Parasitic pneumonia

Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org] Phone:617-632-7753; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H.[mailto:pmarcus192@aol.com]

Overview
A variety of parasites can affect the lungs. It is a rare cause of pneumonia, occurring almost exclusively in immunocompromised persons, such as persons suffering from AIDS. This is a Respiratory infection that may or may not be serious.

There are a variety of parasites which can affect the lungs. In general, these parasites enter the body through the skin or by being swallowed. Once inside the body, these parasites travel to the lungs, most often through the blood. There, a similar combination of cellular destruction and immune response causes disruption of oxygen transportation. One type of white blood cell, the eosinophil, responds vigorously to parasite infection. Eosinophils in the lungs can lead toeosinophilic pneumonia, thus complicating the underlying parasitic pneumonia.

The most common parasites involved:
 * Toxoplasma gondii
 * Strongyloides stercoralis
 * Ascariasis
 * Hookworm