NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS

Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic infection of the central nervous system most commonly caused by the consumption of undercooked pork infected with the Taenia Solium tapeworm. It is the leading cause of brain infection and epilepsy in the developing world.

When a human ingests pork or fecal matter which contains the Taenia Solium larvae, the ova are digested in the stomach and release oncospheres which can penetrate the intestinal wall and travel through the body. The oncospheres then latch on to other tissue and become embedded forming cysts in the brain, eyes, or subcutaneous tissue.

There are 4 stages to these neurological cysts which describe the body's reaction to the oncospheres. The 3rd stage has the most bizarre symptoms. In this stage the body is actively reacting to the eggs decomposing in the brain and neurological changes are dramatic. Seizures, mood and personality changes, vision alteration and intercraneal pressure all occur in the 3rd stage.

This disease can be treated with medication or via surgical intervention to remove the cysts.

Since this sick is basically "worm eggs in your brain" and can cause death if not properly treated, I give this sick a

8 on my "disturbing scale" (1-10)
and a 3 on my "lethality scale" (1-10)