Echinococcus granulosus

This parasitic tapeworm is a tapeworm in dogs and the eggs are ingested after a dog licks a person. Normally, if a lesion occurs in the lung it is a cyst and would appear very similar to what an abscess looks like on chest radiographs. The cyst must be excised surgically and great care must be taken not to break the fluid filled cyst. Patients are very allergic to proteins in the cyst and if it breaks an anaphylatic reaction rapidly occurs. The cyst contains many little immature scoleces (the head portion of the tape worm) called "hydatid sand". For more information on this organism click here.

Unfortunately, this organism is NOT the cause of Helen's condition. She has only a cat. Try again.

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CHIEF COMPLAINT
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