COVID-19 and strongyloidiasis: what to expect from this coinfection?
Carolina Victoria Marcitelli Pereira, Giovanna Ribeiro Achur Mastandrea, Ana Clara Cassine de Souza Medeiros, Ronaldo César Borges Gryschek, Fabiana Martins de Paula, Marcelo Andreetta Corral
Abstract
Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the intestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis. It is a chronic and asymptomatic parasite in most immunocompetent individuals. In immunocompromised patients, especially those undergoing corticotherapy, the disease can progress to advanced stages, such as hyperinfection syndrome and disseminated disease (). Corticosteroids are metabolized in the liver to chemical compounds structurally similar to ecdysone and are used by helminths for oviposition and larval ecdysis stimulation, promoting an accelerated autoinfection cycle (). The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic [...]