Discovering a stay mind worm is uncommon. 4 methods to guard your self from extra frequent parasites

News reports this week described how shocked medical doctors eliminated a stay worm from a girl’s mind in a Canberra hospital final 12 months. The lady had beforehand been admitted to hospital with abdomen signs, dry cough and evening sweats and months later skilled despair and forgetfulness that led to a mind scan.

In the case study printed in Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, medical doctors describe eradicating the stay 8cm-long nematode (roundworm) from the mind of the 64-year-old lady who was immunosuppressed. The worm was recognized as O. robertsi which is native to Australia, the place it lives on carpet pythons. The lady might have come into contact with worm eggs through snake faeces whereas foraging for Warrigal greens to eat.

It’s necessary to notice that is a particularly uncommon occasion and headlines about mind worms may be alarming. But there are extra frequent parasites which may infect your physique and mind. And there are methods you may minimise your dangers of being contaminated with one.

Common parasites and the way they get in

Parasitic an infection is extraordinarily frequent. Arguably probably the most widespread sort is pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis additionally known as threadworm), which is regarded as current in over a billion people worldwide, particularly kids. Pinworms develop to round 1cm in size and are particular to human hosts. They trigger intense backside itching and get handed from person-to-person. It’s a delusion that you would be able to get it from pets.

Giardia (Giardia duodenalis) can be quite common and may contaminate meals, water and surfaces. This water-borne parasite is related to poor sanitation and causes abdomen signs like diarrhoea, cramps, bloating, nausea and fatigue. Giardia cysts (little sacs of immature parasite) unfold illness and are handed out in faeces, the place they’ll stay viable within the setting for months earlier than being consumed by another person. They will also be ingested through meals (resembling sheep meat) that’s uncooked or undercooked.

Two types of hookworm – Necator americanis and Ancylostoma duadonale – are present in soil. Only Ancylostoma duodenale is a matter in Australia and is often present in remote communities.

When an individual is contaminated (normally through barefeet or contaminated footwear) these worms enter the bloodstream after which hit the lungs. From the bronchi within the higher lungs, they’re swallowed with secretions. Once within the intestine and small bowel they’ll cause anaemia (low iron). This is as a result of they’re consuming vitamins and affecting iron absorption. They additionally launch an anticoagulant that stops the human host’s blood clotting and causes tiny quantities of blood loss.

Fortunately, these quite common parasites don’t infect the mind.

Across the world, it’s estimated 30–50% of people are contaminated with Toxoplasma. Most folks might be asymptomatic however many carry the signs of infection.

The parasites can stay within the physique for years as tiny tissue cysts. These cysts may be present in mind, coronary heart and muscle. Infants may be born with severe eye or mind injury if their moms are contaminated throughout being pregnant. People with compromised immunity – resembling from Aids or most cancers remedy – are additionally prone to sickness from an infection through pet cats or raw meat.

Then there are tapeworms and amoebas

Tapeworms can infect totally different components of the physique together with the mind. This known as neurocysticercosis and is the main reason behind epilepsy worldwide. Neurocysticercosis is rare within the Western world and an infection is normally through consuming pork that’s raw or ready by somebody who’s contaminated with tapeworm (Taenia solium). It is extra possible in places the place pigs have contact with human faeces through sewerage or waterways.

Tapeworm larvae can infect muscle and tender tissue. Brain tissue can present a home for larvae as a result of it’s tender and straightforward to get to through blood vessels. Brain an infection could cause complications, dizziness, seizures, cognitive impairment and even dementia, on account of a rise in cerebral spinal fluid pressure.

Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba present in lakes, rivers and is derived in heat climates together with in Australia. People swimming in contaminated waters can have the parasite enter their physique via the nostril. It then travels to the mind and destroys mind tissue. The situation is almost always fatal.

Yikes! 4 methods to keep away from parasitic an infection

That all sounds very scary. And we all know being contaminated by a snake parasite could be very uncommon – discovering one alive in somebody’s mind is even rarer. But parasites are throughout us. To minimise your danger of an infection you may:

1. keep away from undercooked or uncooked pork. Freezing meat first might scale back dangers (although home freezers may not get cold enough) and it have to be cooked to a high internal temperature. Avoid pork if you’re travelling in locations with poor sanitation

2. keep away from leaping or diving into heat contemporary our bodies of water, particularly if they’re identified to hold Naegleria fowleri. Although solely a handful of cases are reported every year, you need to assume it’s current

3. practise good hand hygiene to scale back the danger of uncommon and customary infections. That means washing fingers completely and sometimes, utilizing cleaning soap, scrubbing for no less than 20 seconds, rinsing and drying properly. Clip and clear below fingernails commonly

4. to keep away from soil-borne parasites put on footwear exterior, particularly in rural and distant areas, wash footwear and depart them exterior.

Vincent Ho is an Associate Professor and medical tutorial gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University.

This article was initially printed on The Conversation. Read the original article.