CLINICAL CASES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2001 June;136(3):203-7

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Cutaneous manifestation of strongyloidosis. Descrip-tion of a case

Gennari E., Peserico A.

Servizio di Dermatologia - Ospedale di Thiene *Clinica Dermatologica - Padova

Strongyloidiasis is a parasitosis, widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical countries and uncommon in Europe, where it generally affects immunocompromised patients. The case of a 66 year old man, who was born and is living in Italy, is reported. The patient was examined at the Dermatologic Clinic of Padua because he was suffering from erythematous-vescicolous lesions on the back of his feet, for about a year. Furthermore, he presents recurrent papular eruptions on his trunck, buttocks and thighs, accompanied by gastro-enteric symptoms and/or asthmatic crisis. Subjectively the patient experienced an intense pruritus. The laboratory tests show blood eosinophilia (2.175/ml) and an increase of total IgE (1717 U/L). During his stay in hospital the patient was treated with systemic corticosteroid because of new acute episodes of a chronic bronchopneumonia and he had an acute arising of erythematous pomfoid serpiginous lesions advancing at a rate of 5 to 10 cm for hour, giving shape to the pathognomonic form, termed «larva currens». Repeated stool examinations permitted the aetiological diagnosis, with the detection of rhabditiform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis (SS) and its specific therapy. The possible skin manifestations of strongyloidiasis described in Literature are discussed.