Tapeworms found in brain of US man who ate undercooked bacon
Parasitic tapeworm larvae have been discovered in a man's brain after weeks of worsening migraines, a condition researchers attribute to his consumption of undercooked bacon.
According to a report released last week by the American Journal of Case Reports, an unidentified 52-year-old American man suffered from weekly migraines that did not respond to medication.
Despite living in a modern home with his wife and cat and not traveling to high-risk areas for food safety, the man admitted to having a preference for lightly cooked, non-crispy bacon throughout his life.
Upon undergoing a CT scan, Florida researchers identified multiple fluid-filled sacs, or cystic foci, in his brain. Although there were no signs of a tumor or hydrocephalus, researchers suspected congenital neuroglial cysts.
Further examination revealed the presence of cysticercosis cyst antibodies in the man's system, leading to a diagnosis of neurocysticercosis—a preventable parasitic infection caused by larval systems from the pork tapeworm Taenia solium.
Researchers speculated that the man contracted cysticercosis through autoinfection due to improper handwashing after handling raw pork, given his eating habits.
The patient was treated with anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic medications, including dexamethasone, albendazole, and praziquantel, which proved successful.
Treatment for neurocysticercosis remains controversial, with antiparasitic drugs like praziquantel or albendazole potentially causing inflammation upon cyst death. Despite this, the patient opted for definitive treatment with albendazole after discussing the risks and benefits.
Neurocysticercosis occurs when a person ingests microscopic tapeworm eggs, typically through consuming undercooked, infected pork and subsequently passing the eggs in their feces. If proper handwashing is not observed, contamination of food or surfaces can occur, leading to ingestion by others.
Once inside the body, the eggs hatch into larvae, which can lodge in the brain, causing neurocysticercosis. Symptoms vary depending on lesion location, parasite count, and the host's immune response, potentially including epilepsy, headaches, dizziness, and stroke.
While neurocysticercosis is a global issue, its highest infection rates are found in regions with poor sanitation and free-ranging pigs in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. In the United States, approximately 1,000 new hospitalizations for neurocysticercosis occur annually, with higher frequencies reported in states like New York, California, Texas, Oregon, and Illinois. Despite its prevalence, neurocysticercosis is classified as a neglected parasitic infection by the CDC, often poorly understood by healthcare professionals.
