Parasitic Infections of the Lung

Parasitic infections occur worldwide but are more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Raised awareness of the potential for clinical presentation in non-endemic settings is also of importance due to increases in international travel and migration. Severe forms of parasitic infection can occur, and some are more frequent in immunocompromised patients. Parasites can be transmitted fecal-orally, penetrate directly into the skin or be transmitted using a vector, often in complex life cycles. In this chapter we focus on the management of parasitic infections affecting the lungs, by invading directly the lung parenchyma, migrating through the lung or by finding their way into the lung as an ectopic location.