CNN
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A Florida man with worsening migraines was discovered to have parasitic tapeworm larvae in his mind, in accordance with a report printed this month within the American Journal of Case Studies. Docs imagine that the tapeworm an infection originated from his behavior of consuming undercooked bacon.
The unidentified 52-year-old initially went to see the physician as a result of his migraines had all of the sudden worsened over 4 months. They have been taking place virtually weekly, have been very painful and weren’t responding to migraine drugs, in accordance with the report.
His physician ordered a CT scan, which confirmed a number of cysts – fluid-filled sacs – all through his mind. Initially suspecting that he could have a uncommon neurologic situation referred to as congenital neuroglial cysts, medical doctors admitted him to an Orlando hospital to seek the advice of with neurosurgery.
Additional labs and imaging on the hospital confirmed that the cysts have been parasitic tapeworm larvae that had taken up residence in his mind and triggered an an infection referred to as neurocysticercosis, the report mentioned.
Cysticercosis is a parasitic tissue an infection that occurs when an individual swallows tapeworm eggs from the feces of an individual who has intestinal tapeworm. The tapeworm eggs then develop into larval cysts that may infect the mind, muscular tissues or different tissues, in accordance with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Neurocysticercosis is the type of the situation by which larvae infect the mind. it’s a main reason for adult-onset seizures in low-income nations with poor sanitation and free-ranging pigs, in accordance with the CDC.
On this case, the person didn’t have typical threat components: He didn’t journey to high-risk areas, and he didn’t have shut contact with pigs or stay in an space with poor sanitation. He did, nonetheless, admit to a behavior of consuming “flippantly cooked, non-crispy bacon for many of his life,” in accordance with the report.
The researchers concluded that the person more than likely contracted the parasite through “autoinfection.” He could have gotten an intestinal tapeworm, referred to as taeniasis, from consuming undercooked bacon that had larval cysts in it after which, after improper handwashing, eaten the tapeworm eggs that he had excreted in feces, resulting in neurocysticercosis.
“It may solely be speculated however given our affected person’s predilection for undercooked pork and benign publicity historical past, we favor that his cysticercosis was transmitted through autoinfection after improper handwashing after he had contracted taeniasis himself from his consuming habits,” the report mentioned.
The person was handled with steroids and anti-parasitic brokers. His complications improved, and the cysts in his mind shrunk, in accordance with the report.
Neurocysticercosis is uncommon in the US and preventable, in accordance with the CDC. Individuals can keep away from getting intestinal tapeworms by cooking meat to protected temperatures. And cysticercosis will be prevented with correct handwashing after utilizing the bathroom and earlier than dealing with meals.