Man's cough turns out to be tapeworm infestation
A Brazilian man who went to the hospital with a cough was found to have tapeworm larvae in his body. The condition, called cysticercosis, is caused by ingesting tapeworm eggs, often found in undercooked pork. While usually harmless, the larvae can cause health problems if they travel to other parts of the body, such as the brain. The Taenia solium, or pork tapeworm, is responsible for 30% of epilepsy cases in endemic regions. Poverty and lack of access to medication often lead to poor treatment of the condition.