Did you know about this worm disease that can live in your stomach for years? (Strongyloidiasis)

We've all heard about worms in our childhood, right? When we think of worms, we usually think of something that can be cured with a little medicine. But did you know that there are some types of worms that can live inside your body for years, even decades, without causing any symptoms? Today we're talking about a more serious, hidden worm disease. This is called Strongyloidiasis.

Simply put, what is Strongyloidiasis?

Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a roundworm called `Strongyloides stercoralis`. The special thing about this is that this worm lays eggs in your intestines, and the larvae that come out of those eggs can infect your body again. We call this `autoinfection`. It's like a tenant living in a house without moving out, but instead moving in with the family. This is why this infection can persist for years without any symptoms.

How does this worm enter the body?

The parasite that causes this, the Strongyloides worm, lives in dirty soil, water, or feces. When you walk barefoot in dirty soil, work in the fields, or come into contact with dirty water, these worm larvae can penetrate your skin and enter your body. Once inside, these larvae travel through your bloodstream and eventually reach your small intestine. That's where they lay their eggs. A female can lay up to 40 eggs a day. Some of these eggs are passed out in the feces and contaminate the soil again. The larvae that develop from the other eggs then penetrate the skin around the intestinal wall or rectum and enter your body again, continuing the cycle called autoinfection.

What are the symptoms of this?

The amazing thing about this is that almost half of people with this infection do not show any symptoms. That's why they don't even know they have this disease. Those who do develop symptoms usually have digestive problems.

How to accurately diagnose the disease?

Diagnosing this disease can be difficult. Because examining a stool sample under a microscope does not always detect the worms. Therefore, testing several stool samples (at least 3-5) over several days can provide more reliable results. In addition, sometimes a blood test can be done to check for antibodies to the infection. If the disease has progressed and affected the lungs, a sample of fluid from the lungs (sputum) or fluid from the small intestine may be tested to confirm the diagnosis.

Who can this be dangerous for? (Hyperinfection Syndrome)

When the immune system is weakened, these worms, which escape the body's control, multiply excessively, move out of the intestine and start spreading to other important organs of the body such as the lungs, liver, heart, and brain. We call this condition `Hyperinfection Syndrome`. In such cases, the mortality rate can be as high as 80%.

People at higher risk of Hyperinfection Syndrome:

• People who take steroid medications for a long time (e.g. for diseases like asthma and arthritis)
• People undergoing treatment for cancer (especially blood cancer)
• People who have undergone an organ transplant and are taking medications that suppress the immune system
• People with diabetes
• HIV infected people
• People with a rare virus infection called `HTLV-1`
• People who drink alcohol excessively
• People with chronic diseases such as kidney failure

How is it treated? And how is it prevented?

There are very effective treatments for this disease. For a common infection, a drug called `Ivermectin` can be given for 1-2 days. In some cases, a drug called `Albendazole` is given for 7 days. But remember, do not take these drugs at the pharmacy as you please. You should definitely see a doctor and take the prescribed dose and duration of treatment. Especially in the severe case of `Hyperinfection Syndrome`, you have to be hospitalized and treated for weeks.

Prevention is best!

There are some simple things we can do to protect ourselves from this disease:

• Wear shoes: Be sure to wear shoes or sandals, especially when walking on dirt, mud, or wet ground. People who do gardening or farming should be careful about this.
• Toilet use and waste management: Follow proper hygiene practices. Prevent waste from accumulating in the environment.
• Cleanliness: Avoid contact with dirty water or areas where sewage is present.
• Pets: Properly remove and clean the feces of pets such as dogs.

Strongyloidiasis, worm diseases, intestinal worms, Strongyloides, soil-borne diseases, hyperinfection, Ivermectin