Porocephaliasis is a condition associated with species in the closely related genera "Porocephalus" and "Armillifer". (The term "pentastomiasis" encompasses all diseases of Pentastomida, which includes Porocephaliasis and Linguatulosis.)

Porocephaliasis is associated with contact with snakes. (This is in contrast with Linguatulosis, which is associated with contact with dogs or wolves.)

It has been reported from Africa, Malaysia and the Middle East. Its occurrence has been rare in Europe and North America where it has been found in immigrants and travelers.

It is usually asymptomatic unless the complication and infection is severe. But in some recorded cases, symptoms include nasopharyngitis accompanied by pain, itching of throat and ears. Coughing, hemoptysis and vomiting are verifiable indications as well as sneezing, bleeding, dyspnea, and inflammation.

Eating raw or semi-cooked infected liver or lymph nodes infected with nymphal L. serrata causes severe symptoms in the human nasopharynx. Submaxillary and cervical lymph nodes sometimes enlarge and the neck is swollen. Complications include abscesses in the auditory canals, facial paralysis, and enlarged tonsils producing asphyxiation. These symptoms are well recognized as a disease call “halzoun syndrome” in Lebanon and nearby countries.

In Egypt, infected camels and buffalo may also be a source of infection for dogs, which are companions of man in desert and semi-desert areas where grazing is a major profession, and in villages, where dogs are also common. Infected dogs, in turn, are a source of infection to man who may be an intermediate host.

It is prevalent in parts of Africa and Asia where eating snake meat is common. In Africa it has also been associated with groups who use the snake as a totem. Unlike linguatuliasis, humans are only ever an accidental intermediate host for "Armillifer", i.e. the larvae establish themselves in the visceral organs causing human visceral pentastomiasis, but adults do not occur in the human respiratory system. After a while the larvae die within the host and sometimes calcify, leaving characteristic crescent-shaped structures seen in X-ray. In extreme cases a heavy parasite burden can have serious medical consequences and can even be fatal.

In general, the term "infestation" refers to parasitic diseases caused by animals such as arthropods (i.e. mites, ticks, and lice) and worms, but excluding conditions caused by protozoa, fungi, bacteria, and viruses, which are called infections.

Infestation is the state of being invaded or overrun by pests or parasites. It can also refer to the actual organisms living on or within a host.