[Familial infestation of Paragonimus westermani with peritonitis and pleurisy].
Human paragonimiasis was endemic in Korea until the 1960's, and nowadays, the prevalence is decreasing. However, it is still one of the important helminthic diseases. Though it is essentially a pulmonary disorder, it may involve brain, muscle, mesentery, genital tract, pleura, peritoneum, spinal cord, spleen, and liver. We experienced two cases of paragonimiasis in a family who had ingested raw crabs together for 7 months. A 57-year-old female patient was admitted due to abdominal pain, diarrhea and tenesmus for 6 months. And, her 35-year-old son complained of cough, chest discomfort and dyspnea. The definite diagnosis for paragonimiasis could be made by the detection of the egg and adult worm from stool, sputum and involved lesion. Neither an egg or worm was detected. However, they were diagnosed based on the food history, laboratory data including serum eosinophilia, ELISA for specific IgG, pleural and peritoneal fluid examination, radiological findings, and intradermal tests. They were treated with praziquantel and their symptoms improved rapidly over 2 days. Both patients were asymptomatic at a follow-up visit 2 months later.
Lee
Hee Jung
HJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
Choi
Young Woo
YW
Kim
Sun Moon
SM
Lee
Tae Hee
TH
Im
Euyi Hyeog
EH
Huh
Kyu Chan
KC
Na
Moon Joon
MJ
Kang
Young Woo
YW
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000469:parasitology; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010237:Paragonimiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D048492:Paragonimus westermani; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D012758:Shellfish / Q000469:parasitology