Brazilian doctors shared X-ray images of a case that surprised them. It turned out that the patient, who was suffering from a cough and headache, had been pierced by tapeworms for a long time. Scientists said that parasitic diseases can be fatal, and called for attention to food hygiene.

And according to what was translated by “Turkey Urgent”, Brazilian doctors revealed that a patient who came to them suffering from coughing and headaches was home to hundreds of tapeworms.

The X-rays, which a doctor shared on Twitter, showed hundreds of bright spots, each representing the stable remains of a parasite.

What is cysticercosis?

The condition, called cysticercosis, occurs when the larvae of a type of tapeworm that normally lives in the intestines enter tissues such as muscles or the brain.

People become infected with these tapeworms by accidentally eating contaminated food, especially meat, unwashed fruit, and beverages. The larvae form hard masses in the form of cysts that can be felt through the skin.

However, the condition is generally harmless, as the tapeworms die quickly. However, the cysts left behind by dead tapeworms can cause health problems that can lead to death. Coughing and chest pain occur when the cysts stick to your lungs.

On the other hand, cysts that develop in the brain or spinal cord can lead to a condition called neurocysticercosis.

Neurocysticercosis is the most severe form of tapeworm infection and is a common cause of epilepsy and seizures worldwide.

Dr. Vitor Boren de Souza said the patient came in with a complaint of coughing and the situation was understood on MRI and X-rays.

In these cases, surgery is usually required to remove the cysts, says de Souza. Cysts can develop only months or years following the initial infection with tapeworm eggs.”

A young man loses his life in India

Meanwhile, a teenager in India died last month following tapeworms laid eggs in his brain, leaving him unconscious.

Doctors at ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Faridabad, India, found parasitic cysts embedded in the outer layer of the 18-year-old’s brain.

In this case, doctors said the commonly used anti-parasitic drugs are not an option because of the number of tapeworm cysts, and in severe cases, the drugs can exacerbate inflammation in the brain, making the condition more deadly.