Pulmonary hydatid and other lung parasitic infections

The lung may be infested by a great number of parasites. Hydatidosis is the most frequent parasitic lung disease. Diagnosis of lung hydatidosis is usually easy on chest radiography, ultrasonography, and CT scan, and immunodiagnosis may help in dubious cases. Surgery is necessary in most cases, but it must be conservative. Complex forms, such as disseminated disease and secondary lung hydatidosis (metastatic or bronchogenic) are difficult to treat and may be considered malignant. Medical treatment may be helpful in complex forms, in poor surgical risk patients, and in cases of preoperative spillage of hydatic fluid. Prevention programs are necessary in endemic areas, and research must be directed toward vaccination against the parasite. Other parasitic diseases are reported less frequently in the literature, and the majority of published articles are either case reports or only report a small number of cases. Clinical presentation is variable according to the great variety of parasites that may involve the lungs.