A doctor has shared a terrifying discovery on an X-ray after a patient made a major mistake in the kitchen.
Dr. Sam Ghali, who goes by the handle @EM_RESUS on X (formerly Twitter), revealed a jaw-dropping picture, calling it “one of the most insane X-rays I’ve ever seen”.
The medic explained in a voiceover that the patient initially sought treatment for hip pain after a fall, only for doctors to discover he was infested with hundreds of tapeworm eggs.
Check out the video below:Ghali revealed that the patient’s condition, known as cysticercosis, was caused by consuming raw or undercooked pork.
“This is a condition known as cysticercosis. Essentially these are larval cysts of taenia solium – also known as the pork tapeworm,” he said.
Cysticercosis occurs when a person eats contaminated pork, allowing tapeworms to enter the gastrointestinal tract. From there, the larvae can travel throughout the body.
In this man’s case, the cysts were found in his muscles and soft tissues, particularly in his hips and legs.
While the cysts didn’t “pose a life-threatening problem” to the patient, the discovery of the tapeworm eggs was a horrifying revelation.
“The problem is when these travel to the brain and lodge there, that can cause very serious issues,” the doctor said.
This more “serious” issue can lead to a condition known as neurocysticercosis, which can result in neurological symptoms such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and even death.
Dr. Ghali is highlighting the incident as a reminder for people to maintain hygiene and ensure their food is thoroughly cleaned and prepared properly.
“Always do your best to keep clean and wash your hands,” he told his followers. “And never, ever under any circumstances eat raw or undercooked pork.”
According to The Sun, a similar case made headlines when a 52-year-old man from Florida visited a hospital and told doctors that he had been experiencing severe headaches for four months.
Doctors conducted tests and discovered fluid-filled sacs on the unidentified man’s brain, diagnosing him with neurocysticercosis.
The patient, who had a lifelong love of “soft bacon,” shocked medics with his diagnosis, as he hadn’t traveled to high-risk areas and lived in a clean home with his wife and cat.
Dr. Eamonn Byrnes of Orlando Regional Medical Center called it a “very rare” case, explaining: “It is very rare for patients to contract neurocysticercosis outside of classic exposures or travel. Such cases in the United States were thought to be nonexistent.
“Undercooked pork consumption is a theoretical risk factor for neurocysticercosis via autoinoculation, as we suspected in this case,” Byrnes continued as cited by The Sun, adding that the case could have public health implications.
“It is historically very unusual to encounter infected pork in the United States, and our case may have public health implications,” he said.
