Childhood pulmonary paragonimiasis - a diagnostic conundrum: a case series from a tertiary care hospital in Kohima District of Northeast India

Abstract

Infestation by Paragonimus westermani is an emerging health concern in Northeast India. The infection is acquired by consuming raw or semi-raw freshwater crabs and crayfish contaminated with Paragonimus. Human pulmonary paragonimiasis often mimics pulmonary tuberculosis due to similar clinical and radiological features and may lead to diagnostic dilemmas. Though it is a common condition in this part of the country, a lack of awareness among the medical fraternity occasionally leads to misdiagnosis and mismanagement. Moreover, there is a dearth of research on this topic. Therefore, we present 3 cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis from the paediatric age group treated in a tertiary care hospital that masqueraded as pulmonary tuberculosis. This might be the one of the very few reported case series on this condition from Northeast India.