Successful Prompt Diagnosis of Strongyloidiasis in an Outpatient Setting at Amami Oshima Island in Japan: A Case Report

Abstract

Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis that presents with a variety of nonspecific symptoms. Diagnosis is challenging unless physicians suspect this disease and perform sensitivity tests. We report a case of strongyloidiasis with protein-losing gastroenteropathy-like symptoms in a 92-year-old Japanese female with lower extremity edema and hypoalbuminemia. In this case, the patient refused invasive tests for a complete examination; however, an agar plate culture of a stool sample was used to diagnose strongyloidiasis. The patient was treated with ivermectin during the second visit. One month later, leg edema and hypoproteinemia improved. When the cause of the symptoms is unclear, physicians should be aware of the possibility of strongyloidiasis in a person residing in a tropical or subtropical environment, where human feces are used as fertilizer and individuals frequently go barefoot in agricultural settings.