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Parasitic pneumonia
Parasitic pneumonia is a type of pneumonia caused by parasites. Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lungs, most commonly caused by bacteria or viruses. Parasites are an uncommon cause of pneumonia, usually affecting immunocompromised individuals or those in underdeveloped countries. In developed countries, it is most common to see parasitic pneumonia in immigrants or recently returning travelers. In recent years, improved hygiene and global socioeconomic conditions have decreased the prevalence of parasitic pneumonias, but susceptibility is increasing due to increased travel, urbanization, and population of immunocompromised individuals.
This article specifically refers to parasitic pneumonia, and will not discuss other pulmonary conditions caused by parasites. For example, pulmonary malaria may present as acute respiratory distress syndrome but likely not pneumonia.
Parasitic pneumonia can present very differently depending on the individual and involved parasite. The most common symptoms caused by pneumonia include fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and mental status changes. These symptoms are nonspecific for individual causes of parasitic pneumonia, and may be subtle in immunocompromised patients.
Causes of parasitic pneumonia include:
Parasites often have complex life cycles and can infect humans in a number of ways including through insect vectors, contact with soil, or direct ingestion. Parasites can affect the lungs in a number of mechanisms, including as a direct infection, while migrating to other organs, or through an inflammatory response to a toxin (see loeffler's syndrome).
Diagnosis of pneumonia is often made based on physical exam and radiographic findings. Parasitic pneumonia should be suspected in patients who are immunocompromised and/or recently travelled/immigrated.
Common physical exam findings of pneumonia include low blood pressure, elevated heart rate, elevated respiratory rate, and low oxygen saturation. Auscultation of the lungs may reveal decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, increased resonance, and crackles at the site of pneumonia.
Common laboratory findings for parasitic pneumonia includes peripheral eosinophilia, or elevated eosinophil levels on a complete blood count. Although this may be present in any parasitic infection, this is a defining feature of Loeffler's syndrome.
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Parasitic pneumonia
Parasitic pneumonia is a type of pneumonia caused by parasites. Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lungs, most commonly caused by bacteria or viruses. Parasites are an uncommon cause of pneumonia, usually affecting immunocompromised individuals or those in underdeveloped countries. In developed countries, it is most common to see parasitic pneumonia in immigrants or recently returning travelers. In recent years, improved hygiene and global socioeconomic conditions have decreased the prevalence of parasitic pneumonias, but susceptibility is increasing due to increased travel, urbanization, and population of immunocompromised individuals.
This article specifically refers to parasitic pneumonia, and will not discuss other pulmonary conditions caused by parasites. For example, pulmonary malaria may present as acute respiratory distress syndrome but likely not pneumonia.
Parasitic pneumonia can present very differently depending on the individual and involved parasite. The most common symptoms caused by pneumonia include fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and mental status changes. These symptoms are nonspecific for individual causes of parasitic pneumonia, and may be subtle in immunocompromised patients.
Causes of parasitic pneumonia include:
Parasites often have complex life cycles and can infect humans in a number of ways including through insect vectors, contact with soil, or direct ingestion. Parasites can affect the lungs in a number of mechanisms, including as a direct infection, while migrating to other organs, or through an inflammatory response to a toxin (see loeffler's syndrome).
Diagnosis of pneumonia is often made based on physical exam and radiographic findings. Parasitic pneumonia should be suspected in patients who are immunocompromised and/or recently travelled/immigrated.
Common physical exam findings of pneumonia include low blood pressure, elevated heart rate, elevated respiratory rate, and low oxygen saturation. Auscultation of the lungs may reveal decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, increased resonance, and crackles at the site of pneumonia.
Common laboratory findings for parasitic pneumonia includes peripheral eosinophilia, or elevated eosinophil levels on a complete blood count. Although this may be present in any parasitic infection, this is a defining feature of Loeffler's syndrome.