Doctors found that a tapeworm had been living in a 38-year-old man's brain for 20 years, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. They discovered it after he had a seizure. (New England Journal of Medicine/AP)
According to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors found that a tapeworm, which had been living in a 38-year-old man's brain for 20 years, caused him to have seizures. The New England Journal of Medicine and AP reported that the fairly healthy man fell from his bed after having a traumatic seizure. After his wife found him on the floor around 4 AM, he was rushed to the hospital and suffered another seizure. His speech was reported to be as "gibberish". The man had no prior illnesses as it related to seizures.
Order our parasite cleanse here.
Upon having a CT scan, doctors observed 3 separate brain lesions which were larval cysts from a tapeworm that had migrated to his head nearly 20 years prior. This tapeworm burrowed itself into parts of his brain. Doctors diagnosed the man with neurocysticercosis.
According to the National Library of Medicine, Neurocysticercosis or NCC, is defined as a "neglected tropical disease caused by larval forms of the parasite Taenia solium lodging in central nervous system (CNS)".
This illness is common in under-developed regions of the world including Asian, African and Latin American countries. The man migrated from Guatemala 20 years ago. Neurocysticercosis is responsible for 1% of epilepsy cases according to the National Library of Medicine. The normal pathway of infection is through oral ingestion of tape worm eggs which can be found in undercooked/unsanitary meat and fish, fecal matter, unclean water, contaminated produce and areas of poor sanitation. Once ingested, larvae (active immature form of an insect) commonly stay in the digestive tract but, can easily travel to other organ systems like muscles and the brain via the blood stream.
Microscopic image of Tapeworm. Credit: STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images
- Cook raw meat to an internal temperature between 145 -160 Fahrenheit.
- Properly wash all produce with 1:1 baking soda and vinegar solution in water for at least 15 minutes then rinse.
- Consume a more alkaline (organic plant-based) diet. Learn more about a plant based life style here.
- Use good hygiene practices. always wash hands, surfaces and utensils after using the restroom and after handling raw meat or fish.
- Never drink from streams or rivers without properly purifying your water.