A Chinese family tries to cure itself by eating centipedes and contracts a lethal parsito

Millipedes mean business in China, because dried and crushed are used in traditional medicine. But these same "unprocessed" drugs may contain a parasite that infects the brain, warn scientists . It is the Angiostrongylus cantonensis (popularly known as "the worm of the rat's lungs"), only detected by experts recently in the insects mentioned, reports the Science Alert portal.

The story that put experts on the alert began with the headaches that a 78-year-old woman from Guangzhou City introduced, who was admitted to the hospital's Zhujiang. Weeks later in the same hospital, his 46-year-old son also entered.

In addition, the woman had a complaint of somnolence and cognitive deterioration for weeks although she did not show any other signs of illness such as fever or vomiting. New tests have suggested meningitis symptoms, but not because of a viral or bacterial cause.

However, his cerebrospinal fluid showed traces of antibodies against the rat lungworm, indicating a diagnosis of meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. But the weirdest thing in history was the way they had contracted it: eating raw millipedes.

Although millipedes are not a common food, those that are dried or crushed are used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. dust), and live and wild specimens are sold on some of the Asian giant's agricultural markets.

The parasitic worm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, also known as "lung lungworm ", transmits snails and other molluscs through food.

Begins his life cycle in a rat, which causes an infection in the lungs, blood and brain. Rodents defecate worm larvae, which eat snails, shrimps or frogs. To enter the human body, this parasite can pbad to the brain and, in this case, can be fatal .

Fortunately for both mother and son, both patients were finally successfully treated with medication. pest control that released them from the infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. But the consequences can be worse: this type of infection can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system. And cause death.

"We should not eat raw centipedes or raw animals, we should realize that the proper cooking technique is important to protect us from food-borne illnesses," said the neurologist of the day. 39, Zhujiang Lingli Lu Hospital.

The entire case is described in detail in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.