(DC Pundit) – A recent routine X-ray for a hip injury turned into a scene straight out of a horror movie. Dr. Sam Ghali, probably wishing he had chosen a different career path that day, shared a stomach-churning image on social media that’s sure to make you think twice about your next pork chop.
“This is one of the most insane x-rays I’ve ever seen,” Dr. Ghali declared in a video that’s since gone viral. The image in question revealed what can only be described as a human body playing unwilling host to a parasite party.
The anonymous patient had no idea he was harboring countless “rice grain” larval cysts throughout his leg and abdominal muscles.
“They’re everywhere and they’re innumerable; you can’t even begin to count them all,” Dr. Ghali explained.
So, what exactly was turning this poor soul into a living, breathing parasite hotel? Dr. Ghali enlightened us: “This is a condition known as cysticercosis. Essentially, these are larval cysts of Taenia solium, also known as ‘the pork tapeworm.'”
Now, before you swear off bacon forever, let’s break this down. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), humans become infected by consuming undercooked meat, particularly from cows or pigs. Once inside, these microscopic squatters set up shop, invading the intestinal wall and developing into cystic growths.
The pork tapeworms are overachievers in the worst way possible, capable of producing up to 50,000 eggs in one batch. The cysticercus, or young tapeworms, then spend two months developing into adult tapeworms, which can survive for years.
Dr. Ghali pointed out that the cysts themselves don’t pose a health threat. However, he quickly followed up with this: “The problem is, when these travel to the brain and lodge there, that can cause very serious issues. That is known as neurocysticercosis.”
Neurocysticercosis, as it turns out, is the tapeworm’s way of saying, “Let’s take this party to your brain!” This unwelcome cranial invasion can lead to a host of problems including headaches, confusion, seizures, and in extreme cases, death.
In some particularly unlucky individuals, these microscopic menaces can even set up shop in the eyes.
Before you start panicking and swearing off all pork products for life, it’s worth noting that there are fewer than 1,000 new Taenia solium cases in the United States each year, according to Healthline. Still, that’s 1,000 too many for comfort.
Dr. Ghali, probably closed with some sage advice: “The moral of the story is, always do your best to keep clean, wash your hands, and never, ever, under any circumstances, eat raw or undercooked pork. Please, tell all your friends about this.”
So there you have it, folks. And remember, when it comes to pork, always make sure it’s cooked to medium or well-done. Unless, of course, you’re looking to start your own internal parasite farm. In which case, bon appétit.
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