Dak Lak: Four people contracted meningitis after eating rabbit blood pudding

On April 1, the Central Highlands General Hospital announced that it had just treated four patients with meningitis caused by parasitic infections after eating raw blood pudding and rabbit meat.

The four patients include: TVH (born in 1981), NTK (born in 1985), N.D.T (born in 1995) and LC (born in 1994), all residing in Dak Mil district (Dak Nong province).

According to patient TVH, 15 days ago, he, NTK, N.D.T and LC went to a restaurant to buy rabbit blood pudding and other dishes made from rabbit meat to drink. About a week after the drinking session, TVH began to have symptoms of fever, headache, fatigue and weakness.

Mr. H went to the doctor and took medicine but it did not help, so he went to Buon Ma Thuot University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital (Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province) for examination. At 4:00 p.m. on March 24, the patient was transferred to the Central Highlands General Hospital with a diagnosis of viral meningitis.

On March 26 and 31, the Central Highlands General Hospital continued to receive two patients, NTK and N.D.T, with fever of unknown origin/monitoring for meningitis. On April 1, patient LC was also admitted to the hospital with a similar condition.

According to Dr. H'Nuen H'Đơk, Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Highlands General Hospital, after receiving the patients, the doctors found that all 4 cases had eaten rabbit blood pudding, had similar symptoms of mild fever, headache, nausea, and weak limbs, so they suspected that they were infected with brain flukes. The doctors promptly performed a cerebrospinal fluid puncture. The results showed that all cases were infected with parasites.

Clinical symptoms and incubation period indicate that the patients may be infected with roundworm parasites. This is a type of worm that often parasitizes the lungs of rats. All 4 patients are being treated according to the Ministry of Health's regimen, with specific treatment lasting 2-3 weeks to kill the parasites.

Parasitic meningitis is often caused by infectious agents entering mainly through the digestive tract by eating raw or undercooked foods containing pathogens.

Therefore, people who have the habit of eating raw foods such as blood pudding, salad, nem chao, raw meat, etc. need to be vigilant about this disease. People should eat cooked food and drink boiled water to prevent the disease.

When seeing unusual symptoms, people need to quickly go to a medical facility for examination, diagnosis and timely treatment - Dr. H'Nuen H'Đơk recommends./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dak-lak-bon-nguoi-mac-viem-mang-nao-sau-khi-an-tiet-canh-tho-post1024108.vnp