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| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1969 | 1619 | 62 |
| Full Text Views | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| PDF Downloads | 28 | 1 | 0 |
Chronic Strongyloidiasis in World War II Far East Ex-Prisoners of War
Lawrence L. Pelletier Jr.
Lawrence L. Pelletier Jr.
Medical Service, Wichita Veterans Administration Center and Department of Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, Kansas 67218
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Fifty-two of 142 (37%) American ex-prisoners of war that worked on the Burma-Thailand Railroad during World War II were found to have previously unrecognized symptomatic Strongyloides stercoralis infections. A characteristic urticarial creeping skin eruption on the abdomen, buttocks and thighs occurred in 92%. Infection was also associated with pruritus ani, abdominal pain, indigestion, heartburn, and diarrhea. Demonstration of larvae in ether-formalin stool concentrates in these chronic low density infections required 5 hours of microscopy per case to detect 90% of positive cases. Therapy with thiabendazole resulted in a clinical cure in 93% and a microscopic cure in 100%; but was associated with frequent side effects. Chronic strongyloidiasis should be considered in veterans of Far East conflicts and in others with intimate soil contact in rural Strongyloides stercoralis-endemic areas who present with recurrent creeping skin eruption, abdominal pain, and eosinophilia.
Author Notes
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1969 | 1619 | 62 |
| Full Text Views | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| PDF Downloads | 28 | 1 | 0 |