STRONGYLOIDIASIS CAUSING BOWEL PERFORATION: RARE COMPLICATION

Strongyloidiasis is a soil-transmitted helminth infection caused by Strongyloides Stercoralis, mostly in tropical and sub-tropical regions, affecting over 600 million people worldwide. Infection is more prevalent among those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, institutionalized, or residing in rural areas. Parasitic adult females reside in the duodenum or stomach and produce eggs that hatch in the mucosa. Chronic infection may be asymptomatic or be associated with dermatological, respiratory, or gastrointestinal symptoms. The diagnosis of S. stercoralis is often delayed due to the presence of subclinical or poorly symptomatic cases, the usually low parasite load and irregular larvae output, and the lack of a gold standard diagnostic test. We present an unusual case of a 13-year-old female patient with intestinal perforation due Strongyloides Stercoralis infection.

We present a 14year old female, who presented with features of acute abdomen and was operated on an account of intestinal perforation due to Typhoid ileitis in a private hospital, due to worsening condition the patient was referred to our Teaching Hospital, where she had laparotomy and small bowel resection due to probably typhoid ileitis not properly managed, the sample was submitted for histopathology test. An area of intestinal ulcers and perforation, adult worm, and ova of parasite lodged within the mucosa and crypts of small intestine consistent with Strongyloides Stercoralis was seen.

We report a rare case of intestinal perforation due Strongyloidiasis. In endemic areas, other Neglected Tropical Diseases should also be considered as differential diagnoses of acute abdomen and the associated unusual complications like intestinal perforation.