Korean J Parasitol.  2011 Dec;49(4):409-412. 10.3347/kjp.2011.49.4.409.

A Case of Pulmonary Paragonimiasis with Involvement of the Abdominal Muscle in a 9-Year-Old Girl

• Cho AR
• Lee HR
• Lee KS
• Lee SE
• Lee SY

• KMID: 1715747
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2011.49.4.409

Abstract

In Korea, many people enjoy eating raw or underkooked freshwater crayfish and crabs which unfortunately may cause paragonimiasis. Here, we describe a case of pulmonary and abdominal paragonimiasis in a 9-year-old girl, who presented with a 1-month history of abdominal pain, especially in the right flank and the right inguinal area, with anorexia. A chest radiograph revealed pleural effusion in both lungs, and her abdominal sonography indicated an inflammatory lesion in the right psoas muscle. Peripheral blood analysis of the patient showed hypereosinophilia (66.0%) and an elevated total serum IgE level (>2,500 IU/ml). The pleural effusion tested by ELISA were also positive for antibodies against paragonimiasis. Her dietary history stated that she had ingested raw freshwater crab, 4 months previously. The diagnosis was pulmonary paragonimiasis accompanied by abdominal muscle involvement. She was improved after 5 cycles of praziquantel treatment and 2 times of pleural effusion drainage. In conclusion, herein, we report a case of pulmonary and abdominal paragonimiasis in a girl who presented with abdominal pain and tenderness in the inguinal area.

Keyword

Paragonimiasis; crab; abdominal pain; pleural effusion; abdominal muscle

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Muscles/*parasitology/pathology/ultrasonography
Animals
Anthelmintics/therapeutic use
Brachyura/*parasitology
Child
Drainage
Female
Humans
Lung/parasitology/pathology
Lung Diseases, Parasitic/*diagnosis/drug therapy/radiography
Paragonimiasis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/radiography
Paragonimus/isolation & purification
Pleural Effusion/parasitology/therapy
Praziquantel/therapeutic use
Republic of Korea
Shellfish/*parasitology
Treatment Outcome
Anthelmintics
Praziquantel