After encountering a patient whose leg muscles were infested with parasites, an emergency physician took to Twitter to remind people of the importance of cooking pork thoroughly before eating it.
- An emergency physician is urging caution when eating pork after encountering a patient whose legs were infested with T. solium larvae.
- This type of tapeworm can be found in undercooked pork.
- After ingestion, the larvae of this parasite can spread throughout the body. It is particularly dangerous if they reach the brain.
Legs whose muscles are infested with dozens of Taenia Solium larvae. The image published by Dr. Sam Ghali is chilling. But the emergency physician did not share this photo to turn our stomachs. He wants to warn the public against the dangers of eating undercooked pork.
Undercooked pork can transmit Taenia Solium
In fact, the scan in question confirmed the diagnosis of an infection by Taenia Solium larvae, a disorder also called cysticercosis.
“Humans become infected with T. solium by ingesting larval cysts found in undercooked pork. After several weeks (usually 5 to 12), these cysts develop in the gastrointestinal tract into mature adult tapeworms. These adult tapeworms then lay eggs, which are in turn excreted in human feces.”explains the doctor on his X account (formerly Twitter).
The specialist details the cycle of these parasites. When eggs are ingested, the larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and invade the bloodstream. They can then “spread literally anywhere throughout the body” such as the brain, eyes, subcutaneous tissues or even skeletal muscles. The larvae lodge there where they eventually end up and form cysts called cysticerci.
“The host’s inflammatory response usually eventually kills the cysts, which then undergo calcification, giving them the classic appearance you can see on this scan. These are commonly referred to as rice grain calcifications.”.
Here’s one of the craziest CT scans I’ve ever seen
What is the diagnosis? pic.twitter.com/DSJmPfCy9L
— Sam Ghali, MD (@EM_RESUS) August 25, 2024
T. Solium: Parasites can also lodge in the brain
While the prognosis for this disorder is generally good, it can also take a dramatic turn. One of the most serious forms is the formation of cysticerci in the brain. This is called neurocysticercosis. This disease causes severe headaches, blindness, convulsions and epileptic seizures that can be fatal. According to WHOneurocysticercosis is responsible for 30% of epilepsy cases in countries where the parasite is endemic. This makes it the most common preventable cause of epilepsy in the world.
Approximately 50 million people are infected with Taenia Solium each year, resulting in approximately 50,000 deaths. Fortunately, healthcare professionals have several treatments available to combat this infection: antiparasitic therapy, steroids, antiepileptics (for neurocysticercosis) or surgical removal of the cysts.
However, prevention remains essential.”The moral of the story is to do your best to stay clean, always wash your hands, and never, ever eat raw or undercooked pork.”concludes Dr. Sam Ghali.
For safe cooking, health authorities recommend that the core of the meat reach at least 71°C.
