A recently published article in the BMJ journal have warned that Sushi eaters risk bring infected with a worm parasite that clinge itself to the bowel which can cause extreme pain, vomiting and fever. The warning comes as a “previously healthy” man, 32, was admitted to hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, with symptoms that initially proved difficult to diagnose. But, after series of questions
from the doctors, it was discovered that the man had recently eaten sushi made with uncooked fish. The cause of the illness which proved difficult to diagnose was revealed when doctors put a camera into his upper intestine, this led to the discovery of a parasite, the larvae of an anisakis nematode worm, attached to the inside of his bowel.
And it was this that had been causing the man “severe epigastric pain, vomiting and low-grade fever” and “moderate abdominal tenderness” for about a week, the doctors wrote. The BMJ article said most cases described in the medical literature were from Japan because of the popularity of seafood. “However, it has been increasingly recognised in Western countries,” the doctors wrote.“Owing to changes in food habits, anisakiasis is a growing disease in Western countries, which should be suspected in patients with a history of ingestion of raw or uncooked fish.”
After the worm was removed using a special type of net, the man’s symptoms stopped immediately. The UK sushi market is said to be worth about £69m a year.
Source:Independent.
