46-year-old man found to have tapeworms in his brain

A 46-year-old construction worker who is reported to have been suffering from seizure was found to have tapeworms in his brain.

The construction worker, identified as Zhu (a pseudonym for the patient) is suspected to have got the tapeworms as a result of eating under-cooked pork.

”About a month ago, Zhu, from Quzhou, in eastern Zhejiang province, bought pork and mutton to cook in a spicy hot pot broth,” CNN quoted a report from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zheijang University.

It was days after this meal that he was rushed to hospital in the night after suffering what appeared to be consecutive seizures.

At the hospital, it was revealed that he had increased levels of calcium in his skull together with wounds.

Zhu however, not wanting to spend more money, refused to do further tests but had to go back to hospital after the seizures persisted.

At the Zheijang University Hospital, the Chief Physician having known about the meal, diagnosed him with Neurocysticercosis (tapeworms in the head).

This occurs when one swallows tapeworm eggs, whether laced in food or directly.

The larvae break out of the eggs and crawl into muscles and brain tissue where they are likely to cause damage as shown in Zhu’s case.

A report from the hospital however says that he recovered after doctors removed the worms that had infested his head.