How Do You Spell PARAGONIMUS WESTERMANNI?

1. Paragonimus westermani is a parasitic flatworm belonging to the family Paragonimidae. It is commonly known as the lung fluke or the Oriental lung fluke. This parasite primarily infects humans and other mammals, residing in the lungs and causing a disease called paragonimiasis.

   The life cycle of Paragonimus westermani involves multiple hosts. The eggs of this parasite are released in the sputum or feces of the infected host, and upon reaching freshwater, they hatch into miracidia. These miracidia infect specific snail intermediate hosts, where they undergo several stages of development. Eventually, cercariae are released from the snail, which further develop into metacercariae in crustacean intermediate hosts, such as crabs and crayfish.

   Paragonimus westermani is primarily transmitted to humans through the consumption of undercooked or raw crustaceans containing metacercariae. Once ingested, the metacercariae penetrate the intestinal wall, migrate through various tissues, and finally settle in the lungs, where they mature into adult flukes.

   In humans, the presence of Paragonimus westermani can lead to a range of symptoms, including chronic cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, the parasite can cause hemoptysis (coughing up blood) and can even affect other organs, such as the brain or peritoneum.

   Treatment for paragonimiasis usually involves the administration of antiparasitic drugs, such as praziquantel. Infected individuals may also require supportive care to manage their symptoms and aid recovery. Proper cooking of crustaceans and avoidance of raw or undercooked dishes can help prevent the transmission of Paragonimus

2. Disloma westermanni, D. pulmonale, bronchial or lung fluke, infests the lungs of man and many of the lower animals in Eastern Asia, frequently causing hemoptysis.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PARAGONIMUS WESTERMANNI

The word "Paragonimus westermanni" is a scientific name that consists of two parts.

"Paragonimus" comes from the Greek words "para", meaning beside or adjacent to, and "gonimos", meaning generation or reproduction. This term refers to the reproductive system of the organism, as it is a genus of lung fluke parasites that have a complex reproductive cycle.

"westermanni" is named after the German physician Franz Westerma nn, who first described the parasite in 1873. He identified and studied Paragonimus westermanni in the lung tissues of patients with a parasitic infection.

Therefore, the etymology of "Paragonimus westermanni" combines the description of the reproductive system of the organism with the name of its discoverer.