[Strongyloidosis in Canavese: 4 cases seen at the 'Ospedale di Ivrea-Castellamonte. Epidemiological and clinical considerations].

Abstract

From May 1988 to September 1990 the microbiology laboratory of the Ivrea-Castellamonte Hospital (Province of Turin) carried out 1464 coproparasitological investigations. 0.5% of the samples, coming from 5 patients, proved to be Strongyloides stercoralis positive. 4 cases were diagnosed in recovery conditions, and on these we carried out a retrospective study (taking into consideration some epidemiological and clinical aspects). The average age of these patients, three men and one woman, was 70.5; all native of the Canavese and resident in agricultural zones; two farmers still working, a worker and a retired worker. All of them presented one or more associated pathologies and/or a tendency to parasitosis. The clinical picture was characterized by abdominal pain, present in three cases, while diarrhoea was observed in only one case; a slight temperature in two, a high temperature in one; nettle-rash manifestations in one case and breathing symptomatology in two. In two cases there appeared abdominal relaxation (meteorism) and in one of these there was a serious paralytic ileus. Eosinophilia was present in all the patients, even if at different levels (from 5.9% to 20%). The treatment was carried out with different drugs: mebendazole in two cases, thiabendazole in one and "pyrvinium pamoate" in another. Our conclusion is that there exist in the Canavese the climatic, environmental and social-economical conditions which can favour Strongyloidiasis.