A Case of Pulmonary Paragonimiasis

ABSTRACT

Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease found in carnivorous animals which is caused by trematodes of the genus Paragonimus. Human infestation occurs by ingestion of raw or not incompletely cooked freshwater crab or crayfish with the metacercaria. Recently, the prevalence of human paragonimiasis has decreased markedly, however, about one hundred clinical cases have been diagnosed annually by antibody test in Korea. The symptoms, such as chronic cough, hemoptysis, and radiological findings are often confused with those of tuberculosis. Therefore, differential diagnosis between tuberculosis and paragonimiasis is important in Korea which has a high prevalence of tuberculosis. Recently, we experienced a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis in a 13yearold girl with hemoptysis and chest pain. Chest roentgenogram with subsequent tomography demonstrating multiple cavitary lesions and linear tubular densities. Strong positive was noted in intradermal skin test for Paragonimus westermani as well as in IgG antibody detection using ELISA method. Diagnosis was confirmed by stool with multiple P. westermani ova, which was treated with a two day course of praziquantel.