10 Rat Lungworm Disease Symptoms
Rat lungworm disease is an infection by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. This is a type of parasitic roundworm that is often found in the pulmonary arteries of rats, hence where the disease got its name.
Rat lungworm spends part of its lifecycle inside snails, and rats acquire the parasite from eating snails or by coming into contact with snail feces. If people are not careful, then they too can become infected by the parasite.
When humans are infected by the parasite, it will make its home in our central nervous system. Here, it can cause havoc, causing various unwanted symptoms, possibly resulting in death.
Symptom #1: Stiff Neck
Every now and again, we will wake up with a stiff neck. It is usually caused by us having slept at an awkward angle, which can compress or stretch our neck too much. It can linger for a couple of days, but the discomfort will usually pass without any lasting harm being done. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign of something more serious.
A stiff neck is a sign that you might have acquired rat lungworm disease. It is caused by meningismus, which means an irritation of the meninges. It is similar to meningitis, but a different condition. If you have had a stiff neck for a few days and it won’t go away, you should consider getting it checked out.
Symptom #2: Paresthesia
Whenever we touch something, our nerves will instantly relay messages back the brain. These messages include information such as how hot or cold the object is, is it corrosive, is it sharp, can it hurt us in any way? The brain then uses this information and acts accordingly to help keep us safe.
If the nerves that carry these messages are damaged or hindered in some way, then these messages can get confused. As a result, we can start to feel sensations that most people describe as pins and needles. This can be caused by numerous factors and it is something that should encourage you to see a medical professional.
Symptom #3: Headache
A headache can really ruin your evening, but they are usually little more unsettling than that. They tend to be relatively short-lived and the pain is usually bearable, if uncomfortable. Not everybody is so fortunate, however, and some illnesses can cause headaches that are quite severe.
While headaches are usually relatively benign, they can also sometimes be a sign of a serious illness. If a headache is more painful than usual or feels unusual in some other way, then it could be a good idea to see a doctor. Even if it turns out to be nothing serious, it would still have been wise to get it checked.
Symptom #4: Fever
A fever is one of our body’s frontline defenses against disease. By heating the body up higher than usual, it becomes an inhospitable place for pathogens. This slows down their progress or even helps to kill them altogether. Although it is mostly beneficial for us, a fever can still be very uncomfortable.
A fever does not always happen with rat lungworm disease, and when it does it is usually a low fever. If a patient with the disease has a high fever, however, it is a sign that the disease is at an advanced stage. A fever can be dangerous if it goes too high, so it should be monitored at all times.
Symptom #5: Weakness
None of us feel 100% all of the time. We all have moments when we are just not feeling ourselves and a little out of sorts. This can mean that our mood isn’t right or we are not focusing as well as we should be able to. It can also mean that we feel weaker than we usually would.
Feeling weak and fatigued is not necessarily something to be concerned about straightaway. However, it is something you should pay attention to if it is too severe or if it continues for too long. There are numerous reasons why you are feeling weak or fatigued, and some of them can be serious.
Symptom #6: Light Sensitivity
Looking directly into the sun is likely to cause severe and permanent damage to our eyes. Of course, we generally avoid doing such a thing, but we can still sometimes be sensitive to light even without looking directly at the sun. Some medical conditions can also cause us to become more sensitive to light than we usually are.
The medical term to being overly sensitive to light is photophobia. It is a condition that can have people reluctant to go outside in the day time, or at least have them needing to wear very dark glasses. It can be caused by various conditions and it is something that you should arrange to get checked out.
Symptom #7: Nausea
Nausea is that horrible sensation of not feeling well, along with the feeling that you might be about to throw up. Even mild nausea is quite unpleasant, but severe nausea can be incapacitating. It can be caused by even the most benign causes, such as smelling food that you find unpleasant.
While nausea is not usually a sign of something serious, it can sometimes be a sign of something very serious indeed. If you are suffering from a severe case of nausea and/or it does not seem to be going away, you should arrange to speak with a medical professional to find out why.
Symptom #8: Hyperesthesia
Our bodies are reasonably sensitive to the world around us. They need to be as, after all, we need to be aware of what is happening for our safety, and to help us navigate our world effectively. While this sensitivity is very important for us, it can also go quite wrong.
Hyperesthesia is a condition in which the patient feels extreme sensitivity to touch, possibly resulting in considerable pain. The condition can last for several weeks while it may also last for several months in some cases. It is a symptom that should encourage you to seek advice from a medical professional.
Symptom #9: Paralysis
Paralysis can occur for various reasons. Sometimes, it is because the muscles or other bodily structures are unable to function. At other times, it is because the central nervous system is unable to send and receive commands to the body. It can affect large groups of muscles, while it will sometimes only affect a single muscle.
In cases of rat lungworm disease, the patient may experience paralyzes of the extraocular muscles that help to move the eyes. They can also experience facial palsy, meaning they can lose all control of their facial muscles. Any kind of unexplained paralysis is obviously something that should be taken seriously.
Symptom #10: Coma
A coma is a sleep-like condition in which the patient is alive, but unresponsive to stimuli. During this period, their bodies are often undergoing extensive repair. It is a clear sign that the patient is in serious trouble, and many people that enter into a coma will never come out of it.
Rat lungworm disease is potentially serious enough that it can cause the patient to go into a coma. As such, anybody should seek medical attention as soon as possible to help treat the disease before it gets too serious. Rat lungworm disease can be, and sometimes is, fatal, so it should never be taken lightly.
