Bacterial, Viral and Infectious Diseases

A 22-year-old female presented with complaints of cough with blood clots in expectorant, breathlessness on exertion, wheeze and low-grade fever, for past one year. Before arriving to our Outpatient Department (OPD), patient had consulted other medical centers. There she was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

In our OPD she was reviewed with previous reports, advised new investigations, continued on Antitubercular Therapy (ATT) and was planned for bronchoscopy. The Bronchoaleveolar Lavage (BAL) was sent for laboratory testing. Wet mount of the sample revealed a motile multiflagellate protozoan resembling ciliated respiratory epithelium. After further assessment, it was reported as Lophomonas blattarum. The patient was kept on ATT, while awaiting Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTb) test results. Ongoing ATT had no positive effect patient’s condition. Patient was admitted and started on Anti-protozoan treatment.