Girl has a headache and burning legs, but it turns out that a parasite is embedded in her brain, the cause of which is a menu that she thought was good for her health.
A 30-year-old woman returned from a trip with a headache and burning sensation in her legs. The doctor prescribed her anti-stress medication. After a detailed examination, she was shocked to find that a “parasite” was embedded in her brain.
She was rushed to the แทงบอล UFABET ราคาดีที่สุด ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ hospital with a headache and a burning sensation in her feet that spread to her body and arms. She had recently returned from travels to Thailand, Japan and Hawaii. During her travels, she had eaten raw fish, which doctors suspect may have been the cause of the parasitic infection.
The woman, who lives in a coastal New England community, had been to the hospital twice with the symptoms, but doctors did not find them severe enough for her to seek treatment and gave her pain medication and anti-anxiety medication to take home. However, her symptoms worsened to the point of confusion, so she had to return to the hospital for further tests.
Doctors performed a spinal tap and found that she had been infected with the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis , or “rat lungworm,” which causes meningitis, resulting in burning and stabbing pains in her arms and legs.
Travel and infection risk
Before receiving treatment, she traveled abroad for three weeks.
- Week 1: Bangkok, Thailand Eating street food but avoiding raw food
- 5 days later: Tokyo, Japan. Mostly staying in the hotel and eating mainly sushi.
- Last 10 days: Relaxing in Hawaii, swimming in the ocean a lot and eating salads and sushi regularly.
Doctors suspected she might have Guillain–Barré syndrome , an autoimmune condition that attacks peripheral nerves, but a physical examination showed no consistent abnormalities until a spinal fluid test confirmed a rat lungworm infection.
Life cycle of parasites and human infections
Lungworm has been found in Hawaii for a long time, with 19 reported cases in 2017, although the number has since fallen to less than 10 per year. The parasite’s life cycle involves rodents, snails and slugs.
- Mice expel worm larvae in their feces.
- Snails and slugs eat the larvae and develop into the third stage (L3).
- The mouse eats an infected snail, the larvae move to the mouse’s brain, develop into an adult, and move to the lungs to lay eggs.
- Humans can become infected by eating undercooked snails or slugs, or by eating vegetables contaminated with larvae.
- After entering the body, the larvae move from the digestive system to the muscles and brain, causing a burning sensation in the feet and limbs.
Doctors treat patients with a variety of medications, including:
- Prednisone for 14 days reduces inflammation and relieves pain.
- Albendazole to eliminate parasites in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid.
- Gabapentin and amitriptyline relieve nerve pain.
Within 6 days, her symptoms improved significantly and she was discharged from the hospital.
The importance of diagnosis and prevention
Early detection and treatment play a key role in a patient’s recovery. If left untreated, this infection can be life-threatening, leading to increased intracranial pressure, neurological damage, or serious complications such as seizures, stroke, or coma.
How to prevent lungworm infection
- Avoid eating undercooked snails, slugs, and frogs.
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating.
- Be careful of snail or slug contamination in food.
- Cook food thoroughly before eating, especially meat and seafood.
Awareness of the risks and proper prevention can effectively reduce the chances of contracting rat lungworm infection.