A Case of Gastric Strongyloidiasis Diagnosed by Endoscopic Biopsy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Korea Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Strongyloides stercoralis which exists in two forms : the free living and parasitic forms. It exists in warm, moist climate in areas where there is frequent fecal contamination of the soil. After cutaneous invasion by the filariform larvae, petechial hemorrage, pruritus, papular rashes, edema, and urticaria occur. Infection commonly occurs in the proximal intestine of the gastrointestinal (G-I) tract but may extend from the stomach to the anus. Once the worm is established in the small intestine, the physical findings may include epigastric tenderness to palpation. The mucosal biopsy is an inefficient way of making the diagnosis because the worm is found in the biopsy specimen in only 2% of patients. Gastric strongyloidiasis is rare. We experienced a case of gastric strongyloidiasis diagnosed by the endoscopic biopsy and serologic test for parasite specific IgG antibody by micro-ELISA.

Study on the Transition of Intestinal Parasites in Korea from 1913 to 1989 / 의사학

This study was performed to review the transition of infection rate and major factor in decreasing pattern of intestinal parasites infection in Korea. The results of this review study are as follows: 1) The first study on the intenstinal parasites of Korean was performed by Muta(1913): he reported egg positive rate of A.lumbricodies 80%; that of T.trichiura 93%; that of Hookworm 65%. 2) After then the egg positive rates of A.lumbriciodes among Korean people has been higher thant 80% until and after Korean war. Owing to the biannual mass chemotherapy for 20 years be K.A.P.E.(Korea Association for Parasite Eradication), a decreasing pattern was recognized after 1960's. 3) The nationwide egg positive rate of A.lumbricodies was estimated by M.H.S.A.(Ministry of Health and Social Affairs) and K.A.P.E.(1971, 1976, 1981, 1986) to be 54.89%, 41.0%, 13.0%, 2.1%. 4) The causal agents in decreasing pattern of intestinal parasites in Korea are multifactorial such as mass chemotherapy, environmental sanitation, public education, improvement in socio-economic status, development in antihelminths, increase in use of chemical fertilizer, acceleration in national industrialization and so forth. 5) The infection rate of Korea is still higher than that of Japan and Taiwan but lower than any other countries in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless it is apparent that the present situation is not satisfactory and in this sense more effective and efficient control program is desirable.