Doctors from the Brazilian clinic in Botucatu released photos of the patient’s X-rays, which showed the remains of dozens of tapeworm larvae. It has been reported daily mail.
The man went to the doctors complaining of a constant cough. An X-ray of his chest showed hundreds of bright spots, each representing the remnants of a parasite. This condition, called cysticercosis, occurs when tapeworm larvae, which normally live in the intestines, invade tissues such as muscle or brain. There they form hard, cyst-like nodules under the skin that feel swollen.
This condition is usually harmless, so in most of these cases the patient does not require any treatment. However, if the larvae enter the brain, serious complications such as seizures, fluid accumulation in the brain or death can develop. Larval cysts, according to the World Health Organization tapewormDeveloping in the brain, it is responsible for 70% of epilepsy cases in some parts of the world.
As the scientists explain, cysticercosis can develop when ingesting tapeworm eggs found in uncooked pork or the feces of infected people in food and water.