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Review
. 2022 Dec;24(6):1431-1434.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-022-01386-w. Epub 2022 Aug 8.

Strongyloidiasis Hyperinfection Syndrome in COVID-19 Positive Migrants Treated with Corticosteroids

Nancy Piper Jenks  1 , Brendan Driscoll  2 , Tiffany Locke  3
Affiliations
Review

Strongyloidiasis Hyperinfection Syndrome in COVID-19 Positive Migrants Treated with Corticosteroids

Nancy Piper Jenks et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to highlight the potentially fatal risk of Strongyloidiasis Hyperinfection Syndrome for hospitalized immigrant patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease and undiagnosed Strongyloidiasis. We reviewed electronic medical records of immigrants from 2010 to 2022 and extracted the number of patients with eosinophilia, strongyloidiasis and COVID-19 infection, outpatient and hospitalized. While 885 outpatients were diagnosed with eosinophilia, only 356 (40.2%) were tested for strongyloidiasis and 160 (44.9%) yielded a reactive serology. COVID-19 infection was reported in 6,412 patients. 1135 (17.7%) of these patients sought hospital care. Patients with undiagnosed strongyloidiasis are at risk for a potentially fatal parasitosis if treated with systemic corticosteroids for COVID-19. This supports clinical guidelines in hospital settings for those with severe COVID-19. Strongyloidiasis should be considered by taking a thorough travel or migration history and testing before giving immunosuppressive drugs.

Keywords: Corticosteroids; Eosinophilia; Hyperinfection; Strongyloides.

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Conflict of interest statement

Nancy Piper Jenks, none declared. Brendan Driscoll, none declared. Tiffany Locke, none declared.

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