Strongyloidiasis in infancy. Case report and review.

A 15-month-old child with extreme failure to thrive due to intractable diarrhea since the age of 20 days was found to have live Strongyloides larvae in aspirated duodenal juice. Larvae were seen embedded in crypts of jejunal mucosa obtained by peroral biopsy. Following treatment with thiabendazole, a dramatic recovery ensued. The pathophysiology and clinical spectrum of strongyloidiasis is reviewed and the importance of its recognition stressed.