We reported on a case of parasitic laryngitis caused by Clinostomum complanatum, a small trematode. The patient was a 27-year-old man who complained of a sore throat and abnormal pharyngolaryngeal sensations that began 3 days after eating raw carp.
By use of fiberscopic laryngoscopy, one of us discovered a crawing fluke attached to the left arytenoid mucosa. Laboratory examination results were within normal ranges. After removal of the fluke, the symptoms were relieved. The fluke was identified as Clinostomum complanatum. This trematode has been known to cause parasitic laryngopharyngitis as a result of eating raw freshwater fish.
Parasitic laryngopharyngitis is not a common disease in Japan, however, in a global context, most human cases of Clinostomum infection have been reported in Japan. These cases occurred after having eaten raw freshwater fish. Those infected complained of pain or irritation of the pharynx, abnormal sensations which felt like a foreign body, coughing, and deglutitive pain. This is the 18th case recorded in Japan.
