A Case of Gastric Strongyloidiasis Diagnosed by Endoscopic Biopsy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

ABSTRACT

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.