A 52-year-old man in the United States was recently hospitalized due to worsening migraines, which were later discovered to be caused by parasitic tapeworm larvae in his brain. The man’s headaches had been increasing in frequency, severity, and were unresponsive to medication over a period of four months.
After undergoing CT scans, doctors found numerous fluid-filled sacs in the man’s brain. Further antibody tests confirmed a diagnosis of neurocysticercosis, a rare parasitic tissue infection caused by larval cysts of the pork tapeworm. Surprisingly, the man had not recently traveled to any high-risk areas but had a history of consuming undercooked bacon. Researchers believe this was the likely source of infection.
Fortunately, the man was successfully treated with anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory medications, resulting in the regression of brain lesions and an improvement in his headaches. While cases of neurocysticercosis are uncommon in the U.S., this incident raises concerns about the consumption of infected pork.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of neurocysticercosis can range from headaches to seizures and can be fatal if left untreated. This case serves as a reminder for individuals to ensure that pork products are properly cooked to prevent the risk of infection from parasitic tapeworms.
