Doctors Identify the Source of Human Migraines: A Tapeworm Larva, Likely Undercooked Bacon, in the Brain

CNN
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A Florida man with worsening migraines was diagnosed with parasitic worm larvae in his brain. Report It was published this month in the American Journal of Case Reports. Doctors believe the tapeworm infection originated from his habit of eating undercooked bacon.

The 52-year-old, who has not been identified, initially went to the doctor because of a sudden worsening of migraines over four months. They occurred almost weekly, were extremely painful and did not respond to migraine medications, according to the report.

The doctor ordered a CT scan, which showed multiple cysts – fluid-filled sacs – in his brain. At first, doctors suspected the man had a rare neurological condition called congenital neurogeal cysts and admitted him to an Orlando hospital to recommend neurosurgery.

Further laboratory and imaging tests at the hospital showed that cyst parasites had taken up residence in his brain and caused an infection called neurocysticercosis, the report said.

Cysticercosis is a parasitic tissue infection that occurs when a person ingests tapeworm eggs in the feces of a person with intestinal tapeworm. Tapeworm eggs develop into larval cysts that can infect the brain, muscles, or other tissues. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Neurocysticercosis is a condition in which larvae destroy the brain. In low-income countries, poor sanitation and free-ranging pigs are the leading cause of adult seizures, according to the CDC.

In this case, the person did not have the usual risk factors: they did not travel to high-risk areas, and they did not have close contact with pigs or live in an area with poor sanitation. But he admitted that he had been “in the habit of eating undercooked and undercooked bacon for most of his life,” the report said.

The researchers concluded that the man may have contracted the disease through “auto-infection.” He may have contracted an intestinal worm called taciasis from eating bacon that was moldy from undercooked bacon, then eating the worm eggs he passed out in his stool after improper hand washing, leading to neurocysticercosis.

It is plausible, however, given our patient’s history of undercooked pork and a good exposure history, that his cysticercosis may have acquired taeniasis by its own eating behavior, followed by an auto-infection after improper hand washing, the report states.

The man was treated with steroids and antibiotics. The report indicated that his headaches had improved and the cysts in his brain had shrunk.

According to the CDC, neurocysticercosis is rare and preventable in the United States. People can prevent intestinal tapeworms. Cooking meat to safe temperatures. And it can be cysticercosis It is forbidden Proper hand washing after using the toilet and before eating.