Common Name(s):
Lung Fluke Disease
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Paragonimiasis (CLINICAL), Paragonimus Westermani Infection (CLINICAL)
Description
After ingestion, the juvenile flukes excyst in the intestine, penetrate the peritoneal cavity, and eventually burrow right through the diaphragm into the lungs. They mature and encapsulate within the pulmonary parenchyma, causing significant cystic cavities and chronic, inflammatory lung disease. It is prevalent in parts of Asia, Africa, and the Americas where raw freshwater crabs or crayfish are consumed.