Degranulated Eosinophilia: An Unexpected Clue in Diagnosis of Ectopic Paragonimiasis.

INTRODUCTION

Paragonimiasis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by Paragonimus spp.

CASE PRESENTATION: This report details a case of Paragonimus infection in a 3-year-old boy in Southwest China, who presented with ectopic subcutaneous masses, which was originally based on an unexpected clue of degranulated eosinophilia, confirmed with a combination of epidemiological investigation and serum test for Paragonimus-specific antibody test.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case indicates possible misdiagnosis of paragonimus-related disease in endemic climates, not to mention nonendemic areas, especially when it is difficult to find parasite or eggs in some settings. Furthermore, review of peripheral blood smear is of particular importance for clinical diagnosis, especially in today's modern society where automated analyzers are widely used and mainly relied upon. This case is presented not only because of its relative rarity but also for future references to both clinicians and technicians worldwide.