Pleural Paragonimiasis

A 17-year-old asymptomatic boy from El Salvador was found to have a pleural effusion during routine imaging at an immigration clinic. Further evaluation revealed a peripheral lung nodule and eosinophilic exudate in the pleural fluid. Microscopy identified parasite eggs, and 28S rRNA sequencing confirmed Paragonimus mexicanus, a lung fluke endemic to Central and South America. The patient recalled consuming undercooked crustaceans two years earlier. He was treated with praziquantel, and follow-up imaging at four months showed minimal reduction in the effusion

A 17-year-old asymptomatic boy from El Salvador was found to have a pleural effusion during routine imaging at an immigration clinic. Further evaluation revealed a peripheral lung nodule and eosinophilic exudate in the pleural fluid. Microscopy identified parasite eggs, and 28S rRNA sequencing confirmed Paragonimus mexicanus, a lung fluke endemic to Central and South America. The patient recalled consuming undercooked crustaceans two years earlier. He was treated with praziquantel, and follow-up imaging at four months showed minimal reduction in the effusion