Paragonimiasis is caused by infection with a flatworm. That’s a parasitic worm

How do you get lung flukes?

People get lung fluke infections when they swallow cysts containing immature flukes (larvae) in raw, undercooked, or pickled freshwater crabs or crayfish. These infections occur most often in Asia.

How common are lung flukes?

About 20 million people are infected with lung flukes (WHO, 1995) and an estimated 293 million people are at-risk (Keiser and Utzinger, 2005). There are about 15 species of Paragonimus known to infect humans. P. westermani infection is the most common elsewhere, while P.