Rare Medical Case: Woman Discovers Heartworm Parasite Emerging from Under Her Eye

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath.

 

A woman in Rayong has made a rare and shocking discovery after noticing an unusual lump near her eye, which later turned out to be a heartworm parasite emerging from her skin.

 

On 3 April, a video clip surfaced showing a white, translucent, 5cm long parasite wriggling on a piece of tissue. The video was sent by the patient, who had been experiencing discomfort around her eyes. It was later confirmed that the parasite had emerged from under the skin below her eye.

 

The woman first contacted medical professionals in late December 2024 with complaints of itching and pain around her eyes. After a local doctor diagnosed the condition as a possible case of Strongyloides (threadworm) and prescribed anti-parasitic medication, her symptoms showed little improvement.

 

By early March, the lump had moved from around her eye to under her eyelid, now measuring about 1cm in diameter. The woman sought further medical advice and underwent blood tests, but the results showed no abnormalities. She was once again prescribed anti-parasitic drugs.

 

On 2 April, she sent the troubling video to the specialist, Dr. Nathakaphat Rattanapitul, from the FMC Medical Clinic in Nakhon Ratchasima. In the clip, the woman showed the raised lump on her face, from which the parasite was visibly emerging.

 

Dr. Nathakaphat confirmed the parasite to be a heartworm known as Dirofilaria repens, typically found in dogs, cats, and wild animals across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Mosquitoes are the primary vectors of the parasite, which can incidentally infect humans. While the parasite does not mature to its full size in humans, it can cause a condition known as Dirofilariasis.

 

This condition usually presents as a mobile lump under the skin or in the eye, known as ocular Dirofilariasis. Symptoms can include itching, redness, irritation, or swelling in the affected area.

 

The primary treatment for Dirofilariasis is surgical removal of the parasite, as it cannot be effectively treated with medication. Prevention involves controlling mosquitoes and ensuring that pets receive regular heartworm prevention medication.

 

This rare case is one of the few documented instances of Dirofilaria repens infection in humans in Thailand, the first being reported in 2021 in a case from Kanchanaburi.

 

Experts warn pet owners to be vigilant, as the parasite can affect pets as well as humans, particularly in areas where mosquitoes are prevalent.

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

[sammieuk1]

In other news poster throws up all over his laptop 🤔

[Serenity_Now]

16 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

In other news poster throws up all over his laptop 🤔

Bumped moved to IT Thread 😄