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A Florida man suffering from persistent migraines suffered what was likely an unpleasant shock when he sought medical treatment and discovered what was causing the pain.
festering tapeworm eggs They were discovered to have taken up residence in his head after doctors performed a CT scan to obtain a detailed image of the 52-year-old’s brain. And many of them.
But the parasitic infection did not happen by accident. The man admitted to having a habit of regularly consuming undercooked bacon, which experts believe is what made him particularly vulnerable to the infestation, according to a report published in the American Journal of Case Reports.
The man was treated with anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory medications before being instructed to follow up at an infectious disease clinic, according to the report. While he appears to be on the road to recovery, researchers warned that the rare condition, known medically as neurocysticercosis, is very rare in the U.S. and should put doctors on guard for future cases.
“Historically, it is very unusual to find infected pork in the United States,” the researchers wrote. “Our case may have implications for public health.”
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Neurocysticercosis is believed to be non-existent in the US.
If a person inadvertently ingests the microscopic eggs of pork tapeworms (medically known as had solium,) are at risk of developing cysticercosis or the much more dangerous neurocysticercosis.
People most often become infected by swallowing tapeworm eggs that are spread through food, water or, yes, coming into contact with surfaces contaminated by an infected person’s feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Wash your hands, people!)
Once in a person’s system, the parasite larvae can enter tissues such as a person’s muscles and brain, forming cysts and potentially causing seizures. When they become embedded in the nervous system, the condition is called neurocysticercosis.
While preventable and treatable, the disease still hospitalizes about 1,000 Americans a year and can be fatal. It’s also expensive: The average hospitalization charge due to neurocysticercosis was $37,600, the CDC noted.
The man in the recent case had a history of migraines, but sought medical treatment after they became more severe and long-lasting over a four-month period.
Imaging techniques, including a CT scan and MRI, revealed multiple cysts inside his brain that were confirmed to be tapeworm larvae, leading to the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis, according to researchers.
The recent study noted that “it is very rare for patients to contract neurocysticercosis outside of classic exposures or travel, and such cases in the United States were thought to be nonexistent.”
The condition is more common in rural areas of developing countries, especially those where pigs are the main source of food and sanitary conditions are poor. CDC states. However, cysticercosis may become more common in the US as international travel becomes more common. according to the National Library of Medicine.
How undercooked bacon increased man’s risk of tapeworm infection
the larvae of had solium It is a tapeworm that most commonly infects pigs, but humans who inadvertently eat undercooked pork can also become infected.
Although the man in this case “denied ever eating raw or street food,” the report states that he “admitted to having a habit of eating lightly cooked, non-crispy bacon for most of his life.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends cooking pork for at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be difficult to determine in such fine meat, but those who enjoy this breakfast staple will have no problem cooking it until crispy, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Although the man’s preference for soft bacon was not the only cause of the ailment, researchers determined that he likely consumed bacon that had gone bad. As he was undercooked, it made him especially susceptible to infection.
Doctors involved in the man’s case further speculated that he did not properly wash his hands after using the bathroom.
While historically little has been done to monitor this particular strain of infection in the United States, the CDC said it is stepping up efforts to work with state and local health departments across the country to identify and treat patients.
“Finding and treating people with tapeworm infections will reduce a preventable cause of seizures, help more people live healthy, productive lives, and reduce the financial burden on health care,” the agency said.
Eric Lagatta covers the latest news and trends for USA TODAY. Contact him at elagatta@gannett.com