Ham and bacon are some of the most popular foods in the West, and their consumption has increased with industrialisation. Of late, a CT scan of a patient's leg muscles infected by a parasite in the US has gone viral. This troubling diagnosis is due to a parasite called cysticercosis, caused by the larvae of Taenia solium, commonly known as the Pork Tapeworm. Essentially, this infection occurs in pigs and can affect humans who eat undercooked or contaminated pork. This raises many questions about whether eating pork is safe or not?

What happens if you eat uncooked pork?

As per Healthline reports, Pork should never be eaten when it's bloody or rare. Pork comes from pigs and can harbour bacteria and parasites that are usually destroyed during proper cooking.

If the pork isn't cooked thoroughly, the harmful organisms might survive and cause illness in humans. One such parasite is Trichinella spiralis, a roundworm responsible for an infection commonly called Pork Tapeworm. These diseases are found in pigs and can transfer. This roundworm also infect other animals like wolves, boars, bears, and walruses. Consuming uncooked or raw pork can increase the chance of exposure to these deadly tapeworms. These tapeworms can lead to infections like taeniasis or cysticercosis.

Diseases caused by eating uncooked pork?

Eating undercooked pork can lead to food poisoning and various health problems.

Trichinosis is one of the parasitic disease resulting from consuming raw or undercooked pork. It causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscle soreness, fever, headaches, eye swelling, chills, and extreme fatigue. In severe cases, it can impair coordination, inflame the heart muscles, cause breathing difficulties, and lead to brain inflammation.

Toxoplasmosis is another risk, caused by a protozoan parasite found in undercooked pork.

Some infections can be severe and potentially life-threatening. According to a report, in some cases, the parasite T. solium’s hatched eggs develop into larvae that travel to your brain, where they form cysts. These cysts can remain asymptomatic for a long time. However, when the cysts start to die, your immune system identifies them as threats and triggers inflammation to combat them. This can lead to brain swelling, seizures, and headaches as the cysts exert pressure on the brain. Additionally, the death of these cysts results in hard patches surrounded by fluid, which can cause seizures.

To avoid food poisoning, cook pork thoroughly until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 75°C. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature in the centre of the thickest part of the meat.