Woman's brain removed from brain after contracting brain

The Sydney Mail reported this morning that doctors removed a live worm from a woman's brain in a Canberra hospital last year.

The woman had previously been hospitalized with stomach pain, dry cough and night sweats, and months later experienced depression and forgetfulness that led to a brain scan.

In the case study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, doctors describe removing the live 8 cm-long nematode roundworm from the brain of a 64-year-old woman who was immunosuppressed. O. robertsi, which is native to Australia and lives on carpet pythons, was identified as the worm. The woman has come into contact with worm eggs via snake faeces while foraging for Warrigal greens to eat.

It's important to note that this is an extremely rare event, and headlines about brain worms can be alarming.

There are more common parasites which can infect your brain and body. How do you minimize the risks of getting infected with one?

Parasitic infection is extremely common and can be treated very easily. Pinworm Enterobius vermicularis, also known as threadworm, is believed to be widespread in more than a billion people worldwide, especially children. Pinworms are a one-inch-long, and are specific to human hosts. They cause intense bottom itching and are passed from person to person. Giardia Giardia duodenalis, also known as Giardia Giardia duodenalis, can contaminate food, water, and surfaces. The diarrhea caused by poor sanitation is linked to the water-borne parasite, which can lead to diarrhea, cramps, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. Giardia cysts, tiny sacs of immature parasite, spread disease and are passed out in faeces, where they can remain viable in the environment for months before being consumed by someone else. Shepherd meat that is raw or undercooked can also be ingested.

In soil there are two types of hookworm ecator americanis and Ancylostoma duadonale. In Australia, only is a problem and is usually found in remote communities.

Infected, usually by bare feet or contaminated footwear, these worms enter the bloodstream and hit the lungs. Secretions are swallowed from the bronchi in the upper lungs. They can cause anaemia low iron once they are in the gut and small bowel, which is because they are consuming nutrients and affecting iron absorption. The anticoagulant released by the human host stops blood clotting and causes tiny amounts of blood loss.

In fact, these very common parasites do not infect the brain.

It's estimated 3050 percent of the world's population are infected with Toxoplasma. Most people will be asymptomatic, but many carry the signs of infection.

For years, parasites can stay in the body as tiny tissue cysts. Cysts can be found in the brain, heart and muscle. If their mother is infected during pregnancy, they can be born with severe eye or brain damage. The risk of illness from exposure to pets or uncooked meat is also a common concern for people with compromised immunity, such as from AIDS or cancer treatment.

Tapeworms can infect different parts of the body, such as the brain. Neurocysticercosis, a leading cause of epilepsy worldwide, is known as neurocysticercosis. In the Western world, neurocysticercosis is rare and is typically transmitted through eating pork that's uncooked or prepared by someone who is infected with tapeworm Taenia solium, which is more common in regions where pigs have contact with human faeces via sewerage or waterways.

Tapeworm larvae can infect muscle and soft tissue. The brain tissue can provide larvae with a home because it's soft and easy to get to via blood vessels. A rise in brain fluid pressure can cause headaches, dizziness, seizures, cognitive impairment and even dementia due to brain infection, causing headaches and dizziness.

Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba, is found in warm climates, including Australia, in lakes, rivers and springs. The parasite can enter the body through the nose when a person swims in infected waters. It travels to the brain and destroys brain tissue. The condition is almost always fatal.

It sounds like it's a very scary thing. If you are infected by a snake parasite, it's very rare, and finding one alive in a person's brain is even more rare. Pests are everywhere, he said. Protect your pork from uncooked or raw meat. Freezing meat first may reduce risk, though home freezers may not get cold enough and it must be cooked to a high internal temperature. If you're traveling to a country with poor sanitation, avoid pork.

Do not jump or dive into warm, fresh water, especially if they are known to carry Naegleria fowleri. Although only a handful of cases are reported annually, you should assume it's present.

To prevent the risk of rare and common infections, practice good hand hygiene. That means washing hands thoroughly and frequently, using soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, rinsing and drying well. Clip and clean your fingernails regularly.

To avoid soil-borne parasites wear shoes outside, especially in rural and remote regions, and wash shoes and leave them outside.

Vincent Ho is an associate professor and clinical academic gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University. This interview was first published on The Conversation.