Raw vegetables, blood pudding, rare meat… are favorite dishes of many Vietnamese people, but they are also the “source” of parasitic diseases, especially brain flukes. This disease is not easy to diagnose and can be easily confused with other diseases.
Image of brain tapeworm of a patient at Dang Van Ngu Hospital - Photo: BVCC
Eating rare meat and blood pudding can cause worms to nest in the brain without you knowing.
Currently being treated at Dang Van Ngu Hospital, Central Institute of Malaria - Parasitology - Entomology, Mr. NVH (62 years old, Hiep Hoa, Bac Giang ) said that the first time his body showed symptoms of convulsions and mouth distortion was around 2018.
Worried about his health, he went to a local hospital for a check-up. The doctor suspected he had a brain tumor and advised him to go to a higher level hospital for a more in-depth examination.
Mr. H. then went to a tertiary hospital and was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the doctor ordered surgery. A week after the surgery, when he was transferred to Bac Giang Oncology Hospital, he received test results showing that he had a brain tapeworm, not a brain tumor as initially diagnosed.
After treatment, his health was stable so he was subjective and did not return for a check-up as directed by the doctor.
Recently, when he got up at night to go to the bathroom, Mr. H. had another seizure. This time, the seizure was more severe, so his family took him to Dang Van Ngu Hospital for examination. There, Mr. H. was diagnosed with brain worms and many injuries.
Sharing about his eating habits, Mr. H. said that he used to eat blood pudding regularly.
Another case is Mr. NVH (66 years old, residing in Chiem Hoa, Tuyen Quang ), nearly a year ago Mr. H. often had pain in his hand joints, headaches and dizziness. After going to the doctor, Mr. H. discovered many pork tapeworms in his brain.
Immediately afterwards, Mr. H. was admitted to Dang Van Ngu Hospital and underwent three rounds of treatment. It is known that this man has a preference for eating raw and undercooked dishes such as fish salad and blood pudding.
Brain flukes progress silently.
According to Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh - Director of the Central Institute of Malaria - Parasitology - Entomology, recently the hospital has received many patients infected with parasitic diseases, typically pork tapeworm larvae, large liver fluke infection...
Parasitic diseases develop silently in the human body, lasting for many years, up to 10 years, even 20 years, with symptoms that many people mistake for neurological conditions or strokes. If not treated promptly, the patient may become paralyzed on one side of the body and have other sequelae.
The cause of pork tapeworm infection in humans is due to unsanitary eating and drinking, eating raw or undercooked foods such as blood pudding, raw vegetables, especially aquatic vegetables (celery, water spinach...).
Furthermore, in some areas, pigs and cows are still grazed freely. Their waste may contain tapeworm eggs. When people or animals eat vegetables or food containing tapeworm eggs, they are at risk of being infected with tapeworms.
How to prevent parasitic diseases?
- People should proactively go for regular check-ups and screening for parasitic diseases. Especially when there are symptoms of itchy skin and digestive disorders.
- Avoid eating foods such as blood pudding or undercooked foods, especially aquatic vegetables and improperly processed meat.
- Wash hands with soap in the following cases: before preparing food; every time you come into contact with raw food or cooked food; before eating; after each time you go to the toilet.
- Clean cooking utensils and dishes thoroughly. Use separate utensils for raw and cooked foods.
- In high epidemic areas, localities and authorities should have announcements and recommendations for people to visit and receive early treatment.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/meo-mieng-vi-san-lam-to-trong-nao-nguyen-nhan-tu-mon-an-khoai-khau-cua-nguoi-viet-20250311093637792.htm
Comment (0)