more-in An eight-year-old girl’s parents were shocked when they came to know that their daughter’s brain was infested by tapeworm eggs. Trushika (name changed) was eventually admitted to Fortis Hospital here after complaining of severe headache and epileptic seizures for the last six months. Trushika was earlier diagnosed with neurocysticercosis because of so many cysts in her brain. She had so much swelling in the brain that she needed prolonged steroids which led to weight gain. She was breathless and unable to walk. However, despite heavy medications, her epileptic seizures and headache remained persistent. Her CT scan showed the presence of more than 100 cysts in the brain which, in fact, were tapeworm eggs, that reached her brain through the bloodstream from the stomach. Doctors said her treatment began by reducing her swelling with decongestants and later steroids. Gradually the cysts (tapeworm eggs) were treated with anti-parasitic drugs. Eventually, she was able to walk and resume school. “People often do not know but tapeworm infestation of the brain is fairly common. The parasitic infestation is caused by accidentally eating improperly washed fruits, vegetables and undercooked meat infected by pork tapeworm,” said Praveen Gupta, director of neurology department, Fortis Hospital in Gurugram.

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