Parasites in crustaceans cause hemoptysis

Gourmets should avoid freshwater crayfish in exotic countries

23.02.2012

The German Society for Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine (DGP) advises consumers to consume crustaceans only thoroughly cooked. Crab meat can cause parasites to invade, leading to cysts in the lungs. The symptoms include coughing with bloody sputum.

Pulmonary glands can also affect other organs
Parasites in raw crustaceans can cause dangerous health damage, warns the DGP. In severe cases, even the brain could be affected. The heat during cooking kills the unwelcome intruders. Marinating or pickling is not enough to protect yourself from the parasites.

Particularly at risk are people in exotic countries. Tourists should be extra cautious and do without freshwater crayfish wherever possible. But even in our latitudinal strains the pathogen occurs, which according to DGP is probably spread around the world. Symptoms include shortness of breath and coughing shortly after infection as well as gastrointestinal discomfort, fever and chills, the experts report. The dreaded coughing with bloody sputum usually comes months or years later. Reason for these symptoms are lung flukes, which can nest in the first place in the human lung but also in other organs. In severe cases, the flukes can cause epilepsy, meningitis, blindness and even paralysis. The DGP advises sufferers to seek medical help to destroy the parasite with medication.

Fish is contaminated with pollutants
Anyone who does without the crustaceans and instead eats fish can absorb toxic contaminants with the fish fat. Especially in river fish, significantly higher dioxin levels were measured in the past. In marine fish, harmful substances accumulate mainly in adipose tissue, which also pose a health risk. Consumers can therefore eat fatty fish such as cod instead of fatty fish such as herring. Pregnant and lactating women are advised against consuming tuna, salmon, herring, eel and swordfish. (Ag)

Picture: Susanne Schmich