Open AccessA Rare Cause of Weight Loss in Immunocompetent Subject
Author(s) -
Mukesh Nasa,
Mahesh Gupta,
Shashank Bhansali,
Lipika Lipi,
Rajesh Puri
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of digestive endoscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0976-5050
pISSN - 0976-5042
DOI - 10.1055/s-0039-1693240
Subject(s) - strongyloides stercoralis , weight loss , medicine , albendazole , etiology , strongyloidiasis , mebendazole , indian subcontinent , surgery , gastroenterology , pediatrics , immunology , helminths , biology , history , ecology , ancient history , obesity
We report a case of 61-year-old immunocompetent man with no comorbidity presenting with unexplained weight loss. All routine investigations could not point to the etiology of weight loss, but duodenal biopsy taken on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis, a nematode endemic to Indian subcontinent. The patient recovered after course of albendazole, and in the absence of other causality, weight loss was attributed to strongyloidiasis.