A 35-year-old man from India was diagnosed with a rare parasitic infection that led doctors to discover a giant worm, Dioctophyma renale, living in his kidney. The patient had been experiencing symptoms such as fever and tachycardia for two days before being admitted to the hospital. After inserting a catheter and administering antibiotics, doctors found blood in the urine sample containing the massive 11.8-inch-long worm.
The parasite is believed to have infected the man after he ate raw fish from a lake near his village. This was not the first time the patient had experienced such symptoms, suggesting repeated infections. Despite treatment, the parasite passed out of his kidneys on its own, and there is no record of the use of antiparasitic drugs.
This case highlights the rarity of D. renale worm infections in humans, with only 37 reported cases worldwide until 2019. However, it also serves as a warning about the importance of proper cooking fish to prevent infection. The parasite’s larvae can be transmitted through undercooked frogs or fish, making prevention crucial.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/health/diagnostic-dilemma-a-man-who-couldnt-pee-had-been-infected-by-one-of-the-largest-known-human-parasites