A 30-year-old woman who returned from a dream vacation in Thailand, Japan, and Hawaii is now battling a rare parasitic infection known as "angiostrongyliasis," also known as rat lungworm disease.
An Uninvited Guest After Traveling Through Thailand, Japan, and Hawaii
During her three-week trip, Ms. A enjoyed swimming in the ocean and eating raw foods such as salads and sushi. She felt tired after returning home, but she assumed it was jet lag and didn't take it seriously. However, her symptoms worsened, and she described a burning sensation starting from her feet and spreading to her legs.
Misdiagnosis and Confirmed Parasitic Infection
After visiting several hospitals without a proper diagnosis, Ms. A suffered from a burning sensation throughout her body and severe headaches. Eventually, she was tested for parasitic infection and was diagnosed with angiostrongyliasis.
What is Angiostrongyliasis?
Angiostrongyliasis, also known as rat lungworm disease, is a parasitic disease caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked intermediate hosts such as snails and slugs, or carrier hosts such as shrimp, crabs, and frogs. Infection can also occur through consuming vegetables or water contaminated with larvae.
Various Symptoms and Difficulty of Treatment
Initial symptoms of angiostrongyliasis include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which can be followed by neurological symptoms such as headache, fever, muscle pain, fatigue, and insomnia. In severe cases, it can be accompanied by neck stiffness, pain, tingling skin, blurred vision, difficulty urinating or defecating, and seizures. Children may experience symptoms such as fever, lethargy, stomach pain, muscle cramps, convulsions, and weakness in the limbs.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for angiostrongyliasis, and Ms. A received steroid treatment for six weeks before being discharged from the hospital.
Warning to Hawaii Tourists
Hawaii tourism news outlet "Beat of Hawaii" recently reported a case of angiostrongyliasis in a tourist who visited Hawaii, urging caution. The outlet said, "The chances of contracting this disease are very low, but you can have a safe trip if you follow preventive measures such as washing your hands."
Dream Vacation, Safe Travel
Ms. A's case serves as a reminder of the importance of food consumption and personal hygiene when traveling abroad. To ensure a safe and enjoyable vacation, it is important to check infectious disease prevention information before traveling, refrain from eating raw food, and pay attention to personal hygiene.
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