> The finding surprised the doctors since tapeworms aren’t endemic to Spain and he said he hadn’t traveled. However, the man may have been exposed during his work. Until 10-years prior, when he retired, he had worked in construction, often working alongside people who had migrated from regions where pork tapeworms (Taenia solium) are endemic. The parasitic worms can spread through the fecal-oral route. His doctors speculated his infection might have been a rare case of cryptic transmission from sharing meals and bathrooms with his coworkers, one of whom apparently had a tapeworm infection.
The Taenia genus —among many other pork parasites— is —or used to be— endemic in the whole Iberian peninsula and all ethnic Spaniards eat raw pork meat.
I don't even know which mystery non–Spaniard dark–skins the doctor is trying to blame here.
> NCC can be serious, causing seizures, significant neurological deficits, cognitive decline, stroke, and other problems. But it can also be asymptomatic. The severity depends on where in the brain the worms settle. Luckily for the man, the effects were relatively mild. Doctors prescribed him two anti-parasitic drugs, and he recovered.
> We treated the patient successfully with albendazole (400 mg 2×/d) and praziquantel (1,200 mg 3×/d), alongside dexamethasone taper, without complications.
they slowly decay and the immune system removes the remains. it can cause a toxicity shock called the herxheimer effect, the body often has symptoms when removing decaying foreign matter and the stored toxins they release. often parasite decomposition results in a sudden release of heavy metals and other things which accumulate in parasites. people try to use binding agents to aid in detoxing during this time to minimize fever and joint swelling and other signs of severe inflammation.
Presumably what they had available. Since MRI machines (and qualified technicians) are much more expensive, it's not uncommon for smaller facilities to rely on mobile MRIs which aren't on-site every day.
This is a big fear of mine. I have a course of albendazole once every year just for this. It is de facto over the counter in India. I bought enough to last 4 years, the last time I was there.
I have often thought it might be a wise idea to do some form of prophylactic course against parasitic infections given my extensive travels, but this isn't something that's generally recommended here in the US and I've yet to meet a doctor who would be willing to prescribe deworming without evidence of an active infection. Is this something that's common in India?
These dewormers treat the condition after the individual was already infected. I don't think they prevent the disease. Additionally, taking Albendazole without anti-inflammatory meds can be fatal in case of an active infection. Reason is that if the cysts start dying the brain, the toxins released might cause swelling which can lead to neurological damage or death.
the american medical system claims parasites are more uncommon than being struck by lightning, yet we see how easily pets spread worms to each other. i cant help but assume there is some hidden motive in gaslighting people that pets can get worms and spread them to each other but not to the owners they live with.
When I was growing up in India, the family physician would prescribe single dose deworming syrup/tablets for kids, every year. I recently learned that Mebendazole is available over the counter, here in Ireland (also in the UK). But I have enough Albendazole from my trip to India last year, to last a couple of years.
The brain is remarkably good at recovering from injury and mapping functions around damaged areas. There have been dozens of reported cases of massive one time injuries that people are able to recover from. Kill the worms and I bet he makes a full recovery.
Saw something like this in one ER I worked at years ago. Guy in his 50's was brought in for seizures. Don't remember exactly where he came from, but it was some place where tapeworms from pigs was not unheard of. CT of head showed numerous cysts in his brain. I remember seeing the spots in his head being a bit smaller than in the imagery in the article and more spread out. Anyway he was diagnosed with neurocysticercosis and admitted. No idea what happened after, often I didn't get follow-up in the ER setting. Anyway, that... was memorable. Never ate undercooked pork before that, but after... never ever will.
yikes
I don't even know which mystery non–Spaniard dark–skins the doctor is trying to blame here.
and here is the actual case report: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/32/7/26-0587_article
> We treated the patient successfully with albendazole (400 mg 2×/d) and praziquantel (1,200 mg 3×/d), alongside dexamethasone taper, without complications.
Thru don't consume brain tissue or even live very long in the brain. The biggest problem is that cysts form around them, which can apply pressure.