Dream Vacation Turns Into Nightmare: Woman (30) Infected with Deadly Rat Lungworm in Brain

hawaii - A 30-year-old woman from New England contracted a parasitic infection in her brain after a dream vacation to Hawaii.

Dream Vacation Ends in Nightmare

A 30-year-old woman's trip to Thailand, Japan, and Hawaii turned into a nightmare upon returning home. She became infected with a parasite that lodged itself in her brain.

During her three-week vacation, she frequently consumed salads and sushi. Upon returning home, she initially attributed her fatigue to jet lag. However, when she experienced a burning sensation in her feet and legs, she sought medical attention. Tests initially showed no abnormalities, but as the burning sensation spread to her arms accompanied by severe headaches, she was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Following a lumbar puncture, it was revealed that she had eosinophilic meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord caused by Angiostrongylus, also known as rat lungworm.

Rat lungworm gets its name from rats, whose feces contain larvae that are ingested by (naked) snails. Ingesting infected snails, slugs, or their slime, as well as contaminated fruits or vegetables, can lead to infection. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, fever, muscle aches, and tingling in various body parts.

Rat lungworm can cause severe neurological damage in the brain and has led to fatalities. The parasite is a known issue in Hawaii, with 10 to 12 cases reported annually. It is also found in other tropical regions in the United States such as Florida and Texas.

There is no definitive treatment for the parasite. The woman received steroid prednisone and was discharged after six days of hospitalization.