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Paragonimiasis

Disease Details

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Description: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic infection caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus, typically acquired by consuming raw or undercooked freshwater crustaceans.
Type: Paragonimiasis is an infectious disease caused by parasitic lung flukes of the genus *Paragonimus*. It is not a genetic disease and therefore is not transmitted through genetic inheritance.
Signs And Symptoms: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the lung fluke of the genus Paragonimus. Here are the signs and symptoms:

1. **Acute Phase (Invasive Stage):**
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Urticaria (hives)
- Eosinophilia (increased eosinophils in blood)

2. **Chronic Phase (Pulmonary Stage):**
- Chronic cough
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Chest pain
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)

3. **Extrapulmonary Manifestations (less common):**
- Abdominal pain (if parasite migrates to abdominal cavity)
- Seizures or neurological symptoms (if parasite migrates to the brain)
- Visual disturbances (if parasite migrates to the eyes)

Diagnosis often involves detecting Paragonimus eggs in sputum or stool samples, imaging studies, and serological tests. Treatment typically includes antiparasitic medications such as praziquantel or triclabendazole.
Prognosis: The prognosis for paragonimiasis is generally good if treated promptly. Effective antiparasitic medications, such as praziquantel or triclabendazole, can successfully treat the infection. Without treatment, however, the disease can lead to chronic and severe pulmonary symptoms, such as cough and hemoptysis, and may also disseminate to other organs, causing more serious complications. Early diagnosis and proper medical care are crucial for a positive outcome.
Onset: In paragonimiasis, the onset of symptoms typically occurs 2 to 16 weeks after ingestion of the parasite. This disease results from infection by the lung fluke Paragonimus, usually acquired by consuming raw or undercooked crustaceans.
Prevalence: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic infection caused by lung flukes, mainly of the genus Paragonimus. It is most common in East and Southeast Asia, with notable prevalence in China, the Philippines, and Korea. The infection is also found in parts of Africa and Latin America. While the exact prevalence rates can vary, it is considered relatively rare in most regions outside endemic areas.
Epidemiology: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by lung flukes, primarily of the genus *Paragonimus*. Here is an overview of its epidemiology:

1. **Geographic Distribution**: Paragonimiasis is mainly found in Asia (including China, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand), Africa, and Central and South America. It has been reported sporadically in other regions due to increased travel and food trade.

2. **Hosts and Transmission**: The life cycle of *Paragonimus* involves two intermediate hosts - snails (first intermediate host) and freshwater crustaceans like crabs and crayfish (second intermediate host). Humans typically acquire the infection by consuming raw or undercooked crustaceans that carry the infective metacercariae.

3. **Population at Risk**: Communities in endemic regions who consume raw or undercooked freshwater crustaceans are at higher risk. This includes people practicing traditional or cultural food habits.

4. **Prevalence**: The prevalence rates can vary greatly depending on the region and local dietary habits. It can be endemic in certain rural communities where traditional food practices include consuming raw or improperly cooked freshwater crustaceans.

Controlling paragonimiasis focuses on health education, promoting proper cooking of crustaceans, and potentially treating water sources to reduce the snail population.
Intractability: Paragonimiasis, a parasitic infection caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus, is generally not considered intractable. It can be effectively treated with antiparasitic medications such as praziquantel or triclabendazole. Early diagnosis and adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen typically result in successful resolution of the infection.
Disease Severity: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. The severity of the disease can vary depending on the burden of infection and the organ systems involved. It primarily affects the lungs but can also manifest in other parts of the body such as the brain, liver, and skin.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include:

- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Blood-tinged sputum
- Fever
- Abdominal pain (if other organs are involved)

In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as pleural effusion (fluid in the lung cavity), pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and chronic bronchitis. Extra-pulmonary involvement, such as in the brain, can cause neurological symptoms like headaches, seizures, and visual disturbances.

