[Fatal hyperinfectious strongyloidiasis: report of 3 cases]

The present paper reports three fatal cases of massive strongyloidiasis. Case 1. A 37-year-old woman with a record of arthropathy and corticosteroids treatment, died in shock. The postmortem examination showed massive intestinal strongyloidiasis with larvae dissemination to lungs, liver, spleen and the adipose tissue located around adrenal glands. Case 2. A 12-year-old, malnourished girl died of peritonitis. The autopsy findings were lithiasis and perforation of jejunum, hyperinfectious strongyloidiasis of intestines and lungs, acute and chronic peritonitis. Case 3. A 7-year-old, cachectic girl with corticosteroid therapy, died in cardiorespiratory arrest. The autopsy revealed hyperinfection by S. stercoralis affecting stomach, intestines, lungs, liver and brain. In Venezuela, literature on massive strongyloidiasis is scarce. The present report stresses the importance of considering this syndrome in patients at risk, in endemic areas, like Venezuela, to prevent unnecessary deaths.