Successful praziquantel treatment of paragonimiasis following bithionol failure. A case report

A patient from Southeast Asia with cough and hemoptysis was documented to have pulmonary paragonimiasis. Initial treatment with bithionol failed. The patient was then treated with praziquantel 75 mg/kg body weight a day for 2 days under an investigational protocol. Subsequent follow-up studies showed clinical improvement and indicated parasitologic cure. A concurrent asymptomatic Clonorchis infection was also cured following praziquantel treatment. Side effects were minor.