Tourist's Brain Invaded by Rare Worms Post-Exotic Holiday

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

A 30-year-old American woman, recently back from her dream holiday touring Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand, found herself battling rare brain-infesting worms after returning home. Initially misdiagnosed with anxiety, the woman, from New England, USA, experienced severe headaches and a strange burning in her limbs, only to later discover she was hosting the dangerous rat lungworm, scientifically named Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

 

Her journey began with a week in bustling Bangkok, sampling local cuisine yet avoiding raw dishes, then led her to Tokyo for sushi-filled days, winding up on Hawaii's shores, where fresh salads and seafood added to her exotic culinary adventure. Unbeknownst to her, these heavenly meals had a hidden nightmare lurking within.

 

Despite being sent home from A&E with dismissals of anxiety, her condition worsened, as doctors struggled to unravel the true cause behind her agony. Eventually, a deeper probe revealed the parasitic culprit — a rare worm contracted through larva-laden produce and seafood.

 

 

The life cycle of this worm is intricate. It proliferates within rats, whose excrements infect snails and slugs, which can unintentionally end up in foods like raw veggies. Unfortunately, Hawaii, a tourist paradise, has recorded notable occurrences of the parasite, alarmingly affecting global travellers.

 

Doctors promptly intervened with a two-week course of steroids, helping the woman regain her health after a grueling ordeal. Despite the worm’s ability to infiltrate the brain, it often doesn’t survive long enough to mature fully.

 

Her harrowing experience serves as a stark reminder of the unseen dangers that can accompany exotic travel and cuisine, urging tourists to exercise caution when indulging abroad, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-18

 

 

[Andycoops]

That's Hawaii off the list then, although at the moment I will only travel to Canada, Greenland, Panama and Gaza before the US Nazis try to take over...

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, Andycoops said:

That's Hawaii off the list then, although at the moment I will only travel to Canada, Greenland, Panama and Gaza before the US Nazis try to take over...

 

   Would you rather go to Gaza now ?

Go on then, what's stopping you ?

[johng]

She is obviously a "tin foil conspiracy theorist"  akin to  RFKjr  😋  🤣

 

P.S  both he and she are not.  AFAIK

[dinsdale]

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, Andycoops said:

That's Hawaii off the list then, although at the moment I will only travel to Canada, Greenland, Panama and Gaza before the US Nazis try to take over...

Hawaii's okay just don't order the side salad.

[Jim Blue]

Best stick to the usual junk food and beer .......!

[theblether]

I know of a Chiang Mai girl who died after a brain worm infection. She was misdiagnosed for three months and realistically the infestation had been in her brain for six months before diagnosis. She was put into an induced coma, the worms were killed off but complications killed her. 

 

Thais routinely take anti-parasite medicine, usually twice a year. It's available over the counter at pharmacies. Raw prawns are infamous hosts for parasites but undercooked fish is also a problem. There's no shame in asking for the meds, it's not a reflection of your hygiene, it's a reflection of the sometimes dubious foodstuffs that we are presented more than anything. 

[realfunster]

18 hours ago, theblether said:

I know of a Chiang Mai girl who died after a brain worm infection. She was misdiagnosed for three months and realistically the infestation had been in her brain for six months before diagnosis. She was put into an induced coma, the worms were killed off but complications killed her. 

 

Thais routinely take anti-parasite medicine, usually twice a year. It's available over the counter at pharmacies. Raw prawns are infamous hosts for parasites but undercooked fish is also a problem. There's no shame in asking for the meds, it's not a reflection of your hygiene, it's a reflection of the sometimes dubious foodstuffs that we are presented more than anything. 

 

Didn't know people took a precautionary dose of anti-parasitics, I have occasionally wondered about doing so myself as there are elevated risks here due to some of the "exotic" foodstuffs on offer and sometimes less than ideal hygiene. Any idea what the meds are ?

[Sir Dude]

Well, eating raw food is asking for it.

[theblether]

On 2/23/2025 at 8:44 AM, realfunster said:

 

Didn't know people took a precautionary dose of anti-parasitics, I have occasionally wondered about doing so myself as there are elevated risks here due to some of the "exotic" foodstuffs on offer and sometimes less than ideal hygiene. Any idea what the meds are ?

 

I forget the name of the one I use. I make a point of taking a couse home with me every time I leave Thailand. It's a three day course. 

 

Walk into any pharmacy and ask for parasite medicine. It's routine, nothing embarrassing about it. 

[theblether]

Can I also point out that the bum gun creates another level of problems. Never, ever use a bum gun in a public bar etc without deep cleaning your hands after. And I.mean, full soap and clean your hands well.

 

Songkran - beware of cholera. Moat water in Chiang Mai is infested.