After suffering from migraines on a regular basis, an American man was shocked to find tapeworm eggs in his brain—a condition probably caused by his eating undercooked bacon.
The 52-year-old went to the doctor after his typical migraines got worse and his customary prescription stopped working. Cysticercosis was diagnosed after doctors discovered, via scans, that he had tapeworm eggs in his brain.
Putting the cause of the illness down to "improper handwashing," doctors think the man unintentionally contracted tapeworms via raw pork. Pork tapeworm, or Taenia solium parasite, eggs or larvae can cause cysts in the brain, which is how cysticercosis develops.
In one instance reported in the American Journal of Case Reports, physicians conjectured that the man's cysticercosis was caused by autoinfection brought on by poor hand hygiene after coming into touch with tapeworm-contaminated surfaces or excrement. His inclination for undercooked pork suggested that his eating habits were the reason he got the tapeworm.
Thank goodness the patient made a complete recovery after receiving anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic medication.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe that when cysts form in the brain, a disorder known as neurocysticercosis results from tapeworm eggs or larvae infiltrating organs including muscle and the brain. Usually, these eggs are spread via tainted food, water, or surfaces; people unintentionally swallow them by touching tainted food or fingers.
It is important to stress the need of good hand washing and food safety procedures in preventing such illnesses even though eating undercooked pig does not directly cause cysticercosis. Although cysticercosis is rare in the United States and the United Kingdom, it is common in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, especially in rural areas with poor hygienic practices and where pigs—carriers of the swine tapeworm—roam freely.
The instance as it is presented emphasizes the dangers of eating undercooked pork and the potential for autoinfection. Even if neurocysticercosis outside of typical exposure situations is uncommon in the United States, this case emphasizes the need of being vigilant about food safety and cleanliness procedures.