Related Experiment Videos
[Human pentastomiasis in Abidjan. A report on 29 cases]
Revue Francaise Des Maladies Respiratoires
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Human pentastomiasis, a parasitic infection, is often incidentally found through radiological imaging. A rare fatal case highlights diagnostic challenges, though immunological methods offer potential for frequency estimation.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Radiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Human pentastomiasis is a parasitic infestation with significant clinical implications.
- Radiological detection of calcifications is a common incidental finding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cases of human pentastomiasis detected radiologically.
- To discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and radiological features of pentastomiasis.
- To highlight a unique fatal case and diagnostic challenges.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 29 radiological cases over 10 years.
- Review of parasitological data on pentastomid life cycle and human localization.
- Case report of a fatal infection with Armillifer grandis.
Main Results:
- 29 cases of human pentastomiasis detected incidentally via thoracic radiology.
- A fatal case of massive septicaemia in a child caused by Armillifer grandis.
- Calcifications are typically found in the thorax and abdomen.
Conclusions:
- Pentastomiasis is often diagnosed incidentally through imaging.
- The link to consuming or handling undercooked snakes is crucial for diagnosis.
- Fatal cases, like the one reported, underscore diagnostic difficulties.
- Immunological diagnosis, while available, is challenging in practice.