EEAR- CFS - BCT 2022 - INGLÊS

A woman in Australia discovered her headaches were caused

by tapeworm larvae in her brain

Alaa Elassar

A 25-year-old woman in Australia discovered she had

tapeworm larvae in her brain after suffering from a headache that

lasted for more than a week.

The aches were caused by tapeworm larvae that had taken up

space in her brain, according to a new study on her case by the The

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene published on

September 21.

The woman, who never traveled overseas, is the first native

case of the disease in Australia, the study said. Previous Australian

cases of this infection were from immigrants or returning residents

who traveled to regions where the disease is endemic to, such as

Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

For the past seven years, the woman complained of

headaches that would occur two-or three-times a month and went

away with prescribed migraine medication. However, her latest

headache lasted for more than a week and came with more severe

visual symptoms, including the blurring of her central vision.

An MRI of her brain led doctors to believe that a tumor might

be the cause of her pain, but after operating and removing the

lesion, they discovered it was actually a cyst full of tapeworm

larvae. After the removal, she required no further treatment.

Tapeworms typically take up residence in human’s intestines,

an infection known as taeniasis, and some can pass on their own

without medication. The parasite is commonly transmitted when

people consume undercooked pork - pigs are often intermediary

tapeworm hosts - or come in contact with food, water and soil

contaminated with tapeworm eggs.

The best line of defense against similar infection is cooking

meat to safe temperatures, washing your hands with soap before

eating and only eating food you can ensure was cooked in sanitary

conditions.

Adapted from https://edition.cnn.com

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