Balantidium coli pneumonia in an immunocompromised patient

Scand J Infect Dis. 2003;35(2):144-6. doi: 10.1080/0036554021000027023.

Abstract

A fatal case is reported of Balantidium coli pneumonia in a 71-y-old woman suffering from anal cancer. The diagnosis was made by the discovery of motile trophozoites in a wet mount from bronchial secretions. The usual habitat of the parasite is the colon; lung balantidiasis is very rare.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Balantidiasis / diagnosis*
  • Balantidium / isolation & purification*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / diagnosis*
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia / parasitology
  • Rectal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Rectal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index