Disturbing scans show what happened to a 23-year-old woman after eating raw meat left her body riddled with parasites.
According to local media, Tingting (a pseudonym) from Yubeng Village, Deqin County, China, complained of headaches along with pain in her thighs and her eyes back in 2016.
Doctors suggested she undergo an MRI and CT scan, and they were horrified by the results.
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The girl had fallen victim to cysticercosis, an infection caused when someone swallows tapeworm eggs. Yikes.
The microscopic parasites infected Tingting's back muscles, abdomen, eyes, and brain.
Her brother hinted at the reason for this alarming medical condition. It turned out the family would habitually eat raw pork on the days they slaughtered a pig.
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Tingting had been doing this since her teens. Her brother was also tested for the condition, but was given the all-clear.
"The patient had bulging eyes, retinal hemorrhage, multiple infections throughout the body, and epileptic seizures," Professor Meng Qiang, chief physician of the Department of Neurology at the Provincial First Hospital, said.
The doctor went on to say that cases like Tingting's can have pretty serious consequences.
He explained: "Parasitic worms have the greatest impact on the brain and affect the central nervous system.
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"The most common one is epilepsy, and it may also cause intellectual impairment. Some patients may also experience limb paralysis, language dysfunction, sensory impairment, etc."
As for how to treat Tingting, they planned to administer small doses of insecticides.
If they weren't careful, her case could get worse once the parasites died, leading to 'inflammatory reactions or severe allergic reactions'.
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The X-ray photos have made many commenters on the internet both grossed out and worried about the woman’s condition.
“This is so gross,” said one commenter on X, “they are so small you don’t even have a clue that there invading your body or surroundings.”
Another said: "Stopped reading after it said worms are found in the eyeball."
A third asked worriedly: “Is she still alive?”
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While it is unknown what ended up happening to the woman after the disease was discovered, there are easy ways to prevent cysticercosis.
According to the CDC, you should wash your hands after using the toilet and changing diapers and before handling food; wash and peel fruit and vegetable before eating them; and drink bottled water or water that has been boiled for at least one minute in countries where tap water is unsafe to drink.
And, obviously, avoid eating raw pork.
Dylan Murray