4%) females) consisting 380 (34.9%) children and 710 (65.1%) adults who had diarrhea were studied. The prevalence rate for the parasite among diarrhea patients was 3.0%. While the risk factor for infection remains contact with contaminated soil, malnutrition, steroid therapy, HIV/AIDS, lymphomas, tuberculosis, and chronic renal failure. Others are maleness, institutionalism and alcoholism. Predominant clinical presentations are abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, and bloating and weight loss, Strongyloides stercoralis should be considered in diarrhea patients who are either malnourished or immunosuppressed.
Subject(s)
Diarrhea/parasitology , Strongyloides stercoralis/isolation & purification , Strongyloidiasis/diagnosis , Strongyloidiasis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diarrhea/epidemiology , Feces/parasitology , Female , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Nigeria/epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Strongyloidiasis/complications , Strongyloidiasis/parasitology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
Gastrodiscoides hominis is a large fluke of pig and human and constitutes an important parasite of human in Assam, Indian, the Philippines and Southeast Asia. This parasite has not been reported in Nigeria and possibly other parts of Africa. This is a case report of a seven year old Nigerian child who presented with features of malnutrition and anaemia and was found to have Gastrodiscoides hominis and Ascaris lumbricoides. Following clearance of the worms there was tremendous improvement of the health status of the child. The detailed epidemiology of this parasite still remains to be studied in this environment.