Tapeworm in the brain is turning out to be a major public-health problem in Delhi with neurologists claiming that two out of ten people suffering from brain related disorders visiting Out Patients’ Departments (OPD) every day are diagnosed with the disease that can cause epilepsy and other debilitating problems including, in extreme cases, dementia.
Explaining about the severity of the disease (veggie worm) — medically termed as Neuro-Cysti Cercosis (NCC) which is a central nervous system (CNS) parasitical infection — Dr Rajiv Anand, Director and Senior Consultant Neurology at BlK Super Speciality Hospital said if not treated on time the disease can do great damage to the body with the infection spreading to other parts of the body.
Even, tapeworm — entering the human body through raw green leafy vegetables if they are not cooked well and properly washed — can damage vision.
“Tapeworm eggs get into human bodies when people consume food or water contaminated with human feces. Once these worms enter the body through blood stream, they reach the brain, affecting the brain functioning and patients can collapse without a prior warning. This can lead to visual impairment, create problems in movement of legs and arms too,” Dr Anand told The Pioneer.
The Taenia solium parasitic infection is most common in communities where pigs roam freely and people consume undercooked pork. However, a study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, reported a diagnosis of Neuro-Cysti Cercosis (NCC) which reveals that more than 95 per cent of Indian patients suffering from NCC are vegetarians.
City's top neurologists said vegetables grown on the banks of river Yamuna is said to be contaminated with animal excreta and human feces. Besides, vegetables grown here also contain lead and mercury that can cause severe brain damage, they said.
Recalling one such case, Dr Anand said, "The treatment becomes very complex when worms are found in eyes and brains. During medication, these worms release chemical and toxins which can create inflammation and spoil eye vision. Detecting the disease has become easier because of the availability of MRI and CT scanning."
Dr KK Choudhary, neurologist of Primus Hospital in Chanakyapuri said the disease is common among children. Adults too suffer from it. Dr Ish Anand, neurologist, HOD Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said every day we at least attend one patient mostly children between 5 and 15 and adults from 20 to 35 years of age.
Besides Delhi, the disease is prevalent in Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
NIMHANS study said in a rural pig farming community of Mohanlalganj in UP, the prevalence of 'Taeniasis' was found to be 18.6 per cent with active epilepsy confirmed in 5.8 per cent of the population and 48.3 per cent of people with epilepsy,
Till date no vaccine has been developed against the Taenia Solium .Vaccinating pigs in endemic region to prevent porcine Cysticercosis may be good option to prevent Taeniasis and consequently human Cysticercosis, said health officials, adding that good standard of hygiene in washing green leafy vegetable is the best way to keep our self protected.