ABSTRACT
Hypoparathyroidism is a rare metabolic disease. In addition to symptoms of hypocalcemia, chronic hypoparathyroidism can result in brain calcifications leading to Fahr syndrome. Hypoparathyroidism most commonly results as a postsurgical complication, with autoimmune disease the second most common etiology. Here we report a 48-year-old man with symptoms of chronic hypocalcemia who presented with status epilepticus following severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. In addition to severe hypocalcemia, he was found to have an inappropriately low serum parathyroid hormone level and basal ganglia calcifications visualized on head computed tomography scan. He was treated with intravenous calcium infusion prior to transition to orally administered calcium, calcitriol, and high-dose cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).
ABSTRACT
Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases. Sparse, dated central African and Rwandan data on seroprevalence are available to guide public health efforts and clinical care. Methods: In February 2016 we conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among 539 asymptomatic participants in a rural area in the Gisagara District, Southern Province, Rwanda. Direct faecal smear (DFS) and modified Koga agar plate culture (APC) were used to detect S. stercoralis infection in a single stool sample. Data on other soil-transmitted helminths diagnosed by DFS were also recorded. Results: Four intestinal helminth infections were diagnosed, with S. stercoralis (17.4%) and hookworms (8.2%) seen most often. APC, compared with DFS, increased the diagnosis rate for S. stercoralis from 1.9% to 17.4% (p<0.01). The prevalence was higher in farmers and those with lower socio-economic status. Females were less often infected than males (odds ratio 0.6 [95% confidence interval 0.3 to 0.9], p=0.02). Conclusions: S. stercoralis is highly prevalent among the general population in a rural area of Gisagara District, Southern Province, Rwanda. Access to effective diagnosis and treatment is needed for this neglected disease.
