MEDICAL INSIDER
DR BRYAN CEPEDOZA
FOR SEPT 17, 2023
Parasitic lung disease
(Part 1)
A parasitic lung disease could be the ascaris infestation in
the lungs. This is also called as loeffler’s syndrome.
This is caused by transient migration of ascaris in the
lungs from our intestine.
The symptoms may result from our immune system
reaction to the parasites in the lungs.
These symptoms range from mild cough to severe
bronchospasm that resemble that of person having an
asthma attack.
A chest x-ray will show pneumonia like infiltrates that are
transient and resolved spontaneously within 2 to 4 weeks.
Diagnosis is based on the demonstration of parasitic eggs
or larva in the stool and sputum.
Other parasites that can also cause loeffler’s syndrome
are the hookworms (Necatoramericanus, Ancylostoma
duodenale).
Transmission of these parasites is thru ingestion of
contaminated food and water.
However, some hookworms can penetrate intact skin thus
walking barefoot in contaminated area is highly not
encouraged.
Pulmonary schistosomiasis:
This is common in low and middle income countries like
the Philippines.
Schistosomiasis is the same parasite that causes
elephantiasis commonly seen in some provinces of
Mindanao.
The worm nest in our lymphatic vessels causing disruption
of lymphatic circulation making it to swell and the affected
limb will look like that of an elephant leg.
This parasite can live up to 6-8 years in our body and
during this lifetime, it will lay millions of larvae that
circulate in the blood and some will find its way to our
lungs causing respiratory symptoms like cough, difficulty
breathing, fever (katayama fever), and fatigue.
This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes.
Schistosomiasis can present as pulmonary mass-like
lesions; these mass-like lesions which can be mistaken for
cancer will resolve after treatment of schistosomiasis.
This parasite also can cause pulmonary hypertension,
which can be fatal if not treated properly. (To be
continued)