A Japanese man fell ill while visiting Thailand recently as he suffered from diarrhoea and stomachache to the point that he had to consult with a doctor.
Unfortunately for him, it was not just a case of an upset belly while eating foreign food you’re not used to while abroad. In fact, it was far worse as it was revealed that he had ingested a tapeworm!
For illustration purposes
As shared by the man’s Thai doctor Sukhumphan Kaocharoen on the Facebook page Health online by หมอเฉพาะทางโรคทางเดินอาหารและตับ, the man suffered from the illness after eating a raw meat dish while in the country.
After confirming with the Japanese patient that the raw meat dish was prepared in Thai style instead of Japanese style, the doctor conducted a blood test on him.
The Japanese man also told the doctor that he had noticed flat yellow pieces in his stool and suspected that he had contracted parasites.
Sukhumphan then shared how the blood test found a high level of eosinophils, the white blood cells that fight parasites, further solidifying the suspicion that the illness was parasite-related.
The doctor then conducted a stool test and in the sample, a huge tapeworm was discovered. Sukhumphan shared a photo of the tapeworm after asking permission from his Japanese patient as he wanted to warn others of the dangers of eating raw meat dishes.
Accordingly, the doctor issued this reminder to the public in the Facebook post:
“Avoid eating raw meat, especially pork and beef. When buying, ensure meats are certified to be hygienic and vegetables are clean and fresh before eating.
“Avoid buying anthelmintics (anti-parasite medication) without a doctor’s prescription as they are a variety of parasites and consult a doctor immediately if you suspect you’ve contracted parasites. Defecate in a hygienic toilet too.”
Sukhumphan said that these ribbon-like parasites can remain in one’s intestines for years without any symptoms to the hosts and can grow to over 5 metres long.
Furthermore, the doctor said that contracting tapeworms is more common than you think, as he had encountered 3 similar cases almost at the same time.
Sukhumphan Kaocharoen
As for the Japanese patient, Sukhumphan prescribed him anthelmintics to get rid of the tapeworm in his system.
So, what do you guys think of this medical case? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: Man Is Horrified To Find Wriggling Worm On His Chicken From Nasi Kandar Restaurant in Penang
