title: Ganoderma lucidum: a cause of pseudoparasitosis.
abstract: We report a pseudoparasitosis case due to Ganoderma lucidum, (lingzhi or reishi mushroom); we believe this to be a first reported case in Thailand. A 49-year-old male patient with non-Hodgkins lymphoma presented with chronic watery diarrhea. He had a history of consumption of powdered lingzhi extract as a dietary supplement and herbal medicine. Stool examination demonstrated many spores of G. lucidum, which must be differentiated from intestinal helminth ova and coccidia. After discontinuation of mushroom spores ingestion, the diarrheal symptoms improved and fecal examination subsequently showed no Ganoderma spores. Many artifacts in the stool may be confused with parasites. Differentiation of parasites from artifacts depends on characterization of the size, shape, structure, and reactivity with common stains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sidwn@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Darawan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wanachiwanawin
authors.forename: Anong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piankijagum
authors.forename: Angkana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaiprasert
authors.forename: Punpob
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lertlaituan
authors.forename: Anchalee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tungtrongchitr
authors.forename: Pisit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chinabutr
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D020940:Reishi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal