Paragonimiasis in the United States. A report of nine cases in Hmong immigrants

Abstract

Nine cases of paragonimiasis have been encountered in Laotian Hmong immigrants from Camp Ban Vinai in Thailand. Symptoms included cough, hemoptysis, and fever. Chest x-ray films showed segmental infiltrates and pleural effusions, often bilateral. The clinical presentation mimics tuberculosis. All Hmong patients with chronic infiltrates and pleural disease in whom tuberculosis has not been proven should have parasitologic and serologic evaluation to exclude paragonimiasis.