Ganoderma lucidum: a cause of pseudoparasitosis.
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.
Wanachiwanawin
Darawan
D
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sidwn@mahidol.ac.th
Piankijagum
Anong
A
Chaiprasert
Angkana
A
Lertlaituan
Punpob
P
Tungtrongchitr
Anchalee
A
Chinabutr
Pisit
P
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
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal