Squirming worm pulled from woman’s tonsil after eating raw fish, Japanese doctors say
A 25-year-old woman in Japan visited the hospital after experiencing throat pain and irritation typically caused by the seasonal flu. But doctors learned she wasn’t alone — literally.
One physical exam later, physicians at Tokyo’s St. Luke’s International Hospital used tweezers to remove a 1.5-inch black, squirming worm that had been living in her left tonsil for at least five days, according to a case study published in July in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
The culprit? Assorted sashimi, a Japanese delicacy consisting of raw fish.
The pain started right after she ate her meal, but once the worm was removed, the woman’s symptoms immediately improved, the case report said. Her blood test results were also normal.
What’s more, the worm was in the process of shedding its outer layer of skin, which helped doctors learn it was a fourth-stage larva of Pseudoterranova azarasi — a worm found in raw or undercooked fish that causes gastric, intestinal and allergic diseases, according to the case report.
“More than 700 cases have been reported in Japan, North Pacific countries, South America and the Netherlands,” the report said.
The woman’s case is rare, but reports of similar infections are on the rise, the study said. It’s known to cause “tingling throat syndrome” and cough.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 10:52 AM.
