Cardiac arrest in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus and hepatitis-B coinfection: Can Strongyloides stercoralis be the culprit?

Strongyloides stercoralis is one of the most important helminths causing neglected tropical diseases. Its ability to cause autoinfection can lead to chronic infections and hyper infection, especially in autoimmune cases and prove to be highly fatal. We report a case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) having hepatitis-B coinfection, who presented with rash all over the body, recurrent nausea, vomiting, cough, loose stool, and joint pain for 1 month and was later on found to be infected with S. stercoralis. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest during his hospital stay, which was efficiently managed. S. stercoralis infection in cases of SLE and other immunocompromised conditions must be treated at the earliest, to prevent fatal cardiac arrests and other complications.