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| India-Pakistan |
| 400 worm cysts removed from youth's brain |
| 2006-07-03 |
| MUMBAI: Lying at the ICU of the Sion Hospital, Mohammed Hasseb, 21, is a relieved man today. Doctors on June 26 successfully removed 400 worm cysts from his skull. A startling number, previously unrecorded in medical corridors, say doctors. Faizabad-based Hasseb, a barber, came to Mumbai on June 15 after he failed to afford treatment there. "I had severe headaches since December and my vision started blurring. However, my treatment got delayed because we could not afford Rs 40,000 the local hospitals were demanding,' recalls Hasseb. "There were over 400 large, medium and small cysts within the skull which were attached to a vascular structure of the brain called the superior saggital sinus,' says Dr Alok Sharma, head of neurosurgery department at the hospital who operated upon Hasseb. The lesion of multiple hydatid cysts lodged in his skull, which measured around 12.3 cm by 11.6x8.5 cm in size was formed by tapeworms known as echinococus granulosus. Hasseb underwent a six-hour-long surgery, in which his skull was cut open and the cysts carefully removed. "Each cyst contains thousands of worms and toxic fluids and had to be extracted without rupturing them. If the fluid leaks out into the brain it could cause severe reactions or form more cysts finally killing the patient,' explained Dr Sharma. Tapeworm infestation - e granulosus worms as in Hasseb's case or taenia solium, which caused cysticercosis as in tennis ace Leander Paes' case is slowly being recognised as a public health problem in developing countries. A WHO study showed that 10% of sheep slaughtered in Delhi are infected with T solium parasite. In Mumbai, cysticercosis is more common. These worms follow a cyclical route. The E granulosus grow in dogs and passes out through feces of infected dogs. Sheep and goats who eat the grass get infected and the infection is passed on to humans. |
| Posted by:john |
| #5 Khhhaannnnn |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-03 22:33 |
| #4 Jeez, I don't know which is worse; Is his skull "12.3 cm by 11.6x8.5 cm in size"; is the lesion "12.3 cm by 11.6x8.5 cm in size"; or are the cysts "12.3 cm by 11.6x8.5 cm in size". I HOPE that it was the lesion. I also hate arsenic parasite 'cures'. Rough. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2006-07-03 22:32 |
| #3 Dogs get the tapes (both kinds) from fleas, who like to eat the tapeworm eggs. So if your dog likes to catch mice, squirrels, rabbits, all of which tend to have fleas ... or has a case of the fleas ... it's at risk and so are you, a little. Google "praziquantel". It can be purchased by mail / over the counter now (used to be prescription only). $15 or so for 5 tabs, # tabs for a dose is based on the dog's weight. Gets rid of them in the dog for at least a month, longer if s/he's not exposed again. Droncit = praziquantel + other de-wormers. No need to buy this version unless you don't keep your dog on heartworm meds year round. This is quite adequate. Or Google "tape worm tabs" - but make sure it's praziquantel and not the older style meds that required fasting etc. |
| Posted by: fancier 2006-07-03 20:33 |
| #2 My skin crawled as I read this. Thought I should share the experience... |
| Posted by: john 2006-07-03 20:26 |
| #1 Thanks John. This sleep thing is over-rated. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-07-03 20:21 |