Cerebral Paragonimiasis Treated with Praziquantel: Case Report

ABSTRACT

Cerebral paragonimiasis, occuring as an extrapulmonary infestation, still reamans an important intracranial parasitic disease in Korea. The authors report a 32-year-old female patient who had developed headache, vomiting and signs of the left hemispheric dysfunction for 5 months. A diagnosis of the cerebral paragonimiasis was made on the basis of brain CT findings, a positive intradermal test, and the positive results of serum and CSF levels of the anti-Paragonimus IgG antibodies(by micro-ELISA). She was treated with 75 mg/kg/day of praziquantel for 7days to confirm healing of the intracranial lesion by the follow-up brain CT and micro-ELISA associated with a marked clinical improvement. This case report highly suggests the anticipated effectiveness of praziquantel in the treatment of the cerebral infestation of Paragonimus westermani, especially in its early stage.