Strongyloides Infection Presenting as Proximal Small Intestinal Obstruction

Duodenal obstruction is an infrequent but potentially fatal complication of strongyloidiasis infection. Strongyloides stercoralis can clinically manifest in a broad variety of ways and lacks a classic clinical syndrome, which makes the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis difficult. The diagnosis is usually delayed and made by duodenal aspirate, duodenal biopsy, and/or postoperative biopsy specimen of the resection stricture segment. We present a case of partial duodenal obstruction caused by S. stercoralis. A 46-year-old man had presented with repeated bilious vomiting for 12 days. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed ulceronodular mucosa with luminal compromise at the second part of the duodenum. Abdominal computed tomography scan also showed a wall thickening with luminal narrowing of the second and third part of the duodenum. Duodenal mucosal biopsy revealed larval forms of S. stercoralis.