title: Chylothorax caused by Paragonimus westermani in a native Californian.
abstract: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic infection endemic in Asia but uncommon in the United States. It presents most frequently with cough and hemoptysis. Pleural effusions are common and can manifest occasionally as a pseudochylothorax, but a true chylothorax has, to our knowledge, never been reported. We report a case of a chylothorax from infection with Paragonimus westermani. The case is also unique because it occurred in a native Californian who had not traveled to Asia and was infected by eating raw crabs at a local sushi restaurant. The freshwater crabs had been imported from Asia.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles; Santa Barbara Pulmonary Consultants, Santa Barbara. Electronic address: rwright@sblung.com.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jean
authors.affiliation: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rochelle
authors.affiliation: USC School of Medicine, Sansum Clinic, Santa Barbara, CA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fisk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002140:California; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010237:Paragonimiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D048492:Paragonimus westermani / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000469:parasitology; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel