Halzoun

Halzoun is the local name of a buccopharyngeal infection occurring in Lebanon, probably caused by pentastomida larvae of Linguatula serrata (dog tongue worm) which wander into the throat of the human host after ingestion of infected raw liver or lymph nodes from sheep or goats.[1]

Halzoun is considered to be a form of infection with Fasciola, whereby ingestion of infected raw sheep and goat livers may result in the attachment of adult living worms by their suckers to the pharyngeal mucosa causing edema of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx. This edema is accompanied by dyspnea and occasionally asphyxia.