[Clinical features in twenty-three patients with paragonimiasis westermani]

We assessed the clinical features in twenty-three cases diagnosed as paragonimiasis westermani from April 1988 to May 2000 in our clinic at Miyazaki Medical College Hospital. Twenty-one patients had eaten wild boar or crab meat. Their symptoms included productive cough, chest pain and hemosputum. The findings of radiography and computed tomography (CT) were nodules, masses, infiltrative shadows and pleural effusion. The percentages of eosinophils in the peripheral blood were elevated in 16 of 23 patients, and the serum IgE values were elevated in 12 of 18 patients. Serologic tests, which are very helpful for diagnostic purposes were performed on the blood sera of all patients, and on the pleural effusions of five patients. It is often difficult to diagnose paragonimiasis westermani in patients in whom eosinophilia or increased serum IgE is not present. However, paragonimiasis westermani should also be considered as a possible diagnosis when abnormal shadows are found in chest radiographs and chest CT.