Paragonimus westermani infection in lung: A confounding diagnostic entity

• Main Authors: Shivani Kalhan, Pankaj Sharma, Sonia Sharma, Neha Kakria, Sharmila Dudani, Anshu Gupta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Lung India
• Subjects: Endemic hemoptysis; pulmonary paragonimiasis; zoonosis
• Online Access: http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2015;volume=32;issue=3;spage=265;epage=267;aulast=Kalhan
• ISSN: 0970-2113; 0974-598X

Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by the genus Paragonimus. Fresh water snails, crabs, and crayfish are the first and second intermediate hosts, respectively. Humans acquire this infection by ingesting uncooked/undercooked crustaceans. Laboratory diagnosis of Paragonimiasis is done by demonstration of ova in the sputum/feces/pleural fluid or by serology. A case of pulmonary Paragonimiasis is presented herewith; the patient having been diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis earlier. The aim of this presentation is to highlight this entity so that it is considered in the differential diagnosis in a case of hemoptysis.