The larvae entered Zhongfa’s body through his digestive system and traveled through his bloodstream to his brain and lungs. These baby worms squirmed into his body tissue and formed cysts. If these cysts decay, they can cause infections. People with this same problem as Zhongfa often report headaches, seizures, blindness, and dementia. However, these symptoms don’t always appear immediately. Sometimes it can take years for the worm larvae to reach the brain and lungs.

These larvae form cysts near the brain or nervous system, and it can result in a dangerous infection called cysticercosis. In the case of Zhongfa, the larvae had caused numerous space-occupying lesions in his brain, as well as cysts in his lungs and chest muscles.

Zhongfa admitted that about a month ago he consumed a dish that he did not believe was fully cooked. The seizures and fainting spells finally forced him to seek medical attention.

Dr. Huang Jianrong from the Affiliated Hospital of Zhenjiang University School of Medicine was concerned about Zhongfa’s condition. That’s why he ordered brain and chest MRIs for the patient.

“He not only had numerous lesions in his brain, but he also had cysts in his lungs and chest muscles,” Dr. Huang said. “Different patients respond differently to the infection, depending on where the parasites are. In this case, he experienced seizures and lost consciousness, but others with cysts in their lungs might experience a lot of coughing.”