- 27 July, 2025
Mumbai, July 27, 2025: Doctors in Mumbai have issued a warning over a spike in tapeworm infections during the monsoon, citing the risk of neurocysticercosis—a serious, yet preventable, brain infection caused by ingesting tapeworm eggs through contaminated food or water.
This parasitic disease, linked to the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is particularly dangerous during the rainy season due to widespread flooding, poor sanitation, and reduced food hygiene. These conditions allow the larvae to spread more easily via undercooked pork and unwashed vegetables, especially in informal food settings.
Neurologist Dr Pavan Pai, quoted in a Free Press Journal report, stated, “During the monsoon, people frequently neglect fundamental food hygiene, but undercooked pork and inadequately washed vegetables are common carriers of tapeworm larvae.” Once ingested, he explained, the parasites can migrate to the brain, where they develop into cysts, causing seizures, severe headaches, and even irreversible brain damage.
Dr Pai also highlighted the particular vulnerability of children and immunocompromised individuals. “Never disregard persistent headaches or seizures. Seeking medical attention without delay can be life-saving,” he urged.
What is Neurocysticercosis?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), neurocysticercosis is caused when the larvae of Taenia solium invade the central nervous system. Humans typically contract the parasite through poor hygiene, contaminated water, or consuming undercooked pork.
Initial infection, known as taeniasis, begins in the intestines. If untreated, the larvae can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, including the muscles, eyes, and brain. When cysts form in the brain, the result is neurocysticercosis—the most severe form of the disease and a leading cause of adult-onset epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms vary depending on the number, size, and location of the cysts, as well as the body’s immune response. While some individuals remain asymptomatic, the most common manifestation is seizures, affecting around 70% of symptomatic patients.
Other symptoms include severe headaches, neuropsychiatric disorders, strokes, and cognitive decline. Degenerating cysts often trigger inflammation, swelling, and brain tissue damage, which can worsen over time.
MRI scans are the preferred method for diagnosis, especially for detecting smaller or more hidden cysts. CT scans help in identifying the stage of the cyst—ranging from active (vesicular) to inflamed (colloidal) and eventually calcified (inactive).
Prevention
The disease is most prevalent in areas with poor sanitation, lack of waste management, and unregulated pig farming. Urbanisation and improved public health infrastructure can reduce transmission, although the effects may take years to manifest.
Efforts to raise awareness, improve hygiene, regulate pig slaughter, and ensure safe food preparation remain key to preventing this dangerous but avoidable condition.
Neurocysticercosis is classified as a Neglected Parasitic Infection due to its severe impact and widespread underdiagnosis.
Source: The Hindustan Times
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