Current events #3

The Brain Hidden Epidemic: 
Tapeworms Living Inside People's Brains

If you suddenly become partially blind, aren’t able to walk in a straight line, or fall into a coma would you wonder why? If you found out that this was caused by tapeworms, how would you react? Don’t tapeworms live in people’s intestines, not in the brain? Apparently, tapeworms can live in the brain. And the disease is called Neurocysticercosis. Theodore Nash, who works at a clinic in Maryland, has seen many cases where tapeworms living in the brain can cause major issues, like seizures, comas, and cases where patients become paralyzed in parts of their body. Many people think this is caused by tumors, but really it is caused by tapeworms, and most people don’t know enough about this topic to recognize what their issues are caused by. Nash says it is hard to estimate just how many people have this disease, because it is so easily mistaken for a variety of brain disorders. Nash has been studying places all over the world, and he recognized that in certain areas are more popular for contracting tapeworms. Says Nash, “‘Neurocysticercosis is a very important disease worldwide.”’ Although it was only recently that Neurocysticercosis was brought to the attention of the public, this issue has been going on for a long time now, dating back into the 1900’s, slipping by unnoticed. Tapeworm in the brain is most likely caused by eating undercooked pork, which is necessary for the tapeworm to complete its journey.

In my opinion, tapeworm in the brain is very scary to contract. Because it can cause you to fall into a coma, be paralyzed on one side of your body, or make you partially blind, Neurocysticercosis does not sound like a pleasant disease. Imagine going to the doctor and getting an MRI scan to show a whitish blob in the brain. You are disturbed by the image immensely, and then you find out you have Neurocysticercosis, tapeworm in the brain. Suddenly, you have more than just getting the mail to worry about. Adult tapeworms can produce up to 50,000 eggs apiece, another reason to be scared. The tapeworm larvae often get stuck in ventricles, or fluid-filled cavities, in the brain, sprouting grapelike extensions. In this way the worm actively hides itself from immune cells. Protected and well fed, its cysts can thrive there for years, and nobody wants cysts that can thrive for years. As a tapeworm cyst grows, it may push against a region of the brain and disrupt its function. It may get stuck in a passageway, damming the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This can cause hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, along with dangerously high pressure. A resulting brain hernia can result in stupor, coma, or death, all from a tapeworm. Hearing that such drastic things can happen from just a tapeworm is not something I would like to hear-ever! In conclusion, this article has taught me to be more careful and more aware of just how scary tapeworm can be.

Article title: "The Brain Hidden Epidemic:Tapeworm's Living Inside People's Brain's"

Article written by: Carl Zimmer

Publish date: May 15, 2012

Image URL: http://altered-states.net/barry/newsletter387/index.htm