Sydney man critically ill after eating slug

Source http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/3695206/Sydney-man-critically-ill-after-eating-slug

A Sydney man is critically ill after eating a slug as a dare, leading authorities to issue health warnings on devouring raw gastropods.

The man, 21, is in a critical condition in hospital after contracting a rare form of meningitis called Angiostrongylus or rat lung worm after eating the slug.

NSW Health says animals including slugs and snails can carry a range of infections, including bacteria, viruses and parasites that may infect people.

The adult form of the rat lung worm is found only in rodents, which pass the parasite’s larvae in their faeces. Snails and slugs then eat the faeces, becoming infected.

In some instances, the worm can cause fatal swelling of the brain and spinal chord.

But Dr Jeremy McAnulty from NSW Health says such cases are rare and most people do recover.

He said the worm goes away by itself because the body’s immune system eventually gets rid of it.

Dr McAnulty said people should not eat raw slugs or snails and should ensure they wash their hands after touching them.

“It is also important to thoroughly wash and cook any produce that could be contaminated by animals,” he said.

The worm was found mainly in Asia and the Pacific Islands.

It was rare for people to contract rat lung worm disease in Australia, but it occurred occasionally from eating an uncooked slug or snail, Dr McAnulty said.

“In the past, this sometimes has happened after a person has been dared to eat a slug or snail.”

Infected people may have no symptoms or only mild short-lived symptoms, he said.

Sometimes the infection causes meningitis, with symptoms such as headaches, stiff neck, tingling or pain in the skin, fever, nausea, and vomiting, Dr McAnulty said.

“Even if infected, most people recover fully without treatment,” he said.

“However, it can sometimes cause severe meningitis.

“Because humans are not the natural host of the parasite, the parasite eventually dies without treatment.”

Rat lung worm infection cannot be passed on to other people.

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