STRONGYLOIDES-STERCORALIS HYPERINFECTION IN A CASE OF IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS

The Strongyloides stercoralis infection is a prominent cause of death in many areas of the world. A 64-year-old man with pulmonary fibrosis was admitted to the hospital because of progressive shortness of breat h and increasing cough. The patient had been previously admitted for h is illness and had a remarkable immuno-suppression due to the use of s teroids (CD4+ lymphocytes=200x10(6)/l). Repeated sputum and stool stud ies were diagnostic for strongyloidiasis. The patient died suddently f rom severe cardiorespiratory failure while he was under mebendazole tr eatment (100 mg b.i.d.). Strongyloidiasis occurs mostly in immunocompr omised hosts, as in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases on long-t erm treatment with corticosteroids, oncology patients under treatment and patients with AIDS.