[Ancylostomiasis and strongyloidiasis: clinico-epidemiologic comparative study of travelers coming from endemic areas].

BACKGROUND

The increase in immigration and adventure travelling by tourists generates a population susceptible to have a type of helminthiasis which we are not familiar with. The clinical-epidemiologic characteristics of different groups of patients with this disease are presented.

METHODS

A descriptive retrospective longitudinal study was carried out. The clinical-epidemiologic and imaging laboratory data of 56 patients with ankylostomiasis and strongyloidiasis observed in the Department of Tropical Medicine of the Hospital Clinic i Provincial, in Barcelona, Spain, were collected.

RESULTS

Ankylostomiasis and strongyloidiasis represent 2% of the global diseases attended. The risk factor the "use of open footwear" was present in almost all the cases. Among the immigrants this parasitosis may become manifest up to 10 years after the last contact. The digestive form and the accidental finding were the most common forms of presentation among the tourists and immigrants, respectively, with diarrhoea being the most frequent manifestation among the tourists (p = 0.008). Forty-five percent of the patients presented polyparasitism, being more frequently observed among the immigrants (p = 0.025). Anemia was found among 44% of the immigrants while this was not observed in any of the tourists (p = 0.012). No clinical relapse was observed with treatment with mebendazol and thiabendazol.

CONCLUSIONS

A clinically different behavior was observed between the two groups of travellers. Although infrequent, the clinical importance ot its diagnosis is based on avoiding severe complications in immunosuppressed individuals and preventing anemia in patients with several diseases.