Pregnant woman vomits 10-15cm roundworms, warns on undercooked food risks
A pregnant patient at DonSak Hospital in Surat Thani, Thailand, discovered two intestinal roundworms, each longer than 10-15 centimetres, in her vomit. Doctors believe the 27 year old ingested the parasites from contaminated fruits and vegetables.
DonSak Hospital shared the story on its Facebook page, explaining that the eight months pregnant woman had been experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for one day before she visited the hospital. The primary symptoms included vomiting food in pieces on five separate occasions and intermittent abdominal pain. The healthcare providers gave the patient a bed to rest and receive treatment upon admission.
The woman vomited two more times at DonSak Hospital, expelling two 10- to 15-centimetre-long worm-like substances. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of adult Ascaris lumbricoides, a type of intestinal roundworm. Upon questioning, the patient admitted to eating cooked food along with uncooked fresh vegetables.
Doctors deduced that the woman had contracted the intestinal roundworms by consuming contaminated fruits and vegetables containing roundworm eggs. The human body can ingest these eggs through contaminated food, and they hatch into larvae within damp, wet soil or water. Once the larvae enter the small intestine, they can develop into adult worms.
Medical professionals at the hospital treated the woman with antihelminthic drugs to expel the parasites. She experienced an improvement in her condition and remained under inpatient care at DonSak Hospital. As a result, the patient allowed her story to be shared as a cautionary case study for others.
The hospital advises against eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood. When preparing fresh vegetables and fruits, they recommend thoroughly washing and cleaning them multiple times to ensure safety. Including such produce in one’s diet is beneficial for fibre and nutrients, so individuals need not worry excessively as long as they maintain good hygiene practices.
Pay attention to what you eat. A similar thing happened a week ago: contaminated water in Buriram gave people painful rashes and sores. Read more HERE.
