Chinese Woman's Two-Year Back Pain Nearly Led to Paralysis; Doctors Shocked to Find Thousands of Parasites in Spine

A 57-year-old woman named Li Se from Fujian Province, China, experienced recurring back and leg pain that required multiple hospital visits. Doctors initially suspected a central nervous system tumor, but her condition deteriorated rapidly this year, nearly causing paralysis. After more than a 10-hour surgery, doctors made an unexpected discovery.

According to reports from Fuzhou Daily, Li began experiencing back and leg pain two years ago. During local hospital examinations, doctors once suspected a central nervous system tumor. However, because the lesion was severely attached to nerve tissue, the first surgery could only reduce compression and remove tissue for diagnosis without identifying the true cause. After the surgery, her condition temporarily improved, but due to financial constraints, she did not continue with follow-up treatment. Early this year, the pain returned and worsened rapidly. Despite two months of symptomatic treatment, she developed weakness in her limbs, difficulty walking, and nearly became paralyzed.

When she returned for treatment, doctors conducted a detailed medical history and lifestyle assessment before suspecting parasitic infection. After the lengthy 10-hour surgery, the medical team successfully removed thousands of white parasites from the patient's spinal cord. The surgeon explained that extracting the parasites was "like using chopsticks to pick noodles out of soup," as they had to carefully pull out each parasite individually while being careful not to damage the surrounding nerve tissue, making it an extremely complex and difficult procedure.

Test results confirmed the patient was infected with Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, a rare parasite originally found frequently in Europe but increasingly discovered in southern China in recent years. After surgery, Li received specialized antiparasitic medication. She is now recovering well, can walk with assistance, and her muscle strength has improved from grades 1-2 to grade 4.

Doctors warned the public to avoid consuming undercooked wild animals such as frogs, snakes, or eels, and not to drink untreated water or apply raw frog meat to wounds according to folk beliefs, as these practices risk parasitic infection. Anyone experiencing unexplained neurological symptoms, subcutaneous lumps, or eye problems should see a doctor immediately and inform them of any animal contact or risky behaviors to aid diagnosis and treatment.