title: Parasitic diseases of the pleura.
abstract: Parasitic infections are prevalent in certain parts of the world and may cause pleural involvement, which often goes unrecognized. Common parasites involving the pleura include Entamoeba histolytica, Echinococcus granulosus and Paragonimus westermani. Amebiasis can cause empyema with "anchovy sauce" pus, reactive pleural effusions and bronchopleural fistula with hydropneumothorax. Echinococcosis may result in pleural thickening, pneumothorax, secondary pleural hydatidosis and pleural effusions. Paragonimiasis may cause chylous and cholesterol pleural effusions, pleural thickening and pneumothorax. Less commonly, pulmonary eosinophilia, or Loeffler's syndrome, caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi may involve the pleura. This article provides a comprehensive review of parasitic infections involving the pleura. A high index of suspicion in the appropriate clinical setting is required to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. lalch@musc.edu
authors.forename: Chitra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: John Terrill
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010994:Pleura / Q000469:parasitology*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy*