In Florida, physicians discovered worm eggs in a man’s brain, identifying them as the source of his chronic migraines.
The 52-year-old patient, suffering from weekly migraine episodes, prompted medical investigation. A CT scan revealed a brain mass, initially mistaken for “congenital neuroglial cysts,” leading to his urgent hospitalization.
Subsequent MRI and tests revealed these masses were tapeworm larvae. As per the CDC, a positive “Cysticercosis IgG Cysts antibody” test confirmed neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection caused by the pork tapeworm’s immature stage. This condition, potentially leading to seizures, is uncommon in the U.S. without specific exposures or travel history.
The patient’s long-standing preference for undercooked bacon likely led to his infection, suggesting a case of autoinfection from poor hygiene practices after consuming tapeworm-infected pork.
The CDC notes that consuming infected pork allows the tapeworm eggs to hatch inside the body, with larvae potentially migrating to the brain, causing neurocysticercosis.
Treatment involved antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory medications, with recommendations for follow-up care at an infectious diseases clinic.
