Introduction: Strongyloides stercoralis, an intestinal nematode, is commonly dispersed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions. Strongyloides stercoralis infection typically contributes to an asymptomatic chronic disease which can remain hidden for decades. However, in immunocompromised patients, the hyperinfection can take place, causing high mortality rates.
Case presentation: A 45 year-old Tunisian women, with heavy medical history, suffering of stage 3 classic Hodgkin lymphoma under treatment; presented with complaints of epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting. Gastroduodenoscopy showed duodenal and gastric erythematous and ulcerated mucosa. Histological assessment showed chronic infiltration with a large amount of eosinophils around numerous helminth forms identified as larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis.
Conclusion: Early detection of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in immunocompromised patients is life saving and avoids fatality caused by hyperinfection or systemic dissemination. Routine stool examination may be negative, so histopathological identification of the parasite in tissue sections provides the definite diagnosis.
Keywords: BEACOPP, Bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone; Case report; Diagnosis; Gastrointestinal infection; HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus; HTLV1, Human T-lymphotropic virus; Histopathology; Hodgkin lymphoma; M.O.P.P, Nitrogen mustard, oncovin, prednisone, procarbazine; Strongyloides stercoralis.
© 2021 The Authors.