title: Massive pleural effusion due to paragonimiasis: biochemical, cytological, and parasitological findings.
abstract: Paragonimiasis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by trematode species of the genus, Paragonimus occurring in many parts of the world except in Australia and Antarctica. In India, it is an emerging parasitic disease, which is endemic in the northeast states where people have a common practice of eating raw or inadequately cooked freshwater crabs. In these states, Paragonimus heterotremus has been identified as the major causative agent of the human paragonimiasis. The most common clinical form of the disease is pulmonary paragonimiasis; however, extra-pulmonary manifestations are not uncommon. Here, we report a case of primary massive unilateral pleural effusion due to paragonimiasis. The diagnosis was confirmed by finding Paragonimus ova in the pleural fluid. The patient was successfully treated with repeated thoracocentesis and a course of praziquantel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Radiology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
authors.forename: Takhellambam Shantikumar
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Chultin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lepcha
authors.forename: Satish Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Khanna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D019152:Paracentesis; D010237:Paragonimiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010238:Paragonimus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel