Ultrasound shows parasitic worms squirming in man's stomach - RADIO.COM
Ultrasound shows parasitic worms squirming in man's stomach - RADIO.COM |
- Ultrasound shows parasitic worms squirming in man's stomach - RADIO.COM
- Nightmare Ultrasound Reveals Parasitic Worms Squirming Around Inside Man's Stomach - ScienceAlert
- Oh, crap: Where Alexandria (unfortunately) ranks for roundworm infections in dogs and cats - WTOP
| Ultrasound shows parasitic worms squirming in man's stomach - RADIO.COM Posted: 23 Nov 2020 09:16 AM PST  It's hard to look away from this ultrasound. A shocking photo of an ultrasound of a man's stomach shows parasitic roundworms squirming around. According to the report in The New England Journal of Medicine, the 20-year-old man went to the emergency room after experiencing vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Science Alert reported. Before the bizarre incident happened, the man was allegedly healthy and had no known medical conditions, according to the report. At the hospital, doctors performed an ultrasound on the large vein near the stomach to check his blood vessels' fluid levels. In the report, the authors shared that doctors found a "tubular … structure that moved with a curling motion" inside his stomach. When doctors asked him for a stool sample, they found parasites. The ultrasound found eggs from the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides, a type of parasite found in people's stomachs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a lumbricoides is the most common parasitic worm found in humans. Around 800 million to 1.2 billion people have the parasite in their intestinal tracts. However, it is scarce in the United States, and the worm is mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas with poor sanitation systems. It has previously been reported that the worm is commonly found in India. When eating fruits and vegetables grown in contaminated soil, the CDC says a person can become infected when they absorb eggs from the parasite. People can become contaminated with dirt if they do not wash their hands. The disease can be treated with antiparasitic drugs. In this case, the man was given albendazole and was quickly released from the hospital after one day. Two weeks later, the man went to a doctor's appointment and said he felt okay. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App  |
| Posted: 22 Nov 2020 09:25 PM PST An ultrasound of a man's stomach captured some unwelcome inhabitants - a tangle of parasitic roundworms squirming around, according to a new report. The 20-year-old man, who lives in New Delhi, went to the emergency room after experiencing abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting for a day, according to the report, published Saturday (Nov. 21) in The New England Journal of Medicine. The man had previously been healthy with no known medical conditions. Tests showed the man had high levels of white blood cells, which can indicate an infection. He also had elevated levels of hemoglobin, a protein in the blood that carries oxygen. This latter result can indicate a number of conditions, from dehydration to blood cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Doctors performed an ultrasound of the inferior vena cava, a large vein near the abdomen, to check fluid levels in his blood vessels. But during this process, they observed a "tubular … structure that moved with a curling motion" inside his stomach, the authors wrote. Doctors then asked the man for a stool sample, which they examined for parasites. They found that his stool contained eggs from the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides, a type of intestinal parasite.
A. lumbricoides is one of the most common human parasitic worms worldwide. An estimated 800 million to 1.2 billion people have A. lumbricoides in their intestinal tracts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These worms can grow up to 14 inches (35 centimeters) long. Although relatively rare in the United States, the worm is most often found in tropical and subtropical areas with poor sanitation systems and lack of access to hygiene supplies, the CDC says. The worm is extremely common in India, Live Science previously reported. People become infected with the worm when they ingest eggs from the parasite, and this can happen when people eat fruits or vegetables that have been grown in contaminated soil, according to the CDC. Soil can become contaminated if human feces are used as fertilizer or if infected people defecate outside. People can also become infected if their hands become contaminated with this soil and they don't wash their hands.
The disease can be treated with antiparasitic drugs. In this case, the man received an antiparasitic drug called albendazole, and he was released from the hospital after one day. At a follow-up visit two weeks later, the man said he felt well and had passed worms in his stool. In areas where this worm is common, ways to prevent infection include washing your hands with soap and water before handling food; washing, peeling or cooking raw vegetables before eating them; and avoiding contact with soil that may be contaminated with human feces, the CDC says. This article was originally published by Live Science. Read the original article here.  |
| Oh, crap: Where Alexandria (unfortunately) ranks for roundworm infections in dogs and cats - WTOP Posted: 24 Nov 2020 08:33 AM PST This is one distinction that the people and pets of Alexandria would probably like to avoid: According to a new report, the Virginia community ranks No. 8 nationwide for roundworm infections in dogs and cats. Worse, roundworm infections are more prevalent during the winter months — and they can infect people too. The report, by the Companion Animal Parasite Council, found that Alexandria was among 10 cities with the highest increase in positive roundworm test results in dogs and cats in the past 30 days. "An increase in roundworm prevalence not only alerts communities to a persistent threat to the health of dogs and cats, but it also warns of a significant threat to the health of children and families who can potentially contract roundworm infection," said Dr. Craig Prior, a CAPC board member, in a release on the findings. The CAPC's survey said more than 30% of dogs under 6 months are "shedding" (pooping) roundworm eggs. Roundworm can be lethal, particularly for puppies and kittens, "This demonstrates how vital it is for dogs and cats to be protected against roundworm parasites with broad-spectrum, year-round preventatives, and at a minimum, biannual testing," Prior said. "By protecting your pet, you are protecting other pets, your family, other families — and your entire community." According to data collected from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, these are the 10 cities with the highest percentage increase in positive roundworm tests:
One problem: Not all dog owners pick up their pooch's poop.  "Dog owners need to be diligent in immediately removing fecal waste in public areas — and at least once a week in their own backyards," Prior said. "It's more than a cosmetic issue. Pet owners who are irresponsible in picking up after their dogs are putting the health of their own dog, other dogs — and the health of everyone in their community at risk." Other than being gross, what are roundworms? They're the most common intestinal parasite in pets, according to CAPC. Pets get infected by eating roundworm eggs in the environment or eating rodents and birds already infected with the parasites. Symptoms of roundworm infection include weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat, and/or a potbellied appearance. Severe infections can result in death. Roundworms pose a health risk to humans, especially children. "People can be infected from handling and accidentally ingesting dirt containing roundworm larva than can migrate to the liver, lungs, muscle and brain," CPAC said. "Children are more likely to be infected after playing in contaminated soil. Clinical symptoms vary but are often characterized by fever, malaise, cough and abdominal pain. Severe infections may cause respiratory failure or blindness." Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others. Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. © 2020 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.  |
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