Question:
A 36-year-old male presents with cough, cold, fever and rusty sputum. Sputum is negative for tuberculosis. He has a history of travel to China and eating crab. Name the infection.
A 36-year-old male presents with cough, cold, fever and rusty sputum. Sputum is negative for tuberculosis. He has a history of travel to China and eating crab. Name the infection.
Show Hint
Crab ingestion plus rusty sputum mimicking TB points to a lung fluke.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Paragonimus westermani
- Fasciola hepatica
- Fasciolopsis buski
- Entamoeba histolytica
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: History of travel to China with eating crab points to a food-borne trematode acquired from crustaceans, which is Paragonimus westermani, the lung fluke.
Step 2: The lungs are damaged most, producing chronic cough, fever and rusty (blood-tinged) sputum; during invasion and migration there may also be diarrhea, abdominal pain, urticaria, hepatosplenomegaly and eosinophilia.
Step 3: The clinical picture closely resembles and is often confused with tuberculosis, but the sputum here is TB-negative. Unembryonated eggs are passed in the sputum.
Step 4: Fasciola hepatica and Fasciolopsis buski are intestinal or hepatobiliary flukes without this pulmonary picture, and E. histolytica causes amoebiasis, so the lung fluke Paragonimus westermani is the answer. Treatment of choice is praziquantel.
Step 2: The lungs are damaged most, producing chronic cough, fever and rusty (blood-tinged) sputum; during invasion and migration there may also be diarrhea, abdominal pain, urticaria, hepatosplenomegaly and eosinophilia.
Step 3: The clinical picture closely resembles and is often confused with tuberculosis, but the sputum here is TB-negative. Unembryonated eggs are passed in the sputum.
Step 4: Fasciola hepatica and Fasciolopsis buski are intestinal or hepatobiliary flukes without this pulmonary picture, and E. histolytica causes amoebiasis, so the lung fluke Paragonimus westermani is the answer. Treatment of choice is praziquantel.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top NEET PG Microbiology Questions
- A patient hailing from Delhi presents with fever, arthralgia, and extensive petechial rash for 3 days. Lab investigations revealed a hemoglobin of 9 g/ dL, a white blood cell count of 9000 cells/mm3, a platelet count of 20000 cells/mm3, and a prolonged bleeding time. The clotting time was normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Which of the following statements is true about Trichomonas vaginalis?
- A lady from West Rajasthan presented with an ulcer surrounded by erythema on the right leg. Microscopy of the biopsy from the edge of the ulcer showed organisms with dark staining nuclei and kinetoplast. What is the most likely causative agent?
- A child presents with a fever and a rash. Urine examination showed cells with owl's eye appearance. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Infection with Clonorchis sinensis is associated with an increased risk of__?
View More Questions
Top NEET PG Questions
- A patient hailing from Delhi presents with fever, arthralgia, and extensive petechial rash for 3 days. Lab investigations revealed a hemoglobin of 9 g/ dL, a white blood cell count of 9000 cells/mm3, a platelet count of 20000 cells/mm3, and a prolonged bleeding time. The clotting time was normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Which of the following statements is true about Trichomonas vaginalis?
- A lady from West Rajasthan presented with an ulcer surrounded by erythema on the right leg. Microscopy of the biopsy from the edge of the ulcer showed organisms with dark staining nuclei and kinetoplast. What is the most likely causative agent?
- A child presents with a fever and a rash. Urine examination showed cells with owl's eye appearance. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Infection with Clonorchis sinensis is associated with an increased risk of__?
View More Questions