A 22-year-old college student, TB, had a habit of eating expired food from the garbage, including gas station sushi. He believed he was doing the environment a favor by reducing food waste. Despite his questionable eating habits, TB was fine until he experienced severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and swelling after eating expired gas station pizza and sushi.
After a visit to the emergency room and surgery to remove his appendix, TB's condition did not improve. He continued to experience abdominal pain and was eventually diagnosed with an Anisakis parasite, a common roundworm found in raw fish. The parasite was likely ingested through the gas station sushi he had been eating.
TB underwent another surgery to remove the parasite and made a recovery. The incident highlights the risks of eating raw or undercooked fish, especially if it has not been handled properly. Anisakis parasites are relatively common in fish and can cause severe illness if ingested.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. TB, a 22-year-old college student, presented to the emergency room with facial swelling, shortness of breath, and hives.
2. He had been experiencing severe, right-sided, lower abdominal pain for at least three days.
3. TB had been eating expired food from the grocery store's waste bin, including gas station sushi.
4. He had been doing this for months and was fine until he ate a suspicious gas station pizza.
5. TB's abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting persisted, and he was eventually admitted to the hospital.
6. A CT scan showed inflammation in the right lower quadrant of his abdomen, suggesting appendicitis.
7. TB underwent an appendectomy, but the appendix was found to be normal and unremarkable.
8. After the surgery, TB continued to experience crampy abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
9. He eventually went to the gas station and bought sushi, which he ate, and immediately developed a rash and swollen face.
10. TB was admitted to the hospital again, and an abdominal radiograph showed dilated loops of bowel, suggesting a blockage.
11. A blood test revealed a high count of white blood cells, indicating an infection.
12. During surgery, parts of his intestines were removed, and an Anisakis larva was found embedded in the tissue.
13. The Anisakis parasite is a common roundworm found in raw fish, and TB had likely been exposed to it multiple times.
14. Anisakidosis is a rare infection that can be mistaken for other conditions, such as Crohn's disease or appendicitis.
15. TB's second infection occurred after he bought and ate gas station sushi.
16. The Anisakis larva burrowed into the lining of his stomach, causing acute abdominal pain and nausea.
17. A study found that 1 in 13 salmon sushi servings contained Anisakis larvae, but most were not alive.
18. Freezing fish can kill Anisakis larvae, but it may not prevent the risk of infection entirely.
19. The majority of Anisakis cases reported come from coastal Japan, but there has been an increase in reports from coastal regions of Europe and South America.
20. Eating sushi from a well-known restaurant with a good track record is likely to be safe, but eating sushi from an unknown place or with an unknown preparation method carries a higher risk.