A Case of Pulmonary Paragonimiasis with Recurrent Pleural Effusion and Cured by Four Cycles of Chemotherapy.

Cho, Gye Jung; Lim, Jung Hwan; Chae, Dong Ryeol; Chi, Su Young; Ban, Hee Jung; Yoon, Byeong Kab; Kwon, Yong Soo; Oh, In Jae; Kim, Kyu Sik; Kim, Yu Il; Lim, Sung Chul; Kim, Young Chul

doi:2009.66.6.451

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 66(6); 2009 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2009;66(6):451-456.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2009.66.6.451 Published online June 1, 2009.

A Case of Pulmonary Paragonimiasis with Recurrent Pleural Effusion and Cured by Four Cycles of Chemotherapy.

Gye Jung Cho, Jung Hwan Lim, Dong Ryeol Chae, Su Young Chi, Hee Jung Ban, Byeong Kab Yoon, Yong Soo Kwon, In Jae Oh, Kyu Sik Kim, Yu Il Kim, Sung Chul Lim, Young Chul Kim

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Yeoung Gwang General Hospital, Yeounggwang, Korea.
²Department of Internal Medicine, Stcarollo Hospital, Suncheon, Korea.
³Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. kyionly@chonnam.ac.kr

Abstract

Paragonimiasis is a parasitic infection that occurs following the ingestion of infectious Paragonimus metacercariae, which occurs as a result of eating raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish. Pulmonary paragonimiasis is the most common clinical manifestation of this infection. Human paragonimiasis occurs sporadically. We experienced a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis in a 35-year-old woman with left lower chest pain. The patient had hypereosinophilia and a pleural effusion. The diagnosis was confirmed by positive ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) that detected Paragonimiasis westermani antibody in the serum. We treated the patient with praziquantel for two days at a daily dosage of 75 mg/kg. Left pleuritic pain and pleural effusion improved after treatment. However, similar symptoms and pleural effusion developed recurrently for the first 3 courses of treatment with praziquantel. Upon the fourth round of treatment, the patient made a full recovery.

Key Words: Paragonimiasis, Recurrence, Praziquantel