September 5, 2002
"Cysticercosis is a complication of severe tapeworm infection acquired by eating uncooked pork. The disorder is caused by larval pork tapeworms. The scientific name for this parasite is Taenia solium. Cysticerci are immature tapeworms that normally live in the muscle (meat) of swine. When they develop instead in human muscle and die, they can cause severe inflammatory reactions. Cysticercosis is a rare disorder in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and in non-pork eating cultures."
I took care of someone who had this parasite in his brain. He was told by the doctor that the larvae were eating his brain away and would have some neurological deficits dues to the loss of brain tissue. Suddenly I am wishing I had not partaken in the pork Ryan barbequed last Saturday night....
Comments
Matt:
The keyword is UNCOOKED. The pork we ate was COOKED.
September 5, 2002 10:40 PM
erika:
I would think it could also be a bad thing if the pork wasn’t cooked enough. I mean, he couldn’t even tell if the corn was done! I knew we should have gone to Fidel’s.
September 5, 2002 11:44 PM
Matt:
The pork was fine! We couldn’t tell if the corn was done because we never cooked corn on the BBQ.
September 6, 2002 12:12 AM
nathan:
WOW. This parasite is so getting described in detail at, like, my next five social engagements…
September 6, 2002 2:17 AM