Chest Imaging

Strongyloidiasis

a parasitic infection due to Strongyloides stercoralis, a roundworm which, as part of its life cycle, passes through the lungs. The strongyloides eggs enter the bloodstream, are carried to the lungs, where they migrate through the alveolar walls to the airways and ascend in the tracheobronchial tree, eventually to be swallowed into the intestine, where they grow to their adult form. They may also grow to adult form in the lung itself. Pulmonary symptoms are uncommon. They include unproductive cough, chest pain, and occasionally dyspnoea and haemoptysis. In some patients, a hypersensitivity reaction may occur in the lungs, which manifests itself radiologically as transient migratory patchy and peripheral areas of consolidation, similar to Lofflers syndrome. Blood and sputum eosinophilia are often present.

Strongyloidiasis may also be responsible for a systemic infection in immunocompromised patients.

PG