A Woman with a '50cm Parasite' Found in Her Colon... What Did She Eat?

Filipino Woman in Her 30s Undergoes Surgery in Singapore
Infection Risk from Eating Undercooked Pork and Freshwater Fish

A shocking case has emerged in Singapore where a 30-year-old Filipino woman was found to have a parasite measuring 50 cm inside her body. Due to its rare size internationally, this case was reported in a prestigious academic journal.

According to a recent report in the International Journal of Surgery, medical staff at Singapore Changi General Hospital discovered a large tapeworm in the intestines of a 36-year-old Filipino woman, Ms. A. She had been working as a domestic helper in Singapore for two years.

Ms. A experienced diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and fever for 10 days, and when the symptoms persisted, she eventually sought medical attention. Initially, the medical team diagnosed her with gastroenteritis, but subsequent abdominal and pelvic CT scans revealed severe dilation of part of the colon. The medical staff then suspected a parasitic infection and proceeded with emergency surgery.

50cm Tapeworm Found in the Intestine of a Filipino Woman [Image Source=International Journal of Surgery Case Reports]

As expected by the medical team, Ms. A’s intestines were severely dilated. Numerous ulcers and perforations (holes) had developed in multiple areas, which had led to purulent peritonitis spreading.

When the medical team resected the colon, they found a very long adult tapeworm inside. Tapeworms are parasites that appear long and flat, resembling tape or ribbons. They mainly parasitize cattle, pigs, and freshwater fish. If pork or freshwater fish is undercooked, tapeworm eggs can penetrate the internal organs, and the hatched eggs can attach to the intestinal walls and grow.

In fact, Ms. A reportedly ate the Filipino traditional dish "Kilawin" before experiencing abdominal pain. Kilawin is made with half-cooked pork intestines, shellfish, or fish mixed with vinegar. After undergoing parasite removal surgery, Ms. A took antiparasitic medications such as albendazole and praziquantel and was able to recover safely.

The hospital medical staff stated, "When parasites like tapeworms invade the human body and penetrate the intestinal mucosa, 10?25% of patients exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms," citing abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever as representative symptoms.

Meanwhile, tapeworm infections are occasionally found both domestically and internationally. It is especially known that the most common cases involve tapeworm eggs that parasitize inside pigs penetrating the human body. Although the risk of infection has significantly decreased recently due to the development of livestock farming, it remains a subject of caution.

In fact, in 2020, a case of neurocysticercosis was reported domestically. This patient had been eating undercooked pork for 20 years and was infected with the hookworm (Taenia solium), eventually experiencing vision loss symptoms.

To prevent tapeworm infections, it is most important to properly cook pork and freshwater fish before consumption.