Parasitic tapeworm larvae discovered in a US man’s brain, which caused worsening migraines, were likely consumed when he ate undercooked bacon.
The 52-year-old’s ordeal was detailed in a report by the American Journal of Case Reports. It came after he complained of weekly migraines that were unresponsive to medication.
The report says he “lived at home with his wife and cat” in a modern house – which made the discovery of tapeworm larvae strange as he’d not travelled to any risky food areas.
He did, however, indulge in “lightly cooked, non-crispy bacon” for most of his life.
A CT scan investigating his migraines found “numerous fluid-filled sacs” in his brain – which had researchers suspicious.
The man was taken to hospital, where he tested positive for cysticercosis cyst antibodies and diagnosed with neurocysticercosis, caused by larvae from the pork tapeworm taenia solium.
Researchers said: “It can only be speculated, but given our patient’s predilection for undercooked pork and benign exposure history, we favour that his cysticercosis was transmitted via autoinfection after improper handwashing after he had contracted taeniasis himself from his eating habits.”
He was prescribed anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic medication and successfully treated.
According to the CDC, the parasite comes from consumption of undercooked or infected pork – leading a tapeworm going into someone’s intestines.
Without washing hands after using the bathroom, the eggs may contaminate food and other surfaces.
Once the eggs hatch, they sometimes lodge themselves onto a person’s brain, causing neurocysticercosis.
Symptoms to look out for are epilepsy, headaches, dizziness, and strokes.
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