One third of the liver was "eaten", and the murderer was actually a "fish"?

According to Guilin Evening News, Ms. Feng from Quanzhou, Guilin, Guangxi, went to the hospital for treatment due to unexplained upper abdominal pain and nausea.

She told the doctor that she had been suffering from upper abdominal pain for eight days and had tried cupping to treat it, but the pain did not subside.

The doctor's preliminary examination found that Ms. Feng had dilated bile duct, but the exact cause was still unclear.

Later, through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), doctors found a parasite in Ms. Feng's body. The parasite was fish-shaped, about 3.5X2.0 cm in size, and could still swim and still be destructive after being removed.

Picture from Guilin Evening News

Seeing this strange parasite, the medical staff also exclaimed in surprise: "What kind of parasite is this?"

To figure out the name of the parasite and other related information, medical staff gathered information from their medical colleagues across the country.

After seeking help from many research institutes, I finally found the answer

According to He Xueqiang, director of the Department of Gastroenterology at the 924th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, after comprehensive judgment by leaders and expert teachers from the Institute of Tropical Diseases of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, the Clinical Laboratory Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital, the Institute of Parasitic Diseases of Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Laboratory Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University, it was concluded that what was removed from Ms. Feng's body was not a liver fluke or a ginger fluke, but a giant liver fluke, which is several times larger than a liver fluke.

Endoscopic endoscopic coronary artery thrombosis (ERCP) has been found in few foreign literatures worldwide, and has not been reported in China. Some authors in Turkey, Iran and other places have reported on it, but the worms are far from being as big as the one in Ms. Feng's body.

After learning about the characteristics of the parasite, the hospital carried out targeted minimally invasive and deworming treatments. At present, Ms. Feng's abdominal pain and bloating have been significantly relieved, especially her appetite has improved, her appetite has been greatly improved, and her mental state has returned to normal.

The doctor said that one third of Ms. Feng's liver had been eaten by Fasciola hepatica, and the bile ducts inside and outside the liver were also extensively damaged. Because of the organ damage, she was in great pain and malnutrition.

So far, there have been only two similar reports in Guangxi, both of which were related to patients eating raw Houttuynia cordata mixed with salad.

Not only raw fish and raw meat, they can also harbor parasites!

We often think that raw fish and raw meat are prone to parasites, such as:

Lung fluke: drunken shrimp, drunken crab

Liver flukes: most abundant in raw fish

Taenia saginata: undercooked tender steak

Angiostrongylus: Likes to hide in snails

Toxoplasma gondii: Undercooked mutton hotpot

But in fact, some plant-based diets may also have parasites, and they are easily overlooked:

1. Fasciola hepatica: chopped green onion, water chestnut, raw houttuynia cordata

Scallions, water chestnuts, and especially raw houttuynia cordata are more likely to be stained with eggs of Fasciola hepatica. This parasite is highly destructive to the human body, has strong toxicity, and is insidious and extremely difficult to diagnose.

2. Gingerworms: water chestnuts, wild rice stems, water chestnuts

Zhu Fang, attending physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Suqian First People's Hospital, said in an interview with Suqian Radio and Television Station in 2021 that raw and cold foods such as water chestnuts, water caltrops, wild rice stems, Houttuynia cordata, etc. are all hosts of ginger worms.

The incubation period of fasciolosis is 1 to 3 months. Those with mild symptoms may have no symptoms at all, or only some mild digestive symptoms, such as loss of appetite and occasional upper abdominal discomfort. If the condition is slightly more serious, there may be nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea or some manifestations of digestive tract dysfunction.

Stay away from parasites, remember these three points

1. Buy food ingredients from regular places

Meat should be sold in formal places with inspection and quarantine guarantees. Do not eat wild game casually.

2. Heat thoroughly

Food must be cooked thoroughly and sashimi must be eaten in a proper place.

3. Separate raw and cooked food

Raw and cooked food should be kept separate, whether in storage or cutting, to avoid cross contamination. For example, knives, cutting boards, bowls and plates should be used separately for raw and cooked food and should not be mixed. Raw food must be cleaned and disinfected before use.

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Source: Guilin Evening News, Health Times, Suqian Mobile TV

Editor: Wu Tong

Review: Wang Fei

Final judge: Chen Lei