A woman in Shenzhen was left stunned after doctors discovered two live parasitic worms more than 10cm long inside a painful lump on her arm during surgery.
The shocking case emerged after the woman, identified only as Wang, sought medical treatment when a swelling on her upper left arm continued to grow and became increasingly painful.
According to Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Wang first noticed a small lump about the size of a peanut a year ago but did not seek treatment as the discomfort was mild.
Over time, however, the lump enlarged to the size of a quail egg, while the surrounding skin developed dark reddish-purple discolouration, prompting her to visit a dermatologist.
Doctors initially suspected the growth could be a vascular tumour based on imaging scans and clinical examinations.
However, during surgery to remove the mass, medical staff were shocked when two long white worms suddenly emerged from beneath the skin.
Laboratory tests later confirmed the parasites were spargana — the larval stage of the tapeworm Spirometra mansoni.
Kitchen Habits Suspected As Source Of Infection
Further investigations into Wang’s lifestyle revealed that her family frequently cooked frog dishes and hotpot meals at home.
Doctors found that the household used the same chopping board and kitchen knives to prepare raw frog meat and ready-to-eat dishes such as cold salads.
Medical experts believe parasite larvae attached to the frog meat may have contaminated the kitchen utensils and subsequently entered the woman’s body through food prepared without proper separation of raw and cooked ingredients.
Parasites Can Travel Through The Human Body
Unlike many intestinal parasites, spargana do not mature into adult worms inside humans.
Instead, they remain in their larval form and can migrate through different parts of the body, including muscles, skin tissue, eyes, internal organs and even the brain.
Doctors explained that one of the most common symptoms is the appearance of moving or recurring lumps beneath the skin.
Experts Warn About Kitchen Cross-Contamination
The attending physician said China records more than 1,000 sparganosis infections each year, with around 90 per cent linked to unsafe food handling practices.
Health experts are urging the public to strictly separate utensils used for raw and cooked foods, particularly when handling frogs, snakes, freshwater fish and other ingredients that may carry parasites.
They also stressed that all food should be thoroughly cooked before consumption and that anyone experiencing unexplained lumps under the skin should inform doctors if they have consumed or handled potentially contaminated wildlife products.
The case has sparked renewed warnings about kitchen hygiene, with experts reminding households that parasite infections can occur not only through eating raw food, but also through cross-contamination caused by chopping boards, knives, cloths and unwashed hands.