Early diagnosis and treatment with appropriate antiparasitic medications can significantly reduce the severity and prevent serious complications.
Healthcare Professionals: Disease Ontology ID - DOID:10699
Pathophysiology: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the trematode (fluke) species of the genus Paragonimus, most commonly Paragonimus westermani. Here is an explanation of its pathophysiology:

1. **Ingestion**: The disease begins when a human ingests raw or undercooked freshwater crustaceans, such as crabs or crayfish, that are infected with metacercariae, the infective form of the parasite.

2. **Excystment**: Once ingested, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum.

3. **Penetration and Migration**: The excysted larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and enter the peritoneal cavity. They then migrate through the diaphragm into the pleural cavity and eventually reach the lungs.

4. **Maturation**: In the lungs, the larvae mature into adult flukes. These adult flukes produce eggs, which are then excreted into the bronchioles, causing an inflammatory reaction.

5. **Eggs Excretion**: The eggs are coughed up and swallowed, passing out of the body in sputum or feces. If the sputum is expectorated and contaminates freshwater sources, the eggs can hatch into miracidia, starting the lifecycle again.

6. **Ectopic Locations**: Although the lungs are the primary site of infection, adult flukes and larvae can also migrate to other tissues, including the brain, liver, and subcutaneous tissues, causing extrapulmonary paragonimiasis.

7. **Inflammation and Immune Response**: The presence of the flukes and their eggs in the tissues induces an inflammatory response, leading to the formation of granulomas and sometimes fibrosis. Symptoms may include chronic cough, chest pain, dyspnea, and hemoptysis for pulmonary infections, or neurological and other systemic symptoms for extrapulmonary cases.

Overall, the disease process involves complex host-parasite interactions resulting in both local and systemic pathological changes.
Carrier Status: For paragonimiasis:

**Carrier Status:** Paragonimiasis is caused by infection with Paragonimus trematodes (lung flukes). Humans can become carriers by consuming raw or undercooked freshwater crustaceans, such as crabs or crayfish, that are infected with the larvae of the parasite.

**Nan:** There are no non-albicans Candida species (or "nan") directly related to Paragonimiasis. The term "nan" may be a typographical error or misunderstanding. If referring to the definition or particular metrics, clarification is needed.
Mechanism: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease primarily caused by the lung fluke, a type of trematode in the genus Paragonimus.

**Mechanism:**

1. **Infection:**
Humans become infected with Paragonimus metacercariae by consuming raw or undercooked freshwater crustaceans, such as crabs and crayfish, that contain the infectious larvae.

2. **Migration:**
Once ingested, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum and burrow through the intestinal wall into the peritoneal cavity. They then penetrate the diaphragm and migrate to the lungs.

3. **Encystment:**
In the lungs, the parasites encapsulate and mature into adult flukes, forming cyst-like lesions. These can lead to localized inflammation and tissue damage.

4. **Egg laying and exit:**
The adult flukes release eggs, which are either expectorated through sputum or swallowed and passed in feces. These eggs can spread to the external environment and continue the cycle if they reach a suitable aquatic habitat, hatching into larvae that infect snails and ultimately crustaceans.

**Molecular Mechanisms:**

1. **Immune Evasion:**
Paragonimus flukes evade the host's immune system through several mechanisms, including the secretion of immunomodulatory molecules. These factors can inhibit host immune responses, such as by modulating cytokine production and reducing the activity of immune cells.

2. **Proteolytic Enzymes:**
The parasites secrete a variety of proteolytic enzymes, such as cysteine proteases, which facilitate tissue penetration and migration within the host by breaking down extracellular matrix components.

3. **Granuloma Formation:**
The fluke's presence in lung tissue elicits a host immune response characterized by granuloma formation. Granulomas are composed of immune cells that surround the fluke but often fail to eradicate it, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage.

4. **Oxidative Stress Response:**
Paragonimus spp. are capable of managing oxidative stress resulting from the host's immune response. They produce antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, which help neutralize reactive oxygen species generated by host defense mechanisms.

Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive measures against paragonimiasis.
Treatment: The drug of choice to treat paragonimiasis is praziquantel, although bithionol may also be used. Triclabendazole is useful in P. uterobilateralis, P. mexicanus, and P. skrjabini infections but not in P. westermani infection.
Compassionate Use Treatment: For paragonimiasis, which is a parasitic infection caused by the lung fluke of the genus *Paragonimus*, the primary and standard treatment typically involves antiparasitic medications such as praziquantel or triclabendazole. However, compassionate use treatments, off-label, or experimental treatments might be considered under specific circumstances, especially where standard treatments are ineffective or unavailable.

1. **Compassionate Use Treatments:** These might involve access to investigational drugs that are still in clinical trials but have shown potential effectiveness against the parasite. Requests for compassionate use typically require approval from regulatory authorities and a demonstration of necessity.

2. **Off-label Treatments:** In cases where first-line treatments are not available or suitable, off-label use of medications such as albendazole might be considered, although this is less common. Albendazole is generally used for a variety of other parasitic infections and may be prescribed on an off-label basis for paragonimiasis if other treatments are not feasible.

3. **Experimental Treatments:** Research into new antiparasitic drugs is ongoing. Experimental treatments might include novel antiparasitic agents being studied in clinical trials or new drug combinations that have not yet received regulatory approval for this specific disease.

Any consideration of non-standard treatments should involve careful assessment by healthcare professionals, including possible risks and benefits, and often require regulatory oversight.
Lifestyle Recommendations: For paragonimiasis, lifestyle recommendations include:

1. **Avoiding Raw or Undercooked Crustaceans**: Do not consume raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish, as these can harbor the infective larvae of the Paragonimus species.

2. **Proper Food Handling**: Ensure crustaceans are adequately cooked by boiling or steaming until the meat is opaque and flakes easily.

3. **Clean Water Sources**: Drink water from safe, reliable sources to avoid accidental ingestion of contaminated water with Paragonimus larvae.

4. **Health Education**: Increase awareness about the risks associated with consuming raw or inadequately cooked crustaceans in endemic areas to prevent infection.

5. **Personal Hygiene**: Maintain good personal hygiene, including washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after handling raw seafood.

These measures help reduce the risk of acquiring paragonimiasis and promote overall health.
Medication: Paragonimiasis is treated primarily with the antiparasitic medication praziquantel. The typical dosage of praziquantel for paragonimiasis is 25 mg/kg three times daily for 2 to 3 days. Another option is triclabendazole, which is administered as a single dose of 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg. Always consult with a healthcare provider for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Repurposable Drugs: Currently, there are no well-established repurposable drugs specifically identified for paragonimiasis. The standard treatment involves antiparasitic medications such as praziquantel or triclabendazole. Research into repurposable drugs is ongoing but not yet definitive for this particular disease.
Metabolites: Paragonimiasis is a parasitic infection caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. The specific metabolites involved in the pathogenesis and lifecycle of the parasite have not been extensively characterized in scientific literature. However, typical metabolic byproducts associated with parasitic infections can include various organic acids, amino acids, and proteins related to the parasite's metabolism and host interaction. Advanced techniques like metabolomics are often used to identify specific metabolic signatures.
Nutraceuticals: There are no known nutraceuticals specifically proven to treat or prevent paragonimiasis, which is a parasitic infection caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. The primary treatment typically involves antiparasitic medications such as praziquantel or triclabendazole. Consulting with a healthcare professional for appropriate diagnosis and treatment is recommended.
Peptides: Paragonimiasis is caused by lung flukes, primarily Paragonimus westermani. Specific peptides derived from these parasites have been studied for diagnostic purposes, including antigens used in serological tests. The term "nan" in this context is unclear; if it refers to nanotechnology, it's worth noting that research is ongoing into using nanomaterials for improved diagnostic methods and drug delivery systems for parasitic infections.