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Journal of
eISSN: 2376-0060

Lung, Pulmonary & Respiratory Research

Proceeding Volume 3 Issue 1

Pneumonia and lung involvement in parasitic diseases

Attapon Cheepsattayakorn,1,2,3 Ruangrong Cheepsattayakorn4

1Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Lung, Pulmonary and Respiratory Research, USA
210th
35th
4Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Correspondence: Attapon Cheepsattayakorn, 10th Zonal Tuberculosis and Chest Disease Center, 143 Sridornchai Road Changklan Muang Chiang Mai 50100 Thailand, Tel 66 53 140767, Fax 66 53 140773

Received: February 14, 2016 | Published: March 2, 2016

Citation: Cheepsattayakorn A, Cheepsattayakorn R. Pneumonia and lung involvement in parasitic diseases. J Lung Pulm Respir Res. 2016;3(1):27. DOI: 10.15406/jlprr.2016.03.00071

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Abstract

Parasitic infestations demonstrated a decline in the past decade as a result of improved socioeconomic conditions better hygiene practices and better hygiene practices. However, the susceptibility of the world population to parasitic diseases have been increased by rapid urbanization of the cities, global warming, international traveling, global immigration, and increased numbers of the immune compromised people. A number of new human parasites, such as Plasmodium knowlesi in addition to many potential parasites have urged the interest of scientific community. In cases with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, lobar consolidation, pleural effusion, and diffuse interstitial edema may be present. In HIV-infected/AIDS patients with visceral leishmaniasis, they may demonstrate pneumonitis, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and pleural effusion. Patients with strongyloidiasis have been reported to produce pneumonia, particularly in HIV-infected/AIDS cases. Patients with filarial parasite infestation may show pulmonary military infiltration mimic military tuberculosis. Elevation of diaphragm, basal lung involvement, and pleural effusion can be found in patients with amoebiasis. Obstructive pneumonitis, necrotizing pneumonia, interstitial pneumonitis, and lobar pneumonia have been reported in patients with toxoplasmosis, particularly in HIV-infected/AIDS cases. A broad spectrum of protozoal parasites frequently affects the respiratory system, particularly the lungs. The diagnosis of parasitic diseases of airway is challenging due to their wide varieties of clinical and roentgeno graphic presentations. According to the globalization of these pulmonary parasitic infectious diseases, it can alert the healthcare providers in recent travelers or immigrants with respiratory manifestations from endemic areas. For clinicians or pulmonologists, detailed interrogations of travel history to endemic areas are critical to manage this entity. The larvae can cause airway inflammation, while migrating adult worms can cause mechanical airway obstruction. This article provides a comprehensive review of both helminthic and protozoal infestations that affect the respiratory system, particularly the lungs, including roentgenographic and clinical presentations, diagnostic tests, and therapeutic methods.

Acknowledgements

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Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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©2016 Cheepsattayakorn, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.