title: Demographic characteristic and analysis of pulmonary paragonimiasis in patients attending RIMS, Manipur.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human infection by the lung fluke Paragonimus westermani is widely distributed in Africa, Asia, and South America. Transmission of the parasite to humans primarily occurs through the consumption of raw or undercooked crabs. Clinical features of recently diagnosed pulmonary Paragonimiasis show that patients present with a variety of clinical and radiological findings, frequently mimics tuberculosis and lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here in this study, we report a cross-sectional study of pulmonary paragonimiasis in our institute over a period of two year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  it was observed that out of eleven cases, prevalence of paragonimiasis was almost equal among both the genders, with a mean age of 38.1 ± 16.96, affecting people from hills. Three patients were erroneously treated with antitubercular drugs without any relief. The association with eosinophilia in the peripheral blood and tissue[16] was seen in all the study subjects and majority patients had pleural fluid eosinophilia. Patients were diagnosed by serological test, Paragonimus ova in Sputum smear and Pleural fluid. All study subjects had excellent clinical responses to praziquantel given at dose of 25 mg/kg given orally 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to generate awareness among the clinicians and public regarding Paragonimiasis and to consider it in differential diagnosis of TB and carcinoma lung. Physicians should consider the possibility of paragonimiasis among patients who present with chest complaints with eosinophilia from the endemic regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Haorongbam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sunanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Bhavya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shivalingaiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paley
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India.
authors.forename: Wangkheimayum
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Asoka
keywords: Lung fluke; paragonimiasis; parasites