ABSTRACT
With the evolution of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of patients brought to medical attention has increased. This has led to the unmasking of many coexisting occult infections and comorbidities such as tuberculosis, dengue, human immunodeficiency viral infection, diabetes, and hypertension. We report the first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, unveiling the diagnosis of asymptomatic filariasis. A 37-year-old gentleman presented with shortness of breath, fever, and cough. He was found to have COVID-19 pneumonia. During his stay, microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti was detected incidentally on a blood smear exam. Consequently, the patient received appropriate treatment for both conditions. In order not to miss relevant concomitant diagnoses, it is prudent to keep a broad differential diagnosis when faced with SARS-CoV-2-infected patients; this is especially true when atypical symptoms are present or in areas endemic with other infections.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Filariasis/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , Adult , Animals , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Coinfection , Coronavirus Infections/parasitology , Filariasis/virology , Humans , Incidental Findings , Male , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/parasitology , SARS-CoV-2 , Wuchereria bancroftiABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has emerged and rapidly evolved into a current global pandemic. Although bacterial and fungal coinfections have been associated with COVID-19, little is known about parasitic infection. We report a case of a COVID-19 patient who developed disseminated strongyloidiasis following treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and tocilizumab. Screening for Strongyloides infection should be pursued in individuals with COVID-19 who originate from endemic regions before initiating immunosuppressive therapy.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/parasitology , Diabetes Mellitus/parasitology , Hypertension/parasitology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/parasitology , Pneumonia, Viral/parasitology , Strongyloides stercoralis/pathogenicity , Strongyloidiasis/parasitology , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Aged , Animals , Anthelmintics/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage , Betacoronavirus/pathogenicity , COVID-19 , Coinfection , Connecticut , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Coronavirus Infections/immunology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus/immunology , Diabetes Mellitus/virology , Ecuador , Humans , Hypertension/drug therapy , Hypertension/immunology , Hypertension/virology , Immunologic Factors/administration & dosage , Male , Pandemics , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/immunology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/virology , Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy , Pneumonia, Viral/immunology , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , SARS-CoV-2 , Strongyloidiasis/drug therapy , Strongyloidiasis/immunology , Strongyloidiasis/virologySubject(s)
Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Malaria/drug therapy , Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy , Betacoronavirus/pathogenicity , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Coronavirus Infections/parasitology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Humans , Malaria/complications , Malaria/parasitology , Malaria/virology , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/parasitology , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The burden of malaria is heavily concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where cases and deaths associated with COVID-19 are rising1. In response, countries are implementing societal measures aimed at curtailing transmission of SARS-CoV-22,3. Despite these measures, the COVID-19 epidemic could still result in millions of deaths as local health facilities become overwhelmed4. Advances in malaria control this century have been largely due to distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs)5, with many SSA countries having planned campaigns for 2020. In the present study, we use COVID-19 and malaria transmission models to estimate the impact of disruption of malaria prevention activities and other core health services under four different COVID-19 epidemic scenarios. If activities are halted, the malaria burden in 2020 could be more than double that of 2019. In Nigeria alone, reducing case management for 6 months and delaying LLIN campaigns could result in 81,000 (44,000-119,000) additional deaths. Mitigating these negative impacts is achievable, and LLIN distributions in particular should be prioritized alongside access to antimalarial treatments to prevent substantial malaria epidemics.