Parasites Found in Body After Tests
Similar Cases Continue Among Elderly Who Trust Folk Remedies
"Risk of Vision Loss and Brain Infection from Parasitic Infection"
In China, an incident occurred in which a woman in her 80s swallowed eight live frogs after believing claims that it would relieve back pain, only to become infected with parasites.
Recently, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that 82-year-old Ms. Zhang experienced severe abdominal pain after swallowing eight frogs in early September and was transported to a hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
Ms. Zhang had suffered from a herniated disc for a long time and heard that "swallowing live frogs can relieve back pain." Trusting this claim, she asked her family to catch frogs for her, but did not reveal her intention.
Her family brought her frogs that were smaller than an adult's palm, and Ms. Zhang swallowed them raw without cooking. She ate three frogs on the first day and five more the next day. Initially, she only felt mild abdominal discomfort, but the pain intensified over several days. It was only then that she confessed to her family that she had swallowed the frogs.
Medical staff at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou found a significant increase in oxyphil cells, which can be observed in cases of parasitic infection or blood disorders.
Further tests confirmed that Ms. Zhang was infected with parasites. The medical team explained, "During the process of swallowing live frogs, damage occurred to her digestive tract, and several parasites, including sparganum, were found in her body." Sparganum refers to the larval stage of certain parasites.
Ms. Zhang was treated for two weeks and then discharged from the hospital.
Parasitic Infections Continue Among the Elderly... Expert Warns, "Parasites Can Invade and Threaten Lives"
Dr. Wu Zhongyuan, a physician at a hospital in Hangzhou, stated that such cases are not uncommon. "In addition to swallowing frogs, some people eat raw snake or fish gall bladders, or attach frog skin to their bodies," he said. He pointed out that most of these patients are elderly, and they tend not to discuss their health issues sufficiently with their families, only seeking medical help after their symptoms have worsened.
He warned, "There are rumors that attaching frog skin to the body can cure skin diseases, but there is no evidence for this. On the contrary, parasites can invade the human body, causing vision loss, intracranial infections, and even threatening lives."
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