Sparganosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by migrating
plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra [1]. Although
it has been reported worldwide, the major endemic areas
are China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and
other South Asian countries [2,3]. Infection in humans occurs
mainly by ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked flesh of infected
frogs, snakes, and chickens [2]. Spargana migrate mainly
to muscles or subcutaneous tissues. In rare occasions, they also
migrate to the brain, spinal cord, thoracic cavity, or urogenital
organs [2]. Here, we report a rare case of a patient with pleural
sparganosis and no other infection that was initially misdiagnosed
as parapneumonic effusion