Abstract
Three Laotian refugee children with chronic pulmonary complaints and findings were found to have pulmonary paragonimiasis during a one-year period in Chicago. These patients ranged from 8 to 11 years of age and the diagnosis was delayed five to six months in two children because of the unfamiliarity of American physicians with signs and symptoms of this disorder. Clinical manifestations included chronic cough for up to two years, apparent hemoptysis in two patients, lack of fever or sweats, and family history negative for tuberculosis. Physical findings included rales and dullness to percussion, clubbing (one patient), and lack of fever or respiratory distress. All three patients showed interstitial infiltrates on chest roentgenogram whereas two had multiple small cystic areas. Moderate eosinophilia was present. Paragonimus westermani ova were found in stools of two patients, in sputum of two patients, and in bronchoscopic specimens in one patient. All patients demonstrated striking clinical and radiologic improvement following treatment with bithionol (50 mg/kg every other day for 15 doses), which was well tolerated. Lung fluke infestation must be considered in Indochinese refugee children with apparent hemoptysis or chronic pulmonary symptoms, and sputum and stool should be examined for P westermani ova.
- Received August 24, 1981.
- Accepted September 10, 1981.
- Copyright © 1982 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Individual Login
Institutional Login
You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your librarian or administrator if you do not have a username and password.
Log in through your institution
Pay Per Article - You may access this article (from the computer you are currently using) for 2 days for US$25.00
Regain Access - You can regain access to a recent Pay per Article purchase if your access period has not yet expired.