A 10-year-old kid in Beijing, China nearly lost his life after getting parasites in his lungs from eating raw crabs.
The kid was brought to the hospital after non-stop vomiting during Chinese New Year, and upon a medical checkup, the doctor found that the boy was experiencing pericardial effusion. According to the National Library of Medicine, a pericardial effusion is the accumulation of excess fluid in the sac surrounding the heart.
Test results showed that the boy was infected with Paragonimiasis – a parasitic lung fluke that infects a person’s lungs
Paragonimiasis is common for those who eat undercooked crabs and crayfish.
The boy was found to have 300 ml of fluid accumulated in his pericardium during a gastrointestinal B-Utrasound and was immediately hospitalised to avoid a cardiac arrest.
The 10-year-old had a habit of consuming raw seafood, and his mother recalled that she used to bring him back to their hometown three years back where the boy would catch crabs by the stream. The mother then told her son to pull off the crab’s legs and taste them on the spot.
According to the woman, the stream was clean and clear, so she did not expect her son to get infected at all. The doctors also advised the public to always cook their seafood before consumption. The boy recovered after a deworming process, reported Oriental Daily.
Can paragonimiasis stay in the body for a long time?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a paragonimiasis infection can last for years and can cause illness resembling pneumonia or stomach flu.
Initial symptoms include diarrhoea and abdominal pain, but they can be treated with prescription drugs. However, if left untreated, the fluke may travel to the central nervous system, causing bigger concerns.
CDC also suggests cooking crabs and crayfish to at least 145°F (~63°C).
For illustration purposes only
This shall serve as a reminder to those who love consuming certain seafood raw.
