Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Pulmonary Toxocariasis Mimicking Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

  • Park, Eun Jin (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Song, Joon Young (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Min Ju (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jeon, Ji Ho (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Jah-Yeon (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yang, Tae Un (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hong, Kyung Wook (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Noh, Ji Yun (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Cheong, Hee Jin (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Woo Joo (Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2014.03.19
  • Accepted : 2014.06.24
  • Published : 2014.08.31
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Abstract

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.

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References

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