Löffler syndrome due to Strongyloides stercoralis. Clinical case report

Abstract

A clinical case of a 42-year-old patient with eosinophilic pneumonia is described. He had a history of chronic alcoholism, and 20 days prior to the consultation, he had gone to another hospital due to anorexia and behavioral changes, and was prescribed with antibiotic therapy. Despite following the treatment, all symptoms persist and the relatives described a helminth coming out of the
mouth, so they decided to come to our hospital. He is diagnosed with sepsis, associated to hydroelectrolytic disorders and a gastrointestinal infection by Strongyloides stercoralis. The patient had clinical deterioration leading to respiratory failure that required mechanical ventilation, and a filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis was evident in the orotracheal aspirate, which confirmed the diagnosis of parasitic pneumonia. The protocolized treatment is implemented, but the condition progresses to multi-organ failure and the patient dies in the first week of hospital stay. In countries where geohelminths are endemic or even hyperendemic, the search for a hyperinfection by this parasitosis should be maintained, especially in immunocompromised patients where the symptoms can become severe.