Parasitic Infestations

Paragonimiasis or pulmonary distomiasis is caused by infection with a worm of the genus Paragonimus, especially Paragonimus westermani. In Korea the disease was usually acquired by eating raw crab meat, and references to a disorder characterized by rusty-brown mucus in the ancient texts probably reflect paragonimiasis.

In the Hyangyak chipsong pang under the heading “pediatrics” are descriptions if infestations of round­worms and pinworms. The section on “worms” in the Tongui pogam describes various disease symptoms attributed to nine different worms. Many plant reme­dies were used to remove these parasites. Ancylosto­miasis (hookworm disease) and secondary anemia are not specifically described, but symptoms of ane­mia due to ancylostomiasis seem to be described among the forms of jaundice.