Pulmonary Paragonimiasis: A Case Series.

Paragonimiasis contributes to significant foodborne zoonosis worldwide. The major mode of transmission in humans is by consumption of uncooked or undercooked crabs and crayfish harbouring Paragonimus metacercariae. It begins with symptoms like fever and lower respiratory involvement from a few months to a year, mimicking those of tuberculosis and leading to diagnostic delay. Here, we report two cases of paragonimiasis during a period of nine months. Both cases presented with symptoms of productive cough with rusty sputum, chest pain, along with eosinophilia, and pleural effusion and had a history of consumption of smoked crab from the local river. The diagnosis was established by microscopic demonstration of Paragonimus ova in the sputum. They were treated with praziquantel and recovered. Indeed, it is challenging to diagnose paragonimiasis due to the lack of its specific symptoms but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilia and pleural effusion in such lung diseases. Keywords: case reports; eosinophilia; paragonimiasis; pleural effusion.

Dengue and malaria coinfection: the first case report in Nepal.

A 21-year-old male from Nepal, with a history of travel to Mumbai 2 months ago, presented with fever with chills and rigors, vomiting and multiple joint pain for 1 week. Clinical examination was noteworthy for tachycardia, hypotension and positive tourniquet test. Lab reports showed NS1-Ag positive, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytosis, transaminesemia, hyperbilirubinemia, increased urea and creatinine. He was treated for severe dengue. His laboratory parameters started improving; however, he had fever with chills and rigors daily and persistent vomiting. Repeat peripheral smear for Malaria showed schizonts and trophozoites of Plasmodium vivax. He recovered following treatment with IV fluids and injection artesunate. The presence of fever even in a critical phase of dengue, the typical rise of temperature daily, and jaundice gave a clue of coinfection with Malaria. On follow-up, after 2 weeks, he had no symptoms, and all the laboratory parameters were normal.

Co-infection of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C among HIV-infected patients: A cross-sectional study from tertiary care hospital of eastern Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted with an objective to analyze prevalence and risk factors associated with co-infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in HIV-positive patients with reference to their CD4+ T cell status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HIV-positive patients visiting the HIV clinic for CD4+ T cells testing at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences were tested for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Data regarding age, gender, mode of HIV transmission, duration of HIV diagnosis, antiretroviral therapy status, antiretroviral therapy duration, hepatitis B or C status, and CD4+ T cells count were collected via face-to-face interview, and hospital records. The data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2019 v16.0 (Microsoft, WA, USA) and statistical analysis was performed by using statistical package for social sciences, IBM SPSS® v21 (IBM, Armonk, New York). RESULTS: Out of 474 HIV-positive patients, HIV-HBV, HIV-HCV, and HIV-HBV-HCV co-infections were seen in 2.95% (14/474), 18.14% (86/474), and 2.53% (12/474) respectively. The primary route of infection was intra-venous drug use (IVDU) in those co-infected with HBV only (8, 57.14%), HCV only (46, 53.49%), and both HBV and HCV (8, 66.67%). HIV patients infected via IVDU were 2.40 times more likely to have HIV-HCV co-infection as compared to those infected via sexual route (AOR 2.40, 95% CI: 1.49,3.86). Similarly, HIV patients with CD4+ T cells count less than 350 cells/mm3 were more likely to have HIV-HBV-HCV co-infection as compared to those with CD4 count equal to and more than 350 cells/mm3 (AOR 13.84, 95% CI: 2.90,66.10). CONCLUSION: HIV-positive patients are at high risk of hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C co-infection. Intravenous drug use, and lower CD4+T cells count are the most important risk predictors of co-infection. All HIV-positive patients should be carefully screened with hepatitis B and hepatitis C tests during their follow-up.