The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) which started the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID 19) outbreak is an RNA virus commonly spread via respiratory droplets. The infection may remain asymptomatic or present with mild upper respiratory symptoms or take a severe form with pneumonia and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that requires assisted ventilation and presents complications with negative outcome. Rate of co-infections and super-infections in hospitalised COVID 19 patients even though low when compared to other respiratory infections, may cause severe disease with worse outcome when present. Here we present a case of strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome complicating SARS CoV-2 infection possibly brought on by the use of immune altering therapy for COVID 19.
Asselah T, Durantel D, Pasmant E, Lau G, Schinazi RF. COVID-19: Discovery, diagnostics and drug development. J Hepatol 2021;74:168-84.
Karia R, Gupta I, Khandait H, Yadav A, Yadav A. COVID-19 and its modes of transmission. SN Compr Clin Med 2020:1-4.
Garcia-Vidal C, Sanjuan G, Moreno-García E, Puerta-Alcalde P, Garcia-Pouton N, Chumbita M, et al. Incidence of co-infections and superinfections in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021;27:83-8.
Martin-Loeches I, Schultz MJ, Vincent JL, Alvarez-Lerma F, Bos LD, Solé-Violán J, et al. Increased incidence of co-infection in critically ill patients with influenza. Intensive Care Med 2017;43:48-58.
Rawson TM, Moore LS, Zhu N, Ranganathan N, Skolimowska K, Gilchrist M, et al. Bacterial and fungal coinfection in individuals with coronavirus: A rapid review to support COVID-19 antimicrobial prescribing. Clin Infect Dis 2020;71:2459-68.
Seyed Hosseini E, Riahi Kashani N, Nikzad H, Azadbakht J, Hassani Bafrani H, Haddad Kashani H. The novel coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19): Mechanism of action, detection and recent therapeutic strategies. Virology 2020;551:1-9.
Chams N, Chams S, Badran R, Shams A, Araji A, Raad M, et al. COVID-19: A multidisciplinary review. Front Public Health 2020;8:383.
Stasi C, Fallani S, Voller F, Silvestri C. Treatment for COVID-19: An overview. Eur J Pharmacol 2020;889:173644.
Recovery Collaborative Group; Horby P, Lim WS, Emberson JR, Mafham M, Bell JL, et al. Dexamethasone in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. N Engl J Med 2021;384:693-704.
Patel SK, Saikumar G, Rana J, Dhama J, Yatoo MI, Tiwari R, et al. Dexamethasone: A boon for critically ill COVID-19 patients? Travel Med Infect Dis 2020;37:101844.
Machado ER, Carlos D, Sorgi CA, Ramos SG, Souza DI, Soares EG, et al. Dexamethasone effects in the Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in a murine model. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011;84:957-66.
Marchese V, Crosato V, Gulletta M, Castelnuovo F, Cristini G, Matteelli A, et al. Strongyloides infection manifested during immunosuppressive therapy for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Infection 2021;49:539-42.
Nutman TB. Human infection with Strongyloides stercoralis and other related Strongyloides species. Parasitology 2017;144:263-73.
Valerio L, Roure S, Fernández-Rivas G, Basile L, Martínez-Cuevas O, Ballesteros ÁL, et al. Strongyloides stercoralis, the hidden worm. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 70 cases diagnosed in the north metropolitan area of Barcelona, Spain, 2003-2012. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2013;107:465-70.
Olsen A, van Lieshout L, Marti H, Polderman T, Polman K, Steinmann P, et al. Strongyloidiasis – The most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases? Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2009;103:967-72.
Carvalho EM, Da Fonseca Porto A. Epidemiological and clinical interaction between HTLV-1 and Strongyloides stercoralis. Parasite Immunol 2004;26:487-97.
Krolewiecki A, Nutman TB. Strongyloidiasis: A neglected tropical disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2019;33:135-51.
Henriquez-Camacho C, Gotuzzo E, Echevarria J, Jr ACW, Terashima A, Samalvides F, et al. Ivermectin versus albendazole or thiabendazole for Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev [Internet]. 2016 Jan 18 [cited 2021 Aug 10]; 2016(1). Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC4916931/.