Open AccessMassive pleural effusion due to paragonimiasis: Biochemical, cytological, and parasitological findings
Author(s) -
T Shantikumar Singh,
Hiromu Sugiyama,
Chultin Lepcha,
S. K. Khanna
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
indian journal of pathology and microbiology/indian journal of pathology and microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.217
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 0974-5130
pISSN - 0377-4929
DOI - 10.4103/0377-4929.138792
Subject(s) - paragonimiasis , paragonimus , praziquantel , parasitic disease , pleural effusion , medicine , zoonosis , helminthiasis , disease , pathology , helminths , biology , immunology , schistosomiasis , surgery
Paragonimiasis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by trematode species of the genus, Paragonimus occurring in many parts of the world except in Australia and Antarctica. In India, it is an emerging parasitic disease, which is endemic in the northeast states where people have a common practice of eating raw or inadequately cooked freshwater crabs. In these states, Paragonimus heterotremus has been identified as the major causative agent of the human paragonimiasis. The most common clinical form of the disease is pulmonary paragonimiasis; however, extra-pulmonary manifestations are not uncommon. Here, we report a case of primary massive unilateral pleural effusion due to paragonimiasis. The diagnosis was confirmed by finding Paragonimus ova in the pleural fluid. The patient was successfully treated with repeated thoracocentesis and a course of praziquantel.