The man was referred to infectious disease experts after a neurosurgical consult raised the possibility of a parasitic infection. Blood tests soon confirmed their suspicion, showing antibodies against Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm. Unlike other intestinal worms, T. solium is capable of invading the nervous system when its larvae spread through the bloodstream and lodge in brain tissue. When this happens, the condition is called neurocysticercosis. The diagnosis explained both the lesions seen in the scans and the worsening headaches that had brought him to the clinic in the first place.
Neurocysticercosis is common in regions where the pork tapeworm is endemic, including parts of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. In these regions, it is a leading cause of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The United States, by contrast, records only about 2,000 cases each year, and most are linked to recent travel to countries where the parasite circulates widely. This patient’s case was unusual because he had no such travel history. His only trip in recent years was a cruise to the Bahamas, which is not recognized as a hotspot for this infection. The absence of travel-related exposure made his case stand out to his doctors.
Treatment involved a carefully monitored course of antiparasitic drugs to kill the larvae, along with anti-inflammatory medications to control swelling in the brain caused by dying parasites. He was admitted to intensive care for close monitoring before continuing treatment on an outpatient basis. According to his doctors, the therapy led to a regression of the brain lesions and a significant improvement in his symptoms. While the man’s recovery was successful, the real puzzle for his medical team was how he had contracted an infection that is not considered common in the United States.
