Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Rat lung worm
Symptoms reported
- •Headache
- •Neck stiffness
- •Nausea and vomiting
- •Paresthesia
- •Cranial nerve palsies
Life cycle
Larvae penetrate the human intestine and migrate to the central nervous system where they cause inflammation and die.
Transmission
Ingestion of food or water contaminated with infective larvae from snails or slugs.
Conventional medical treatment
Supportive care with analgesics and glucocorticoids; larvicidal agents like albendazole must be used cautiously.
For information only. Discuss with a licensed healthcare provider before starting any pharmaceutical.
Treatment Options — Natural First, Pharmaceutical When Needed
Natural First
- •Berberine
- •Olive Leaf
- •Garlic
- •Activated charcoal (binder)
- •Hydration + electrolytes
- •Rest + bone broth nutrition
Pharmaceutical (if natural-first insufficient)
- •Supportive care with analgesics and glucocorticoids; larvicidal agents like albendazole must be used cautiously.
When to escalate to pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical first if: heavy worm burden with anemia or weight loss, persistent symptoms > 6 weeks of natural treatment, pediatric failure to thrive, immunocompromised host, or pregnancy.
Traditional herbal alternatives
In stock at our apothecary
In our database (educational reference)
Also referenced (not currently in our database):
Each herb above carries a tradition. See the 2,000-year lineage of Western herbal medicine →
“As man is an abnormal host, adult worms die soon and cause a serious condition known as eosinophilic meningitis.”
— Essentials of Medical Parasitology
This page is for educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before acting on anything you read here.