An 8cm worm was removed from the brain of a 64yearold woman in Australia. The case was published in the medical journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
What happened:
Doctors found the worm after a biopsy. Later research revealed that the worm belonged to the species Ophidascaris robertsi, which is common in pythons.
This case marked the world’s first detection of this species of parasite in humans. According to The Guardian, the patient lives in an area inhabited by pythons. The greater likelihood is that she became infected by touching vegetation where the parasite had lodged in the snakes’ feces.
The woman sought medical help as she suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhea, a persistent dry cough, fever and night sweats. She later exhibited forgetfulness and depression that did not improve with medication.
Since the doctors could not find a cause for the symptoms, they performed an MRI. The examination revealed brain abnormalities that would require surgery.
The patient is doing well and doctors continue to monitor her condition. Treatment included tending to larvae that may have invaded other parts of the body, such as the liver, and administering drugs to reduce dangerous inflammation after the larvae died.