Months Of Severe Headaches Caused By Parasite Found in Woman's Brain

Doctors has removed multiple tapeworm eggs from a woman's brain after she complained of suffering from severe headaches for nine months.

Yadira Rostro first started to notice bad headaches nine months ago and finally sought medical help after they continued to get worse.

The sacs of larvae from eight tapeworm eggs inside Yadira Rostro's head had been growing when doctors found them. 

It is believed that the 31-year-old picked up the tapeworms on a trip to Mexico two years ago.

They are common in food contaminated with fecal matter but pass through most people in a few days.

Ms Rostro, 31, from Garland in Texas, told ABC's News8: "Sometimes my sight was impaired… I could not see properly."

But rather than passing through her system, the parasite reached her brain through her bloodstream. It resulted in a collection of fluid which caused the headaches. 

The parasite was removed during surgery at the Methodist Dallas Medical Center earlier this month. Neurosurgeon Dr Richard Meyrat said: "They looked a little bit like eggs, and they had a clear sac. And inside it, a small tapeworm." 

Dr Meyrat added his patient, who will make a full recovery, was "happy to be alive".  

Neurosurgeon, Richard Meyrat explained:

"They looked a little bit like eggs, and they have a clear sac," he said. "And inside it, a small tapeworm."The woman is expected to make a full recovery but perhaps understandably does not want to view the footage from her surgery.