Brain Worms in Humans: Symptoms And Treatment of Brain Worms

Brain Worms in Humans

Parasitism and worm infestation can be considered as an ordinary occurrence to both animals and humans, but what is more unusual though is when this infestation has climbed up to a level wherein cases of brain worms in humans have already been reported. The brain may be hard to penetrate due to its systemic and structural protection, but even through these barriers, parasites have already found their way to infiltrate the brain. The most commonly reported type of worm is taenia solium or the ones found in raw pork.

It is easy to trace the pathophysiology of this occurrence. A person eats pork that is not properly washed or cooked, and it contains ova or even full-grown taenia solium. It is ingested by human, attaches to the intestine, and grows a couple of feet. What causes it to travel to the brain is when the ova is ingested. These ova are hatched in the stomach but have the ability to enter the bloodstream and make its way to the brain. When they reach the brain, they become cyst formations and is then called neurocysticercosis.

Brain Worms in Humans Symptoms

The symptoms depend as to which part of the brain the brain worm in humans have settled or formed a cyst.

  • Brain tissue: Seizure is the primary symptom when the cyst is formed in the brain tissue. The larvae disrupt the normal activity of the brain resulting to seizures.
  • Brain fluid cavity: Nausea, headache, dizziness, and altered mental states can be observed in this case. The larvae block the cavity that affects the flow of brain fluid.

Treatment of Brain Worms

  • Corticosteroid: This reduces the inflammation in the brain and decrease the risk of cerebral hypertension.
  • Albendazole: This is the primary drug for worm infestation. This kills both larvae and worm.

4 comments


  1. K K

    I have my brother aged 28 years and he was taken to hospital after he got unconsciousness. The doctor told that he has got eggs of worms in the body. Is it possible to be eggs only without parasites? Or there should be parasites with the eggs? And is it recoverable?

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