Patient’s tingling feet prove to be a brain transmitted by the rat

A sensation of tingling stands is usually the result of a weak blood circulation. But every time it is an indicator of a much more nightmare scenario: vermin Configuring the store in your brain after you previously incubate rodents, servants and snails. This was, unfortunately, the recent situation for a 30 -year -old woman whose angiostrongilate struggle (also known as The disease of the rat worms) was recently highlighted in a recent New England Journal of Medicine Case study.

What is rat worm disease?

The disease of the rat worms is caused by the body’s immunorespanding to the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. A. Cantonensis It begins its life cycle after a rat eats an infected snail or a slog. Once ingested, the parasite migrates to the rodent lungs and lays eggs. After becoming larvae from the first stage, A. Cantonensis It is excreted in the rats of the rat that the snails and servants later eat. The larvae of the parasite then mature inside the gastropods, allowing the cycle to be repeated.

But sometimes other animals – and even plants – are involved, laying the foundations of human transmission. Species such as crabs of earth and freshwater shrimps are also tasted on infected sludge and snails, which can increase the spread of the parasite. Meanwhile, larvae are sometimes deposited in gastropod as they move on fruits and vegetables. People can then become hosts after eating vegetables with improperly washed leaves or thin crustaceans. A combination of these reasons is probably how the patient has contracted the disease of rat worm.

A travel nightmare

In this Case studyAt first the patient’s symptoms appeared relatively harmless. A few days after returning from a three-week-old trip, which included stops in Japan, Thailand and Hawaii, the woman began to face a slight burning sensation. Initially, she attributed Jet Lag problems, but the pain eventually increased and began to get severe headaches.

The results of his first visit to the emergency room showed only a slight increase in the number of white blood cells, indicating that he fought at least one type of infection. Without solution and aggravated conditions, the woman visited a different hospital a few days later, this time and with a light fever. Intravenous anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety drugs finally appeared, after which the doctors downloaded it again.

The woman started packing for another holiday after waking up the next day. However, there was a problem – never reserved a second trip. The patient’s room colleague noticed the confusion and encouraged him to go back to bed as he informed the woman’s partner about prior behavior. A few hours later, he found himself again at the hospital.

Other blood tests and a CT scan did not show any evidence of parasites. Finally, a lumbar puncture to evaluate the cerebrospinal fluid revealed signs of a rare brain infection caused by parasites known as eosinophil meningitis. After examining his recent trips and aggravation symptoms, doctors finally thought they could confidently identify the culprit: Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

A healthy result

Angiostrongiasis can be serious if left untreated. In 2010, for example, a The 19 -year -old Australian man became ill After consuming a live servant on a drunk boldness. Finally, the patient entered a coma of almost 14 months who left him paralyzed from his waist to his death from related complications in 2018.

In this recent case, the situation seems to be much less serious. After six days in the hospital and a two-week medicine diet that included prednisone, Albendazole and other drugs, the patient appears without symptoms and in a much better health, without the unwanted invaders in her body.

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